Epic encounters destined for Doha

AFC – DOHA, The 16 teams taking part in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™ learned the first steps on their path to continental glory following Friday’s official draw for the finals of the 15th edition of the AFC’s flagship international tournament.

The draw at the Aspire Academy set up some truly mouth-watering fixtures at next year’s tournament when, in the words of AFC President Mohamed bin Hammam, “players, coaches, referees and fans are keen to show that the future is Asia.”

Group A

A1. Qatar
A2. Kuwait
A3. China
A4. Uzbekistan

Qatar, hosts for the second time after putting on the ninth edition of the tournament in 1988, were seeded first but at this level of competition it offered no real advantage for Bruno Metsu’s side.

The Qataris will open their continental campaign against Uzbekistan, who along with Syria were the first side to book their place in the finals through the qualifying tournament, while the other Match Day 1 fixture sees Qatar’s Gulf Cup rivals take on China, hosts and runners-up at the 2004 AFC Asian Cup

Match Day 1
Qatar v Uzbekistan, Kuwait v China

Match Day 2
Uzbekistan v Kuwait, China v Qatar

Match Day 3
Qatar v Kuwait, China v Uzbekistan

Group B
B1. Saudi Arabia
B2. Japan
B3. Jordan
B4. Syria

Group B offers what could be the match of the group stage as the draw sets up a clash between two Asian football titans in the form of last tournament runners-up Saudi Arabia and Japan, both three-time AFC Asian Cup champions.

The epic East-West showdown – a repeat of the 2000 final which ended in victory for the Japanese – doesn’t take place until Match Day 3, by which time the two other teams in the group, Jordan and Syria, will have also staked their claim for a place in the quarter-finals

Match Day 1
Saudi Arabia v Syria, Japan v Jordan

Match Day 2
Syria v Japan, Jordan v Saudi Arabia

Match Day 3
Saudi Arabia v Japan, Jordan v Syria

Group C
C1. Korea Republic
C2. India
C3. Australia
C4. Bahrain

India, who made Asian football history by becoming the first nation to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup finals by winning the AFC Challenge in 2008, have been handed an extremely tough draw as the South Asian nation returns to the continental finals for the first time since 1984.

Bob Houghton’s side begin their campaign against Australia, who are taking part in the continental finals for the second time as a member of the Asian Football Confederation following their tournament debut in 2007, in a group that also includes the always-dangerous Bahrain and Korea Republic, who are appearing at the AFC Asian Cup for a record equalling 12th time.

Match Day 1
Korea Republic v Bahrain, India v Australia

Match Day 2
Bahrain v India, Australia v Korea Republic

Match Day 3
Korea Republic v India, Australia v Bahrain

Group D
D1. Iraq
D2. DPR Korea
D3. UAE
D4. Iran

AFC Asian Cup holders Iraq, who made headlines all over the world by overcoming the upheaval back in their homeland to defeat Saudi Arabia in a memorable final in Jakarta in 2007, couldn’t have had tougher start to the defence of their title, with the draw seeing them take on three-time champions Iran in the Group D curtain raiser.

In addition to Iran, who share the record for AFC Asian Cup appearances having participated at 12 tournaments, Group D also consists of experienced campaigners the UAE, making their eighth appearance at the finals, and DPR Korea, 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the second team to qualify by winning the AFC Challenge Cup following their penalty shootout win over Turkmenistan in the 2010 final.

Match Day 1
Iraq v Iran, DPR Korea v UAE

Match Day 2
Iran v DPR Korea, UAE v Iraq

Match Day 3
Iraq v DPR Korea, UAE v Iran