India drawn alongside Saudi Arabia in AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers

The group also has Myanmar, Maldives, and Kuwait.

The qualifying cast for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Bahrain 2023 Qualifiers was finalised on Tuesday. A total of 44 participating Member Associations (MAs) were divided into 10 centralised qualifying groups, six of which will feature four teams, while four groups will include five sides when the Qualifiers take place from October 1 to 9, 2022.

Defending champions Japan, who have won the title three times, were drawn in Group A alongside hosts Jordan, Syria, the Philippines, and Turkmenistan. Group B will feature Indonesia (H), Malaysia, Palestine, Guam, and UAE.

Oman will host Iraq, Qatar, Lebanon, and Bahrain in Group C. Bahrain have already qualified as hosts and their results will not be considered during the qualifiers. Two-time champions Saudi Arabia - who will host Group D - were drawn alongside India, Myanmar, Maldives, and Kuwait.

Group E will feature Yemen, hosts Bangladesh, Singapore, and Bhutan while Vietnam will welcome Thailand, Chinese Taipei, and Nepal in Group F.

China PR, winners of the tournament in 1992 and 2004, will have Cambodia, Northern Mariana Islands, and three-time semi-finalists Australia - the hosts - for company in Group G. Tajikistan, runners-up in 2018, will host Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, and Mongolia in Group H.

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Islamic Republic of Iran, Hong Kong, hosts the Kyrgyz Republic and Laos were drawn in Group I while two-time winners Korea Republic will see action in Group J - to be hosted by Uzbekistan. Brunei Darussalam and Sri Lanka complete the group.

The 10 group winners and five best second-placed teams will join Bahrain in the Finals of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup.

AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers Groups

Group A: Japan, Jordan (H), Syria, Philippines, TurkmenistanGroup B: Indonesia (H), Malaysia, Palestine, Guam, UAEGroup C: Oman (H), Iraq, Qatar, Lebanon, BahrainGroup D: India, Saudi Arabia (H), Myanmar, Maldives, KuwaitGroup E: Yemen, Bangladesh (H), Singapore, BhutanGroup F: Thailand, Vietnam (H), Chinese Taipei, NepalGroup G: Australia (H), China PR, Cambodia, N. Mariana IslandsGroup H: Tajikistan (H), Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, MongoliaGroup I: IR Iran, Hong Kong, Kyrgyz Republic (H), LaosGroup J: Korea Republic, Brunei Darussalam, Uzbekistan (H), Sri Lanka

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