Picture Credit: Twitter
With the AFC Asian Cup 2023 set to take place earlier next year, the final draw for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 is set to be held in a couple days of time on Thursday, May 11 at the Katara Opera House, in Doha. The tournament which will kick off on January 12, 2024, India have been placed in Pot four for the final draws with Tajikistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, and Indonesia. It is to be noted that India is currently ranked 101 in the world with their peak coming in 2018 when they were ranked 97th.
The top 24 teams in the FIFA rankings will face off in a thrilling event in Qatar after a competitive qualification period that lasted for three years and ended in June 2022. The teams are divided into four Pots of six each in accordance with the latest FIFA Rankings. The teams are drawn into six groups of four each across Groups A to F. Qatar will commence the tournament and are placed in Pot one.
Tajikistan, who will make their debut in the tournament, courtesy of the winning goal from Shervoni Mabatshoev's against Singapore on 11 June 2022 during the third round of Qualifiers which sealed the qualification. Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, and Malaysia are the only teams at the 2023 edition that were not involved in the last edition of the competition in the UAE.
Pot 1: Qatar, Japan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Korea Republic, Australia, Saudi Arabia
Pot 2: Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Uzbekistan, China, Jordan
Pot 3: Bahrain, Syria, Palestine, Vietnam, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon
Pot 4: India, Tajikistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Indonesia
