| AFC Asian Qualifiers |
|---|
The qualification process for the 2004 AFC Asian Cup football competition began in March 2003. Out of the 45 AFC members, only Cambodia and the Philippines failed to enter for the tournament. Both China, the hosts and Japan, the reigning champions automatically qualified for the finals. The lowest ranked 20 teams were placed in 6 preliminary qualifying groups of 3 and one group of 2, with the group winners joining the remaining 21 teams in 7 groups of 4. The top two of each of these groups qualified for the finals in China.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 21 March 2003 – 3 December 2003 |
| Teams | 43 (from 1 confederation) |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Top scorer(s) |  Younis Mahmoud Kim Do-hoon Yusri Al Bashah(7 goals each) |
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