The draws for the AFC U20 Asian Cup China PR 2025 Qualifiers were held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.
India were drawn alongside IR Iran, Mongolia and Laos in Group G. The matches will be hosted by Laos between September 21-29, 2024.
45 teams were divided into 10 groups – five groups of four each and five groups of five. The 10 group winners and five best second-placed teams among all groups will advance to the Finals, with China PR scheduled to host the tournament between February 6-23, 2025.
India will aim to qualify for the AFC U20 Asian Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2006. Their best result at the tournament was joint champions alongside Iran in 1974 when the tournament was known as AFC Youth Cup. India have played the AFC Youth/U19/U20 Asian Cup 22 times. India reached quarterfinal five times – 1966, 1967, 1970, 1977 and 2002. Eliminated from group stage sixteen times – 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2004 and 2006 (host).
Before the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers, India will participate in the SAFF U20 Championship, to be held in Nepal between August 16-28, 2024.
AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers 2025 Draw Result:
Group A: Vietnam (H), Syria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Guam
Group B: Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Chinese Taipei (H), Cambodia, Nepal
Group C: Korea Republic, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait (H), Northern Mariana Islands
Group D: Australia, Saudi Arabia (H), Palestine, Afghanistan, Macau
Group E: Tajikistan (H), Oman, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, DPR Korea
Group F: Indonesia (H), Yemen, Timor-Leste, Maldives
Group G: IR Iran, Mongolia, India, Laos (H)
Group H: Iraq, Thailand (H), Philippines, Brunei Darussalam
Group I: Japan, Kyrgyz Republic (H), Myanmar, Turkmenistan
Group J: Jordan, Qatar (H), Singapore, Hong Kong, China
Picture Courtesy: AIFF Media
