AFC Asian Cup 2007: AFC Competitions Committee approves team classifications and final draw procedur

Japan, China, Iran, Bahrain, Uzbekistan and Jordan will come out of the pots as the top six seeds during the draw for the qualification rounds of the AFC Asian Cup 2007 here at the AFC House on January 4, 2006.

The team classifications and pot allocations were approved by the AFC Competitions Committee.

The 24 teams have been divided into four pots (A-D) of six each. The draw, which will be held in the presence of the representatives of the teams, will slot four teams each into six groups (A-F), with the top two teams from each group advancing to the final round. Teams from the same pot will not face each other.

The four hosts – Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand – automatically qualify for the tournament proper.

While pot A comprises the top six seeds, pot B has Korea Republic, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, ranked from 7th to 12th.

In pot C (seeds 13-18) are UAE, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Palestine, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, Pakistan/Bangladesh, India and Australia have been placed in pot D and seeded 19th to 24th.

Pakistan and Bangladesh will clash in a pre-qualification double-header whose dates have not yet been finalised. The winner of this two-legged playoff will make it to the qualifying rounds.

Australia, who join the AFC on January 1, 2006, are the bottom seeds in pot D.

The teams have been classified on the basis of both the preliminary and final rounds of the 2004 AFC Asian Cup.

(AFC)