Central Asians bunched together in U-16

AFC has confirmed the hosts of four qualifying groups for the 2012 AFC U-16 Championship.

AFC has confirmed the hosts of four qualifying groups for the 2012 AFC U-16 Championship. 

Iraq will play host to Group A while the Group B qualifiers will be played in Kuwait. Nepal will host Group D while Laos will host Group F games. 

Matches of groups without hosts will be organised in a neutral venue and AFC has asked the participating teams of the respective groups to express their interest to host, if they wish, by April 27. 

If none of the countries come forward with an intention to host the qualifying groups, matches of Group C, E and G will be played at a neutral venue. 

Central Asian neighbours Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan found themselves in the same group in the AFC U-16 Championship 2012 qualifiers on Wednesday. 

Uzbekistan, who finished runners-up in the last edition of the competition, were placed in Group C alongside Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Bahrain and India. 

Forty teams were divided into two zones and separated in seven groups of six or five teams each. Each group will play one round league at a centralised venue and top two teams from each group will make it to the tournament proper. 

Third best teams from each West and East zones will complete the 16-team line up of the 2012 finals. 

Defending champions DPR Korea were placed in Group E along with China, Timor Leste, Singapore, Malaysia and Macau. 

THE GROUPINGS 

Group A: Iraq, Iran, Bangladesh, Qatar, Palestine, Sri Lanka 
Group B: UAE, Kuwait, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Maldives 
Group C: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Bahrain, Kyrgyzstan, India 
Group D: Syria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Lebanon 
Group E: DPR Korea, China, Timor Leste, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau 
Group F: Japan, Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, Laos, Korea Republic, Cambodia 
Group G: Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Guam