ASEAN champions Vietnam have been placed in a tough Group G of Round Two of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 that was conducted earlier today at the AFC House.
Joining Vietnam in Group G are ASEAN neighbours Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia alongside the United Arab Emirates.
Australia, who became the record fifth Asian team at a World Cup Finals after going through the Inter-Continental Playoff to earn a berth in Russia 2018, will go up against Jordan, Chinese Taipei, Kuwait and Nepal in Group B.
Another ASEAN side Cambodia are in Group C against Asia’s top ranked team Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and Hong Kong.
Myanmar are in Group F with Japan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Mongolia while Singapore are in Group D against Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Palestine and Yemen.
The Philippines are in Group A in the same company with China PR, Syria, Maldives and Guam.
Korea Republic, who have appeared in every edition of the FIFA World Cup Finals since 1986, will have Lebanon, DPR Korea, Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka in Group H of the Asian Qualifiers.
Qatar, who will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, were drawn in Group E alongside Bangladesh, Oman, India and Afghanistan in their bid to defend the AFC Asian Cup they won in spectacular fashion in the UAE last February.
The eight group winners and four best runners-up will advance to the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Finals and the final round of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
However, should Qatar win their group, the seven other group winners and five best second-placed sides will advance to the final round of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The next best 24 teams from the second round of the joint qualifiers will compete in a separate competition for the remaining 12 slots in the 24-team AFC Asian Cup China 2023.
