Kuala Lumpur: The draw for the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 Qualifiers was finalised at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday. The hopefuls were divided into 11 groups – 10 groups of four teams each, with the last group containing three. Qatar, meanwhile, will play in the qualifiers for exposure with their matches classified as friendlies.To be played from September 4 to 12 this year, Group A of the qualifiers will have hosts Jordan, Syria, Oman and Brunei Darussalam vying for the sole automatic ticket to the Finals. Group B will see 2020 champions South Korea (H), Myanmar, Kyrgyz Republic and Qatar contesting with Vietnam (H), Singapore, Yemen and Guam the Group C cast.Japan, the 2016 champions, are the top seeds in Group D with Bahrain (H), Palestine and Pakistan their challengers while 2018 champions Uzbekistan (H), Iran, Hong Kong and Afghanistan were drawn in Group E. Group F will see 2013 winners Iraq, Kuwait (H), Timor-Leste and Macau doing battle with United Arab Emirates, India, Maldives and hosts China the Group G teams.Hosts Thailand lead Group H with Malaysia, Bangladesh and Philippines also aiming for a place in the finals while Group I will see Australia, Tajikistan (H), Laos and DPR Korea locking horns. Defending champions Saudi Arabia (H), Cambodia, Lebanon and Mongolia were drawn in Group J while the three-team Group K will be a tussle between Turkmenistan, Indonesia (H) and Chinese Taipei. The AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 finals are scheduled for April 15 to May 3, 2024.
May 25, 2023 | 10:32 PM