Muscat:

Muscat:  Team Melli U-22 was drawn in a difficult group  of the Inaugural AFC U-22 Championship as the draw was conducted in the capital of the Sultanate of Oman on Saturday.  Japan, Australia, and Kuwait will be challenging Iran for a place in the next round.  Team Melli U-22 has already faced Kuwait in the Qualifiers and beat them by the slimmest of margins 1-0.

A total of sixteen teams – Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, Kuwait, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Japan Australia, DPR Korea, China, Korea Republic, Myanmar and hosts Oman, who have qualified for the tournament proper, learned their fate in the draw.

The opening match of the hosts taking on Myanmar will be held on January 11, 2014 at the famous Sultan Qaboos Stadium of Muscat. Korea Republic and Jordan are the other sides in Group A.

The tournament is the first edition of the U-22 championship and every alternate championship will serve as the Olympic qualifiers.

DPR Korea, are pitted alongside other West Asian countries – the UAE, Syria and Yemen in Group B.

Asian football powerhouse Japan are in tough Group C which also features Australia, Iran and Kuwait while Iraq will meet Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and China in Group D.

THE GROUPINGS

Group A: Oman, Jordan, Korea Republic, Myanmar

Group B : DPR Korea, UAE, Syria, Yemen

Group C: Japan, Australia, Iran, Kuwait

Group D: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, China