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Thursday’s 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup – Uzbekistan draw produced four exciting groups for the June 1-19 continental showpiece.
With the groups now decided and the countdown underway, join AFC Media as they take a deep look at what awaits the 16 teams at Uzbekistan 2022.
Group A: Uzbekistan, Iran, Qatar, Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan will expect to advance to the knockout stage on home soil but Thursday’s draw would have left them fearing the unknown after being drawn alongside Iran, Qatar and debutants Turkmenistan.
Uzbekistan have enjoyed success in the last two editions of the tournament – winning the title in 2018 and finishing fourth two years ago – but will be wary of their group stage opponents come June.
Iran and Qatar, big hitters at the senior level, will be looking to make an impact on a tournament neither has won before and this spells danger for Uzbekistan.
Qatar’s best was a third-placed finish in 2018 while Iran have not featured in the semifinals of the previous four editions and Uzbekistan 2022 could well be the platform for both to deliver.
Turkmenistan will be an unknown quantity for all three teams and the Central Asian side will relish the opportunity of testing themselves against higher ranked opposition in their debut AFC U-23 Asian Cup appearance.
Group B: Australia, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait
Another exciting group with Iraq the only side to have lifted the trophy before – in 2013.
Australia enjoyed success in Bangkok 2020 as a third-placed finish meant qualification to the Tokyo Olympics, ending a 14-year wait to return to the Games.
Olympic berths will not be at stake in Uzbekistan 2022 but all four sides will be targeting regional glory with Australia aiming to surely better their 2020 finish.
Jordan made a quarterfinal exit two years ago, having finished third in 2013 while Kuwait return to the Finals for the first time in nine years.
Group C: South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia
South Korea will have a clear target – to be the first team to win back-to-back AFC U-23 Asian Cup titles.
The only country to have featured in the semi-finals off all the previous four editions, South Korea edged Saudi Arabia in the 2020 final to make up for their runners-up position in 2016 and fourth-placed finishes in 2013 and 2018.
Standing in the defending champions way will be a trio of ASEAN teams, which adds a subplot to an already exciting group.
By the time the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup – Uzbekistan kicks off, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam could have already met several times this year.
The AFF U-23 Championship is currently ongoing in Phnom Penh while the 2021 SEA Games will be held just a few weeks before Uzbekistan 2022, meaning all three will be battle hardened and ready for their AFC U-23 Asian Cup challenge.
Group D: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Japan, Tajikistan
Denied the Thailand 2020 title by South Korea, Saudi Arabia will aim to finally lay their hands on the trophy after having finished runners-up twice in the previous four editions.
It won’t be easy though as Japan, UAE and debutants Tajikistan will all fancy their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.
Japan, champions in 2016, exited at the group stage in 2020 and will be looking to redeem themselves.
UAE, meanwhile, had to endure quarterfinal exits in all their three previous appearances in the tournament while Tajikistan will be aiming to mark their debut by stunning their higher ranked opponents.
