Stage set for 2020 AFC U-16 & U-19 Championship draws
Both competitions will be significant for the young Asian teams as the leading four sides in the AFC U-16 and AFC U-19 Championships qualify for the scheduled editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru and FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia respectively.
The 16 teams will be divided into four groups in the 19th edition of the AFC U-16 Championship and have been seeded according to their final ranking from the last edition in Malaysia - with host Bahrain occupying the A1 position.
All eyes will be on three-time winners and defending champions Japan who are in Pot 1, alongside 2018 runners-up Tajikistan and Korea Republic who finished third in 2018.
Australia and DPR Korea, winners in 2010 and 2014, take their place in Pot 2 together with Indonesia as well as the 1996 and 2000 champions Oman.
Occupying Pot 3 are India and 2008 champions Islamic Republic of Iran, alongside 2002 runners-up Yemen and two-time winners Saudi Arabia while China PR, Uzbekistan, Qatar and United Arab Emirates are in the final pot as they make a return to the tournament after missing out on the last edition.
Meanwhile, the AFC U-19 Championship 2020 will see title holders Saudi Arabia in Pot 1 with hosts Uzbekistan, Korea Republic, the tournament’s most successful team with 12 titles, and Qatar.
Japan, who claimed their first-ever title in 2016, join Tajikistan and 2010 runners-up Australia in Pot 2 with the host for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup, Indonesia, completing the line-up.
Malaysia and four-time winners Iraq have their names in Pot 3 together with Vietnam and Cambodia, who will be making their first appearance in the competition since 1974.
Four-time winners Islamic Republic of Iran, 2016 hosts Bahrain alongside debutants Yemen and Laos are in the final pot.
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