February 14 – The AFC has held the draw for the men’s U23 Championship to be held in Uzbekistan this summer.
Uzbekistan, winners in 2018, will start as one of the favourites and have been drawn with Iran, Qatar and tournament newcomers Turkmenistan in Group A.
It will be the fifth edition of the U23 championship and the first time it has been staged in Central Asia, with Uzbekistan hosting 32 matches across the cities of Tashkent and Karshi from June 1 to 19.
Australia, third in the 2020 edition, were drawn in Group B with Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait. South Korea will be the favourites for Group C where they have been drawn with Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Japan, the 2016 champions, are in Group D with 2020 runners-up Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and debutants Tajikistan.
The U23 Asian Cup has been a showcase for many of Asia’s emerging stars including providing first international sight of Mehdi Taremi from Iran (now with Porto), AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 winner and top goal scorer Almoez Ali of Qatar, and Japan and Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino.
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