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The complete cast for the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup – Uzbekistan will be unveiled on Tuesday upon the conclusion of the Group H Qualifiers.
Postponed and subsequently relocated from Iraq due to security concerns, Kuwait will host Australia, Iraq and India with the action kicking off on Friday.
Australia
Previous Appearances: 7
Best Finish: Runners-up (2010)
Head Coach: Trevor Morgan
Australia have not failed to qualify for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup since joining the AFC.
Their inaugural appearance in 2006 ended in the quarterfinals, followed by the semifinals in 2008, runners-up in 2010 and semifinals again in 2012.
Their Indonesia 2018 journey ended at the quarterfinal stage and Australia will be determined to not only qualify but challenge for the title in Uzbekistan 2023.
Iraq
Previous Appearances: 17
Best Finish: Champions (1975, 1977, 1978, 1988, 2000)
Head Coach: Emad Mohammed
Iraq have a rich history in the tournament, having won the title five times but their most recent triumph was in 2000.
Their best result since then was finishing runners-up in 2012 after which they did not make the semi-finals of the subsequent editions.
Always a force, the other teams in the group will do well to tread cautiously against a team who have appeared in every edition of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup since 2004.
India
Previous Appearances: 22
Best Finish: Champions (1974)
Head Coach: Shanmugam Venkatesh
India’s last appearance in the Finals was in 2006 and head coach Shanmugam Venkatesh will fire up his charges to end their long wait despite the quality of the opposition they will face.
Having won the recent SAFF U-20 Championship, India will not be lacking in confidence with Venkatesh confident his players will hold their own against the likes of Australia, Iraq and Kuwait.
Kuwait
Previous Appearances: 8
Best Finish: Third (1975, 1978)
Head Coach: Mohammad Alfailakawi
The last of Kuwait’s eight appearances in the Finals was in 2012 and they will be determined to end the wait on home soil.
It won’t be easy, given the opposition they will face, but Kuwait will count on home ground advantage to power them into the Finals.
Fixtures (In Local Time, UTC+3)
October 14: Iraq v India (16:30h); Australia v Kuwait (19:30h)
October 16: India v Australia (16:30h); Kuwait v Iraq (19:30h)
October 18: Australia v Iraq (16:30h); India v Kuwait (19:30h)
