By participating in back-to-back AFC Asian Cup finals for the first time ever. The Indian men’s national football team will make history in Qatar.
Victories over Cambodia, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong in Kolkata last year’s last round of AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. Moreover, Igor Stimac’s team qualified for the marquee event in January 2024.
The Blue Tigers, who just missed making it to the Round of 16 at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, will aim to at least improve upon their performance in Qatar and become the first Indian team to advance to the knockout round.
On Thursday, the formal draw will take place in Doha, Qatar, where India will find out who its opponents will be in the group round. Based on the most recent FIFA rankings, the teams were divided into four pots for the draw, and one team from each pot would be in each group. Moreover, the Blue Tigers were assigned to Pot 4, where they will have their hands full throughout the group stage.
Here are the four pots
1st Pot: Qatar, Japan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Korea Republic, Australia, Saudi Arabia
Pot 2: Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Uzbekistan, China PR, Jordan
3rd Pot : Bahrain, Syria, Palestine, Vietnam, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon
Pot 4: India, Tajikistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China and Indonesia
After the tournament was expanded since the 2019 edition, a total of 24 teams will be in the draw. Moreover, six groups of four teams each will be formed from the teams, and a total of sixteen teams will move on to the knockout stage.
All group winners and runners-up, together with the four top third-place teams, proceed to the Round of 16.
India will compete in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup for the fifth time overall, having previously taken part in the 1964, 1984, 2011, and 2019 tournaments.
In what location is the AFC Asian Cup draw?
At the Kataka Opera House in Doha, Qatar, the AFC Asian Cup draw will take place.
When is the draw for the AFC Asian Cup?
The draw will be held on Thursday, May 11 at 4:30 PM IST.
How will the AFC Asian Cup 2023 draw be broadcast?
The draw will be broadcast live on the AFC Asian Cup’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
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