AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2024: India drawn in Group G with UAE, Maldives, and China

The draw for the continental championship's qualifiers concluded earlier today.

The qualifiers draw for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 43 teams that would participate in the sixth edition of the event were drawn into 10 groups of 4 teams and one last group containing 3 teams. 

The Indian U23 football team was placed in pot 2, along with their counterparts from Iran, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Syria, and Singapore. The hosts' pot contained 11 countries who will play the host nation for the matches in their respective groups.

The task of explaining the rules of the draw and then drawing the 43 teams from their respective pots into Groups A to K was executed by the draw conductor and Deputy Director of Competitions & Football Events Division at The Asian Football Confederation, Avazbek Berdikulov.

Here are the 11 groups drawn for qualifiers

Group A: Jordan, Syria, Oman, Brunei

Group B: Korea Republic, Myanmar, Kyrgyz Republic, Qatar

Group C: Vietnam, Singapore, Yemen, Guam

Group D: Japan, Bahrain, Palestine, Pakistan

Group E: Uzbekistan, Iran, Hong Kong, Afghanistan

Group F: Iraq, Kuwait, Timor-Leste, Macau

Group G: UAE, India, Maldives, China PR

Group H: Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Philippines

Group I: Australia, Tajikistan, Laos, DPR Korea

Group J: Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, Lebanon, Mongolia

Group K: Turkmenistan, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei

India's Group G opponents

The Blue Colts’ biggest challenge in Group G will be the UAE U-23 side, which boasts considerable experience. China PR will host the matches in the group. India will play their group matches on September 6, September 9, and September 12.

Although the young Blue Tigers lack preparation, there is hope in new blood to secure a first U-23 Asian Cup appearance for India - after being historically been poor at this stage of international football.

The 11 group winners and the four best second placed teams will compete in a round-robin style to earn a spot in the main event in Qatar.  The final event of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 will see 16 teams compete from April 15 to May 3, 2024 in Qatar.