BANGKOK (13 Sept 2015) – Thailand have been placed in Group B while Australia and Vietnam are in the same Group D for the AFC Under-23 Championship, following the draw that was made yesterday.
The AFC U23 Championship, which will also be used for the Olympic Games in Rio next year, will be played on 12-30 January 2016 in Qatar.
Defending AFC U22 champions Iraq found themselves alongside regional challengers Yemen, London Olympics bronze medalists Korea Republic and a highly rated Uzbekistan side in a tough looking Group C.
Hosts Qatarare in Group A where they are joined by East Asian powerhouse China, Iran and Syria.
Japan – nine-time Olympic qualifiers and fourth-place finishers at the London Games in 2012- are pooled along with Saudi Arabia, DPR Korea and Thailand in Group B, while 1988 quarter-finalists Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Vietnam make up Group D.
The tournament will be played at the Al Sadd, Al Arabi, Qatar Sports Club and Lekhwiya Stadiums, all of which are situated in and around Qatar’s capital city of Doha.
AFC U23 Championship Qatar 2016
Group A: Qatar, Syria, IR Iran, China PR
Group B: Saudi Arabia, Japan, DPR Korea, Thailand
Group C: Iraq, Korea Republic, Uzbekistan, Yemen
Group D: Jordan, Australia, UAE, Vietnam
