AFC Asian Cup: India placed in Group B with Australia, hosts Qatar in Group A alongside China

Indian men’s football team have been placed in Group B for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup alongside title contenders Australia, the 2015 champions, with the other two spots going to Uzbekistan and Syria following the draw on Thursday in Doha.

The Blue Tigers, who are ranked 101 in the FIFA Rankings, and will be playing the AFC Asian Cup for the fifth time, will battle with Australia (ranked 29th), Uzbekistan (ranked 74th), and Syria (ranked 90th) for a place in the round of 16.

The top two teams from each of the six groups will directly qualify for the round of 16 while the four best third-placed teams will join them in the knockouts to make up the numbers.

This is the first time the Indian men have qualified for the tournament finals two editions in a row.

India finished third in their group in the AFC Asian Cup qualifying second round. In the third round of qualifying, Stimac’s team won all three of their group matches against Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Cambodia to secure their place in the AFC Asian Cup finals.

AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, Senior Men’s National Team head coach Igor Stimac, and Women’s national coach Maymol Rocky were present at the Qatar Opera House for...

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