AFC U23 Asian Cup
The cast was finalised following the conclusion of Groups D and I on Tuesday and fans are in for a treat next June with the cream of Asia's rising stars to feature in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022
As the countdown begins, join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the 16 teams who will be vying for the title
As the countdown begins, join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the 16 teams who will be vying for the title
Uzbekistan - Qualified as Hosts
Having sealed their place in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2022 as hosts, Uzbekistan played in Group D of the Qualifiers for exposure and impressed.
Having sealed their place in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2022 as hosts, Uzbekistan played in Group D of the Qualifiers for exposure and impressed.
The Central Asian side played to a 2-2 draw with 2020 runners-up Saudi Arabia, defeated Bangladesh 6-0 and impressively beat Group D winners Kuwait 5-1 in their final match.
Champions in 2018, Uzbekistan look set to be a force to be reckoned with when they host Asia's best in June 2022.
Champions in 2018, Uzbekistan look set to be a force to be reckoned with when they host Asia's best in June 2022.
Qatar - Group A Winners
Previous Best: Third in 2018
2020 Record: Group Stage
Having cruised to 3-0 and 5-0 wins over Yemen and Sri Lanka, Qatar showed their resilience as they came from behind to force a 1-1 draw with Syria to emerge Group A winners.
Previous Best: Third in 2018
2020 Record: Group Stage
Having cruised to 3-0 and 5-0 wins over Yemen and Sri Lanka, Qatar showed their resilience as they came from behind to force a 1-1 draw with Syria to emerge Group A winners.
Similar resilience will be needed in the Finals if Qatar are to better their third-placed finish of 2018, which the West Asians will be confident of showing against the continent's best teams.
Islamic Republic of Iran - Group B Winners
Previous Best: Quarter-finalists in 2016
2020 Record: Group Stage
Islamic Republic of Iran showed in the Qualifiers that they will be a side to beat in Uzbekistan 2022 after winning Group B.
Previous Best: Quarter-finalists in 2016
2020 Record: Group Stage
Islamic Republic of Iran showed in the Qualifiers that they will be a side to beat in Uzbekistan 2022 after winning Group B.
Team Melli Omid cruised to 4-0 and 2-0 wins over Nepal and Lebanon respectively and when faced by an impressive Tajikistan side, Iran showed their steely side as they carved out a 3-2 win, with captain Yasin Salmani firing a hat-trick.
Iraq - Group C Winners
Previous Best: Champions in 2013
2020 Record: Group Stage
Iraq are another former champion team headed to Uzbekistan 2022 and if their form in the Qualifiers is any indication, the West Asian side will be a hard team to contain in the Finals.
Previous Best: Champions in 2013
2020 Record: Group Stage
Iraq are another former champion team headed to Uzbekistan 2022 and if their form in the Qualifiers is any indication, the West Asian side will be a hard team to contain in the Finals.
Having opened their campaign with a 4-0 win over Maldives in the three-team group, Iraq were equally dominant against hosts Bahrain as they registered a 3-0 triumph and they will be aiming to impress after their group stage exit in 2020.
Kuwait - Group D Winners
Previous Best: Group Stage in 2013
2020 Record: Did not qualify
Kuwait were one of the revelations of the Qualifiers, defeating Bangladesh 1-0 in their opener before stunning 2020 runners-up Saudi Arabia 2-1 to confirm top spot in Group D.
Previous Best: Group Stage in 2013
2020 Record: Did not qualify
Kuwait were one of the revelations of the Qualifiers, defeating Bangladesh 1-0 in their opener before stunning 2020 runners-up Saudi Arabia 2-1 to confirm top spot in Group D.
Having previously only appeared once in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Finals, Kuwait will be determined to carry their form from the Qualifiers into Uzbekistan 2022.
United Arab Emirates - Group E Winners
Previous Best: Quarter-finalists in 2013, 2016, 2020
United Arab Emirates will fancy their chances after progressing as Group E winners despite a tough qualifying campaign.
Previous Best: Quarter-finalists in 2013, 2016, 2020
United Arab Emirates will fancy their chances after progressing as Group E winners despite a tough qualifying campaign.
They opened with a 2-1 defeat to Kyrgyz Republic but bounced back superbly to beat India 1-0 and Oman 2-0 and will be hoping to go further than their previous campaigns, all of which ended in the quarter-finals.
Jordan - Group F Winners
Previous Best: Third in 2013
2020 Record: Quarter-finals
A late Palestine goal nearly threw a spanner in the works but Jordan held on for a 1-1 draw, having beaten Turkmenistan 1-0 in their opener, to top Group F.
Previous Best: Third in 2013
2020 Record: Quarter-finals
A late Palestine goal nearly threw a spanner in the works but Jordan held on for a 1-1 draw, having beaten Turkmenistan 1-0 in their opener, to top Group F.
