With the top three finishers also assured places at next year’s FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Nigeria, the-AFC.com takes a look at some of the competition’s key stats, facts and records.

Blayney’s 23-player squad are lined-up in Group A alongside 2007 champions DPR Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, while Group B consists Japan, China PR, Korea Republic and Myanmar.

The top two teams from each of the two groups in Chonburi will advance to the semi-finals of the competition, with the top three sides at the tournament earning Asia’s qualification slots at the 2020 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Mary, 16, has already received four caps with the Australian national team following her debut off the bench against Brazil in the 2018 Tournament of Nations, and was part of Ante Milicic's 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup squad.

A regular part of the Future Matildas and Young Matildas squad on her way to senior football, the forward scored 17 goals in 10 appearances with the latter and was named in the training camp for the AFC U-19 Championship in Thailand next month.

The AFC U-16 Women’s Championship and the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship – both to be staged in Thailand in late 2019 – are considered some of the strongest women’s youth competitions in the world, producing seven World Cup-winners at either U-17 or U-20 level.

But while both competitions have produced globally competitive age-group sides, their long-term value is highlighted by the central role they played as a pathway to senior World Cup football for Asian players.

Blayney, who represented Australia in 16 ‘A’ international matches between 2004 and 2006, has been working as an Assistant Coach with the Young Matildas over the past three years.

During the same period Blayney, who played professionally in Australia, the United States, and Sweden throughout her career, has served as a second assistant with the Matildas as part of the FFA Female Coach Mentor Programme, and fulfilled lead scout roles for Australia at both the Rio Olympics and the recent 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

Speaking after the tournament’s official draw, - where Thailand were drawn alongside DPR Korea, Australia and Vietnam on Thursday - Tulwattanangkul backed his side to be among the contenders despite not appearing in the tournament’s top four since 2004.

“I think the group is really strong,” he told the-AFC.com. “Both DPR Korea and Australia are really strong teams, and Vietnam is a game where I think we could get some points”

“I have two goals; the first is to get to the semi-finals, and the next goal is to be in the (FIFA U-20 Women’s) World Cup.”

The ceremony, held at Chonburi’s Oakwood Hotel, saw the eight qualified teams split into two groups of four ahead of the competition’s October kick-off, setting the stage for a number of intriguing fixtures.

First-time hosts Thailand have a tough challenge ahead if they are to end a 15-year semi-final drought, after they were drawn alongside DPR Korea, Australia and Southeast Asian neighbours Vietnam in a difficult Group A.

Champions in 2007, DPR Korea were runners-up in the 2017 edition of the competition, while Australia finished in fourth place to narrowly miss out on qualification for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Meanwhile, five-time champions and current title holders Japan will meet China PR in a highly-competitive Group B, which also includes Korea Republic and Myanmar.