Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
December 10 – With the primary 18 groups already certified for the Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, the AFC has drawn the subsequent 25 groups into six qualifying teams for the confederation’s blue riband nationwide workforce competitors.
The elevated competitiveness of AFC competitors see 9 groups who appeared at Asian Cup 2023 in Qatar competing within the subsequent qualifying spherical, with solely the six group winners to qualify for Saudi Arabia 2027.
Group A noticed prime seeds Tajikistan – who made it by to the Spherical of 16 at Qatar 2023, however then missed out for the ultimate floor spherical of World Cup 2026 qualification – drawn with Philippines, Maldives and Timor-Leste.
In Group B, Lebanon, who’re returning to home soccer whereas the present ceasefire with Israel holds, will meet Yemen (2019 finalists), Bhutan and Brunei Darussalam.
Group C, with 5 groups, appears to be the hardest qualification group with India, Hong Kong, and China who all appeared in Qatar 2023 earlier this yr, joined by Singapore and Bangladesh. The world’s two greatest nations – India and China – have each expressed soccer ambitions and a want to be on the world’s greatest competitions.
Thailand, who have been one of many shock groups at Qatar 2023, making it to the spherical of 16, can be favourites to win Group D in opposition to Turkmenistan, Chinese language Taipei and Sri Lanka.
A re-energised Syria whose federation has welcomed the nation’s regime change as being optimistic for its nationwide soccer growth, are favourites for Group E and can face by Afghanistan, Myanmar and Pakistan.
Group F appears like being a fierce battle between Vietnam and Malaysia who each performed at Qatar 2023 however in the end upset, with each ending backside of their teams. They’re joined in Group F by Nepal and Laos.
The Qualifiers kick off March 25, 2025 with the groups to play on a house and away foundation. In 2025 match dates after the March kick-off are June 10, October 9, October 14, November 18, with the ultimate match date being March 31 in 2026.
The finals can be performed in Saudi Arabia from 15 January to eight February 2027. The match will return to its typical four-year cycle, after the 2023 version was postponed to 2024 as a result of removing of China as hosts, and excessive summer season temperatures in Qatar.
Qatar the place Asian Cup champions in 2019, and once more in 2023.
DRAW RESULT
Group A: Tajikistan, Philippines, Maldives, Timor-Leste
Group B: Lebanon, Yemen, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam
Group C: India, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Bangladesh
Group D: Thailand, Turkmenistan, Chinese language Taipei, Sri Lanka
Group E: Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Pakistan
Group F: Vietnam, Malaysia, Nepal, Laos
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