Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Ho Chi Minh City: Reigning champions Japan will renew acquaintances with Kyrgyzstan after both were pooled in Group D at the official draw for the AFC Futsal Championship Vietnam 2014 on Saturday.
The Japanese beat the Central Asians 1-0 in their quarter-final tie in the previous edition hosted by the UAE in 2012 and now they will be locking horns again in their group which will also see another Central Asian side Uzbekistan and Korea Republic as fellow contenders.
Last edition’s third-place finishers Iran are also meeting a former foe in the form of fourth-placed Australia, both of whom advanced to the knockout stage of UAE 2012 after finishing in the top two in their group.
Both sides will go head-to-head again in this year’s competition, with China and Indonesia completing Group B.
UAE 2012’s runners-up Thailand were pitted against quarter-finalists Lebanon, Chinese Taipei and Malaysia in Group C.
Hosts Vietnam will be entertaining last edition’s quarter-finalists Kuwait, Tajikistan and Iraq in Group A.
The top three ranked teams from the previous edition, Japan, Thailand and Iran, qualified automatically to the finals while the Vietnamese qualified as hosts. The other 12 teams qualified from their respective qualifying zones to complete the line up for the 16-team competition, which will be held from 30 April to 10 May.
**The Groups:**
Group A: Vietnam, Kuwait, Tajikistan, Iraq
Group B: Iran, Australia, China, Indonesia
Group C: Thailand, Lebanon, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia
Group D: Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Korea Republic
Photo: WSG