Having advanced to the knockout stage in three of their four appearances in the AFC U23 Asian Cup, Jordan will be confident of matching Asia's best in the 2022 Finals.
Australia - Group G winners
Previous Best: Third in 2020
Perennial qualifiers for the AFC U23 Asian Cup, Australia achieved their best result in the 2020 edition by finishing third to seal a berth in the Tokyo Olympics.
Previous Best: Third in 2020
Perennial qualifiers for the AFC U23 Asian Cup, Australia achieved their best result in the 2020 edition by finishing third to seal a berth in the Tokyo Olympics.
Having edged a difficult Indonesian side over two matches in Group G, Australia will surely be aiming to better their third-placed finish of 2020.
Korea Republic - Group H winners
Previous Best: Champions in 2020
Korea Republic were unchallenged in Group H as they cruised to three wins, scoring 14 goals and conceding only once.
Previous Best: Champions in 2020
Korea Republic were unchallenged in Group H as they cruised to three wins, scoring 14 goals and conceding only once.
They won the title in 2020, having finished fourth, second and fourth in the three prior editions and will be among the favourites yet again in Uzbekistan 2022.
Vietnam - Group I winners
Previous Best: Runners-up in 2018
2020 Record: Group Stage
Narrow 1-0 wins over Chinese Taipei and Myanmar sealed Vietnam a fourth consecutive AFC U23 Asian Cup Finals appearance.
Previous Best: Runners-up in 2018
2020 Record: Group Stage
Narrow 1-0 wins over Chinese Taipei and Myanmar sealed Vietnam a fourth consecutive AFC U23 Asian Cup Finals appearance.
The Southeast Asians will now prepare to go one better than their 2018 exploits, where they captured the imagination of the continent with their swashbuckling style of play en route to their runners-up finish.
Malaysia - Group J winners
Previous Best: Quarter-finalists in 2018
2020 Record: Did not qualify
Malaysia will be making only their second appearance in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Finals, having made a quarter-final exit in 2018.
Previous Best: Quarter-finalists in 2018
2020 Record: Did not qualify
Malaysia will be making only their second appearance in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Finals, having made a quarter-final exit in 2018.
The Southeast Asians will be determined to match the continent's best, especially after a qualifying campaign that saw them defeat Laos and Mongolia and play to a draw with Thailand.
Japan - Group K winners
Previous Best: Champions in 2016
2020 Record: Group Stage
Japan, as always, had an impressive qualifying campaign - defeating Cambodia and Hong Kong by 4-0 margins.
Previous Best: Champions in 2016
2020 Record: Group Stage
Japan, as always, had an impressive qualifying campaign - defeating Cambodia and Hong Kong by 4-0 margins.
The former champions will be determined to impress in Uzbekistan 2022, having suffered a group stage exit in 2020.
Thailand - Best Runners-up (Group J)
Previous Best: Quarter-finalists in 2020
Hosts of the 2020 edition, Thailand were not at their customary best in the qualifiers with their 3-0 win against Laos sandwiched by draws with Mongolia (2-2) and Malaysia (0-0).
Previous Best: Quarter-finalists in 2020
Hosts of the 2020 edition, Thailand were not at their customary best in the qualifiers with their 3-0 win against Laos sandwiched by draws with Mongolia (2-2) and Malaysia (0-0).
Their haul of four points, however, saw them qualify as the best of the four runners-up to advance and Thailand will now focus on preparing for a successful Finals.
Saudi Arabia - Second Best Runners-up (Group D)
Previous Best: Runners-up in 2013, 2020
Saudi Arabia had to wait till Tuesday to book their place in Uzbekistan 2022 with a 3-0 win over Bangladesh.
Previous Best: Runners-up in 2013, 2020
Saudi Arabia had to wait till Tuesday to book their place in Uzbekistan 2022 with a 3-0 win over Bangladesh.
The 2020 runners-up had opened their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Kuwait but having safely advanced, their thoughts will now be on preparing well for next June's challenge.
Turkmenistan - Third best runners-up (Group F)
Turkmenistan will be one of two sides making their debut in the AFC U23 Asian Cup after finishing second in Group F.
Turkmenistan will be one of two sides making their debut in the AFC U23 Asian Cup after finishing second in Group F.
A 3-1 win over Palestine ultimately proved enough for the Central Asians to clinch a place and they will be relishing the opportunity to locks horns against the Continent's best age-group teams.
Tajikistan - Fourth best runners-up (Group B)
Tajikistan will also be making their debut in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Finals and it will be a well deserved appearance.
Tajikistan will also be making their debut in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Finals and it will be a well deserved appearance.
The Central Asian side may have just snuck in - advancing due to a better disciplinary record - but they impressed in their qualifying campaign as they ran IR Iran close in the group decider before eventually losing 3-2.
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