November 24 – The draw for the16 teams taking part in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 has put old foes Japan and South Korea in the same group, a group that is not made easier with the UAE and China.
Japan are the top seeds in Group B and won the competition in 2016. South Korea were winners in 2020.
The U23 championship will be played in Qatar from April 15 to May 3.
The top three finishers will qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, while the fourth-placed team will playoff against a Confederation of African Football (CAF) for a further Olympic slot.
Defending champions from 2022, Saudi Arabia, are strong favourites to head Group C but will be challenged by 2013 winners Iraq who have been edging closer to winning through to a major global tournament.
lead the cast, with former winners Korea Republic (2020), Uzbekistan (2018), Japan (2016) and Iraq (2013) also looking to become the first team to lift the coveted trophy for a second time.
Qatar, who are rebuilding their senior team under Carlos Quieroz, with an emphasis on youth, have a confident Australia to contend with as well as Jordan and Indonesia in Group A.
Uzbekistan, the only Central Asians in the finals, lead the Group D teams, with Vietnam, Kuwait and Malaysia their challengers.
The Draw
Group A: Qatar, Australia, Jordan, Indonesia
Group B: Japan, Korea Republic, United Arab Emirates, China PR
Group C: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Thailand, Tajikistan
Group D: Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Kuwait, Malaysia
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