Groups decided for AFC U17 and U20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers

New Delhi [India], June 14 (ANI): The draws for the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025 Qualifiers and AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2025 Qualifiers were held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday.
In the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers, India are in Group D along with Thailand, Brunei Darussalam and Turkmenistan. The Group D matches will be hosted by Thailand between October 19 and 27, 2024. In total, 43 teams were divided into 10 groups - seven of four each and three of five. The 10 group winners and five best second-placed teams among all groups will advance to the Finals, with Saudi Arabia scheduled to host the tournament between April 3 and 20, 2025.
India will aim to qualify for the AFC U17 Asian Cup for the fourth successive time. In their last finals appearance in 2023 in Thailand, the Blue Colts were eliminated in the group stage. India have twice reached the quarter-finals at the AFC U17 Asian Cup - in 2002 and 2018, their best showing.
Before the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers, India will participate in the SAFF U17 Championship, to be held in Bhutan between September 18-28, 2024, a release said.
In the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers, India were drawn alongside IR Iran, Mongolia and Laos in Group G, which will be hosted by Laos between September 21-29, 2024. In total, 45 teams were divided into 10 groups - five groups of four each and five groups of five. The 10 group winners and five best second-placed teams among all groups will advance to the Finals, with China PR scheduled to host the tournament between February 6-23, 2025.
India will aim to qualify for the AFC U20 Asian Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2006. Their best result at the tournament was joint champions alongside Iran in 1974.
Before the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers, India will participate in the SAFF U20 Championship, to be held in Nepal between August 16-28, 2024.
AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers 2025 Draw Result:
Group A: IR Iran, Jordan (H), Syria, Hong Kong, China, DPR Korea
Group B: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia (H), Philippines, Macau
Group C: Korea Republic, China PR (H), Bahrain, Bhutan, Maldives
Group D: Thailand (H), India, Brunei Darussalam, Turkmenistan
Group E: Uzbekistan, Iraq, Chinese Taipei (H), Palestine
Group F: Japan, Qatar (H), Mongolia, Nepal
Group G: Australia, Indonesia, Kuwait (H), Northern Mariana Islands
Group H: Malaysia, Laos (H), United Arab Emirates, Lebanon
Group I: Yemen, Vietnam (H), Kyrgyz Republic, Myanmar
Group J: Tajikistan, Oman, Singapore (H), Guam
AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers 2025 Draw Result:
Group A: Vietnam (H), Syria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Guam
Group B: Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Chinese Taipei (H), Cambodia, Nepal
Group C: Korea Republic, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait (H), Northern Mariana Islands
Group D: Australia, Saudi Arabia (H), Palestine, Afghanistan, Macau
Group E: Tajikistan (H), Oman, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, DPR Korea
Group F: Indonesia (H), Yemen, Timor-Leste, Maldives
Group G: IR Iran, Mongolia, India, Laos (H)
Group H: Iraq, Thailand (H), Philippines, Brunei Darussalam
Group I: Japan, Kyrgyz Republic (H), Myanmar, Turkmenistan
Group J: Jordan, Qatar (H), Singapore, Hong Kong, China. (ANI)