Futsal Draw: Easy for Iran, tough for Japan

Iran, who will be gunning for their ninth title, were the last to be pulled out of the pot for the 16-team event and placed alongside Central Asian side Tajikistan, China and qualifiers Kuwait in Group D.

Unlike Iran, 2006 champions and last edition’s runners-up Japan will have to negotiate a tricky path to the quarter-finals after being pooled in Group B with Australia, who reached the last eight in Osaka last year, Turkmenistan and Chinese Taipei, who came through after a successful qualification campaign.

Hosts Thailand were slotted in Group A with 2007 semi-finalists Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia and, in a match-up reminiscent of the AFC Asian Cup last year, Iraq.

Uzbekistan, one of the strongest teams in Asia who have figured in the semi-finals of all the editions since 2005, will face vastly improved Lebanon, Korea Republic and qualifiers Malaysia in Group C.

The top-two teams in each group progress to the quarter-finals of the May 11-18 competition and the semi-finalists get an invite to the FIFA Futsal World Cup later in the year.

AFC FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2008
FULL GROUPINGS

GROUP A

1. Kyrgyzstan
2. Thailand
3. Iraq
4. Indonesia

GROUP B

1. Japan
2. Australia
3. Turkmenistan
4. Chinese Taipei

GROUP C

1. Uzbekistan
2. Lebanon
3. Korea Republic
4. Malaysia

GROUP D

1. Iran
2. Tajikistan
3. China
4. Kuwait