MANAMA: Defending champions Qatar on Saturday were placed in Group C of the 16-team AFC Asian U-19 Cup to be held in Bahrain in October this year. At the draw ceremony conducted in Manama on Saturday, Qatar were penciled in with Japan, Yemen and Iran. In Group, hosts Bahrain will compete against Thailand, Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia while in Group B, North Korea will be joined by the UAE, Iraq and Vietnam. In Group D, Uzbekistan have China, Australia and Tajikistan for company. Qatar are the defending champions having clinched the title after a feisty final against North Korea in Myanmar in October 14. The draw for the AFC U-19 in 2016: - Group A: Bahrain, Thailand, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia - Group B: North Korea, UAE, Iraq, Vietnam - Group C: Qatar, Japan, Yemen, Iran - Group D: Uzbekistan, China, Australia, Tajikistan Group A: A1 Bahrain A2 Thailand A3 Korea Republic A4 Saudi Arabia Group B: B1 DPR Korea B2 United Arab Emirates B3 Iraq B4 Vietnam Group C: C1 Qatar C2 Japan C3 Yemen C4 IR Iran Group A: D1 Uzbekistan D2 China PR D3 Australia D4 Tajikistan Opening Group Games: Group A (October 13): Bahrain v A4 & A2 v A3 Group B (October 14): B1 v B4 & B2 v B3 Group C (October 14): C1 v C4 & C2 v C3 Group D (October 15): D1 v D4 & D2 v D3 Quarter-Finals: October 23 & 24 Semi-Finals: October 27 Final: October 30 Each group will play a one-round league, from which the top two teams in each group (eight teams in total) will qualify for the knockout stage (quarter-finals). The four winners of the quarter-finals will qualify for the semi-finals and the winners of semi-finals will advance to the final. The Championship's top four ranked teams will then fly the Asian flag at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017. If Korea Republic finish among the Championship's top four teams, three play-off matches will be organised among the four losing teams of the quarter-finals to determine the fifth placed team that willqualify for Korea Republic 2017.