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Qatar drawn with hosts Indonesia, Taiwan & UAE in AFC U-19 Championship

November 01,2024
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19-May-2018

Qatar drawn with hosts Indonesia, Taiwan & UAE in AFC U-19 Championship

DOHA, May 19, 2018 - Qatar have been drawn with hosts Indonesia in Group A for the 40th AFC U-19 Championship. The draw was held in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Friday with Chinese Taipei and the United Arab Emirates completing the group.

Indonesia, who won the U-19 title in 1961, will be hosting the tournament for a third time from October 18 to November 4, 2018. Qatar qualified for the championship after seeing off Iraq in a tense penalty shoot-out in November, 2017.

Al Annabi have already won the championship in 2014 in Myammar beating North Korea 1-0 in the final. The tournament saw the emergence of Al Duhail's Almoez Ali and Al Sadd's Akram Afif, both of whom have gone on to be steady performers for the senior national team.

The young Maroons this time will open their campaign against 2008 champions UAE on October 18. Defending champions Japan, who won their first title at the Bahrain event, will face Thailand, North Korea and Iraq who have won the title five times in Group B.

In Group C, twelve-time champions South Korea, who suffered a heartbreak in 2016 narrowly missing out on the knock-out stage due to goal difference, will be aiming to do better this time against Vietnam, Australia and Jordan.

In Group D, Saudi Arabia are grouped with Tajikistan, 1985 winners China and Malaysia. The draw ceremony began with a traditional Indonesian performance by dancers from the Liga Tari Mahasiswa Universitas Indonesia Krida Budaya, showcasing local folklore dances and music.

In his remarks, Football Association of Indonesia Acting President Joko Driyono said,"We hope that the tournament which will take place in Jakarta in October will show the very best of youth football and escalate the level of football across Asia."

"To all participating teams, I wish you the best," added Driyono.

The tournament kicks off on October 18, but there is more than just the AFC U-19 Championship title on the line, as the top four teams will also secure their spots in the FIFA U-20 World Cup next year in Poland.