War Elephants drawn to face Uzbekistan in Asian Cup bid

Thailand will tackle 2011 Asian Cup semi-finalists Uzbekistan within the subsequent spherical of qualifying for subsequent 12 months’s finals in June.

The pair have been drawn in Group C, which can be performed in Uzbekistan, alongside the Maldives and Sri Lanka within the third spherical of qualifying for the continental championship.

The Conflict Elephants will kick-start their bid in opposition to the Maldives on June 8 earlier than going through Sri Lanka on June 11 and Uzbekistan three days later.

The marketing campaign can be one other main take a look at for Mano Polking, the coach who led Thailand to their sixth AFF Suzuki Cup title on Jan 1.

The 24-team finals are on account of be performed in China in June 2023.

Solely the winners of every of the six teams are assured to advance, with the 5 runners-up with one of the best data additionally progressing.

China have already certified as hosts whereas four-time champions Japan in addition to Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Oman, Vietnam and Qatar have already secured their locations.

Two-time quarter-finalists Jordan will meet former champions Kuwait, Indonesia and Nepal in Group A in Kuwait Metropolis whereas Palestine meet the Philippines, Yemen and Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar in Group B.

India will host Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Cambodia in Group D with Group E being performed in Malaysia, the place the hosts can be joined by Bahrain, Turkmenistan and Bangladesh.

Kyrgyzstan can be joined by Central Asian neighbours Tajikistan in Bishkek in Group F, which additionally options Myanmar and Singapore.