AFC announces allocation of Asian Cup slots: Thailand leaves Vietnam far behind, only behind Japan

According to the Eastern region rankings, Thailand has risen to 3rd place, just behind Japan and equal to Korea. Instead of 1 direct ticket and 1 play-off ticket like last season, they will have 2 direct tickets and 1 play-off ticket from next season.

This ticket was transferred from China when in the 2024/25 season, China had 2 representatives but both were stopped early. Meanwhile, Thailand's representative Buriram advanced to the quarterfinals before stopping against Al Ahli, the eventual champion. Buriram is the Southeast Asian team that has gone the furthest, and this achievement has brought valuable points for Thai League to improve its score on the AFC rankings.

If they compete successfully, Thailand will have 3 representatives in the qualifying round of the Asian Cup 1 next season. In addition, they will have 1 ticket to participate in the Cup C2. Thailand will have a total of 4 slots, equal to Korea in the number of slots to participate in the continental arena.

AFC announces allocation of Asian Cup slots: Thailand leaves Vietnam far behind, only behind Japan photo 2

Nam Dinh could not go far in the Asian Cup last season.

Thailand has shown its formidable rise. Remember, in the whole of Southeast Asia, only Malaysia and Thailand are participating in the C1 Cup, while other countries are satisfied with the C2 and C3 Cups.

Meanwhile, for Vietnam, Nam Dinh's success in the 2024/25 C2 Cup group stage does not help Vietnam gain an additional ticket to the continental arena. LPBank V.League is only awarded 1 direct ticket to the C2 Cup group stage and 1 ticket to the play-off.

The AFC rankings also recorded the rise of Cambodian football. They even surpassed Indonesia to enter the Top 10 of Asia. From next season, Cambodia will be awarded a ticket to the Cup Winners' Cup, while with 11th place, Indonesia only has a play-off ticket.