The Joeys - who have been drawn in Group B for the World Cup in Brazil alongside Ecuador, Hungary, and Nigeria - will play U-17 selections from hosts England, Korea Republic, and Brazil in the United Kingdom from September 6-10.

The friendlies will represent crucial, high-level game time for the group who have recently completed two training camps in Canberra before they compete at this year’s tournament, which will take place from October 26 to November 17.

Twelve Asian officials have been appointed for the tournament, with the contingent led by referees Khamis Al Marri from Qatar, Australia's Chris Beath and China PR's Ma Ning.

Japan, who defeated Tajikistan to lift the 2018 AFC U-16 Championship title in Kuala Lumpur, will fancy their chances of advancing to the knockout stage in their ninth appearance in the Finals.

Tajikistan, meanwhile, were drawn in Group E with Spain, Argentina and Cameroon and the Central Asians - who will be making their second appearance in the Finals - will be eager to test themselves after their fabulous run in the 2018 AFC U-16 Championship.

Head coach Trevor Morgan and his staff will train the squad at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra between July 11 and 18.

On the first evening of camp, the Joeys will also find out who they will face in the Group Stage in Brazil in October and November, as the draw is conducted at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.

Reaching the last eight marks Team Melli’s best result in the history of the competition and continues a remarkable few months of success.

Coach Abbas Chamanian’s charges were the only team in the world to qualify for five different FIFA tournaments in 2016/2017 – an outstanding achievement unparalleled even by nations such as Brazil, Germany and France.

Twenty of Australia’s best youth footballers will travel to Antalya in March for matches against the host nation on March 4, Tanzania (March 6), and Guinea (March 8).

The friendly tournament will provide the Joeys with crucial matches and time together ahead of October’s 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru.

Morgan’s squad includes 13 players aligned with A-League clubs, five players based in Europe, and two players hailing from clubs in the New South Wales National Premier Leagues.

The Joeys qualified for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup after making the semi-finals of the 2018 AFC U16 Championship held in Malaysia last September, and one of the first components of the squad’s preparations for Peru will be fixtures against Turkey, Tanzania, and Guinea in Antalya between March 4 and 8.

Australia is the only nation outside of UEFA and CAF to receive an invitation to the preparatory tournament. The tournament will also feature teams from Morocco, Cameroon, Uganda, Montenegro, Senegal, Angola, Nigeria, and Belarus.