Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The AFC U-23 Asian Cup draw has placed Qatar’s Olympic team in a challenging Group B, where they will face Japan, the UAE, and Syria.

The draw ceremony took place today at the Asian Football Confederation headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Host nation Saudi Arabia was placed at the top of Group A alongside Vietnam, Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Group C brings together Uzbekistan, South Korea, Iran, and Lebanon, while Group D features Iraq, Australia, Thailand, and China.

The finals are scheduled from January 6 to 25, with 16 teams competing for the continental title. Saudi Arabia secured automatic qualification as hosts, while the remaining 15 teams advanced through the qualifying playoffs.

Qatar booked their place in the tournament after topping Group 8 in the qualifiers held in Doha last September. The team achieved a flawless nine points, defeating Brunei Darussalam 13-0, India 2-1, and Bahrain 2-1.

The top two sides from each group will progress to the quarterfinals, where knockout matches will determine the road to the final.