The national teams of the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Oman, India and Lebanon will rival Turkmenistan in the Asia Cup established by the Asian Football Confederation for junior teams (under 22). The official draw for the inaugural AFC U22 Asian Cup Qualifiers took place in the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). 41 youth teams were divided into seven groups.
Turkmenistan and its rivals form Group A. The Group A matches will be played in Oman on June 23-July 3, 2012.
Group B: Saudi Arabia, Syria, Pakistan, Palestine, the Kyrgyz Republic, Sri Lanka; Group C: Bahrain, Iran, Tajikistan, Qatar, Kuwait, Maldives; Group D: Uzbekistan, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nepal; Group E: Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Macao, East Timor; Group F: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Laos, Cambodia; Group G: the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Taiwan, the Philippines.
The top two teams in each group, the best third-placed team in all the groups and the host country will qualify for the 2013 Asia Cup. The country that will host the final matches will be determined later.
Unlike the Asia Cup for national teams which is held every fourth year, the final of the Asian junior teams (U22) will be held every second year. The winners of the second qualification round which will be held in 2015 will qualify for the football tournament of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).
Turkmenistan and its rivals form Group A. The Group A matches will be played in Oman on June 23-July 3, 2012.
Group B: Saudi Arabia, Syria, Pakistan, Palestine, the Kyrgyz Republic, Sri Lanka; Group C: Bahrain, Iran, Tajikistan, Qatar, Kuwait, Maldives; Group D: Uzbekistan, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nepal; Group E: Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Macao, East Timor; Group F: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Laos, Cambodia; Group G: the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Taiwan, the Philippines.
The top two teams in each group, the best third-placed team in all the groups and the host country will qualify for the 2013 Asia Cup. The country that will host the final matches will be determined later.
Unlike the Asia Cup for national teams which is held every fourth year, the final of the Asian junior teams (U22) will be held every second year. The winners of the second qualification round which will be held in 2015 will qualify for the football tournament of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).
