YANGON (25 April 2014) – Hosts Myanmar are in a favourable draw for the AFC Under-19 Championship 2014 where they have been placed in Group A against tournament contenders Iran, neighbours Thailand and Yemen.
Myanmar, who are playing hosts for the first time, will see the 16-nation competition be staged in the two venues of Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw in October with the top four teams qualifying for the FIFA U-20 World Cup to be played in New Zealand next year.
Defending champions South Korea are pitted in a strong Group C in the AFC U-19 Championship 2014 where they will face rivals Japan as well as China and Vietnam.
The semi-finalists of the AFC U-19 Championship 2012 Uzbekistan and Australia will join the previous edition’s hosts UAE and Indonesia in Group B. Both Uzbekistan and Australia had managed a place in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey where Uzbekistan bowed out in the quarter-finals.
Losing finalists of 2012 Iraq are seeded in Group D where they face challenges in the form of DPR Korea, Qatar and Oman. Iraq had a brilliant run-in in the U-20 World Cup after finishing fourth.
The Group A and B matches will be played at the Yangon’s Youth Training Centre Stadium while the Group C and D matches will be held at the Zeyar Thiri Stadium in Nay Pyi Taw. The semi-finals and final will be staged in Yangon.
AFC Under-19 Championship 2014
Group A: Myanmar, Iran, Thailand, Yemen
Group B: Uzbekistan, Australia, UAE, Indonesia
Group C: Korea Republic, Japan, China, Vietnam
Group D: Iraq, DPR Korea, Qatar, Oman
