Defending champions Qatar were placed in Group C of the 16-team AFC Asian U-19 Cup to be held in Bahrain in October this year.
At the draw ceremony conducted in Manama on Saturday, Qatar were pencilled in with Japan, Yemen and Iran.
In Group, hosts Bahrain will compete against Thailand, Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia while in Group B, North Korea will be joined by the UAE, Iraq and Vietnam.
In Group D, Uzbekistan have China, Australia and Tajikistan for company.
Qatar are the defending champions having clinched the title after a feisty final against North Korea in Myanmar in October 14.
Each group will play a one-round league, from which the top two teams in each group (eight teams in total) will qualify for the knockout stage (quarter-finals).
The four winners of the quarter-finals will qualify for the semi-finals and the winners of semi-finals will advance to the final.
The Championship’s top four ranked teams will then fly the Asian flag at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017.
If Korea Republic finish among the Championship’s top four teams, three play-off matches will be organised among the four losing teams of the quarter-finals to determine the fifth placed team that will qualify for Korea Republic 2017.
Draw results
Group A: Bahrain, Thailand, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia
Group B: North Korea, UAE, Iraq, Vietnam
Group C: Qatar, Japan, Yemen, Iran
Group D: Uzbekistan, China, Australia, Tajikistan
Schedule
Qatar’s opening game
Group C (October 14): Qatar v Iran
& Japan v Yemen
Quarter-Finals: October 23 & 24
Semi-Finals: October 27
Final: October 30
File picture of the Qatar U-19 team.
