he draw for the Asian Cup 2023 took place on Thursday at the Katara Opera House in Doha, Qatar in the presence of FIFA president Gianni Infantino and AFC president His Excellency Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

Hosts and reigning champions Qatar have been clubbed in Group A alongside China, Lebanon and debutants Tajikistan while four-time winners Japan will face Indonesia, Iraq and Vietnam in Group D. Saudi Arabia who had shocked the world by beating Argentina in their 2022 World Cup opener are in Group F alongside Thailand, Kyrgyz Republic and Oman.

AFC Asian Cup 2023 draw:

Group A: Qatar, China, Tajikistan, Lebanon

Group B: Australia, Uzbekistan, Syria, India

Group C: Iran, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Palestine

Group D: Japan, Indonesia, Iraq, Vietnam

Group E: South Korea, Malaysia, Jordan, Bahrain

Group F: Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Kyrgyz Republic, Oman