SHENZHEN, CHINA: The draw for the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup, held on Thursday in Shenzhen, China, set the stage for intense matchups as 16 national teams gear up for the prestigious tournament. The 42nd edition of this competition will run from February 12 to March 1, 2025, with China automatically qualifying as the host nation. The remaining 15 teams secured their spots through a competitive qualifying process completed last month.   In Group A, Qatar faces a challenging path as they go up against host nation China, alongside strong contenders Australia and Kyrgyzstan.   Group B brings together three West Asian teams – Iraq, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia – alongside the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, promising a series of thrilling regional battles. Group C sees Uzbekistan, Iran, Indonesia, and Yemen in action, while Group D features Japan, the Republic of Korea, Syria, and Thailand. Among the participants, 12 teams will be vying for the championship, including record titleholder Republic of Korea, aiming for their 13th trophy and first since 2012. Uzbekistan, the defending champions from 2023, will also be in the spotlight.   The tournament’s top four teams will secure coveted spots at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, and Yemen will be seeking to make history by reaching the global tournament for the first time.   Group Draw Results for the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup in China:

• Group A: China, Australia, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar
• Group B: Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Democratic People's Republic of Korea
• Group C: Uzbekistan, Iran, Indonesia, Yemen
• Group D: Japan, Republic of Korea, Syria, Thailand