Qatar were placed in Group J along with Jordan, Singapore and Hong Kong in the AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers, the draw that took place in Kuala Lumpur revealed on Thursday.
As many as 45 teams divided into 10 groups – five of four each and five of five each – will take part in the Qualifiers to be played between September 21 and 29, 2024. The 10 group winners and five best second-placed teams will advance to the Finals. The AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2025 is scheduled to be played in China from February 6 to 23, 2025.
While Qatar will host their group matches, Vietnam will host Group A, with Syria, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Guam the other teams hoping to advance to the Finals. Group B will see defending champions Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Chinese Taipei (host), Cambodia and Nepal vying for the automatic ticket to the Finals while Korea Republic, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait (host) and Northern Mariana Islands make up the Group C cast.
Saudi Arabia will host Group D with Australia, Palestine, Afghanistan and Macau their challengers while Group E will witness Tajikistan (host), Oman, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and DPR Korea battling it out.
Indonesia (host), Yemen, Timor-Leste and Maldives are the Group F cast while Group G will see Islamic Republic of Iran, Mongolia, India and Laos (host) hoping to make the Finals. Hosts Thailand will welcome Group H opponents Iraq, Philippines and Brunei Darussalam with Japan, Kyrgyz Republic (host), Myanmar and Turkmenistan the four teams in Group I.
Qatar to face Japan in U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers
Meanwhile, the draw for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers was also finalised at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, on Thursday. The 43 teams were divided into 10 groups – seven of four each and three of five – with the Qualifiers to be played between October 19 and 27, 2024.
Defending champions and four-time winners Japan, Qatar (hosts), Mongolia and Nepal are the Group F cast.
Islamic Republic of Iran will headline Group A, with hosts Jordan, Syria, Hong Kong, China and DPR Korea the other teams hoping to advance to the Finals.
Group B will see Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia (hosts), Philippines and Macau vying for the automatic ticket to the Finals while Korea Republic, China PR (hosts), Bahrain, Bhutan and Maldives make up the Group C cast.
Thailand will host Group D with India, Brunei Darussalam and Turkmenistan their challengers while Group E will witness Uzbekistan, Iraq, hosts Chinese Taipei and Palestine battling it out while Group G will see Australia, Indonesia, Kuwait (hosts) and Northern Mariana Islands hoping to make the Finals.
Hosts Laos will welcome Group H opponents Malaysia, United Arab Emirates and Lebanon with Yemen, Vietnam (hosts), Kyrgyz Republic and Myanmar the four teams in Group I. Tajikistan, Oman, Singapore (hosts) and Guam are the teams drawn in Group J.
The Finals are scheduled to be played from April 3 to 20, 2025.
