May 31 – Eight of Asia’s leading U20 women’s teams are gathering in Vietnam and Myanmar for the final round of centralised group qualifiers for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2024 (March 3 to 16).
This is the 11th edition of the competition and there are four slots to at the finals from the two groups of four – the top two teams in each group qualify.
The three highest-seeded teams from the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship Thailand 2019 – Japan, DPR Korea and Korea Republic – and host nation Uzbekistan are pre-qualified.
Australia and Lebanon kick off the group games on Saturday June 3 at the Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho Province, which will stage all the fixtures in Group A. They are grouped with Iran and hosts Vietnam who play in the later kick off that evening.
Australia have qualified for every finals competition since joining the AFC in 2006 and are looking for a ninth consecutive qualification. Lebanon are taking part in only their third qualifying campaign, having fallen short at this stage in the 2019 edition.
Vietnam squeezed into the final qualifying round due to a better disciplinary record. They home are looking to qualify for their third consecutive finals. Iran are seeking a return since their maiden qualification in 2015.
All Group B games will be played at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, opening China PR and Chinese Taipei, followed by hosts Myanmar against Nepal.
China qualified for every past edition and the only previous champion (2005) to take part in these Qualifiers. Chinese Taipei are aiming to feature for the fifth time with their last appearance coming in 2009.
Myanmar are also seeking fifth qualification and a second straight appearance. They met Nepal in the previous edition of qualifying, which was Nepal’s first campaign. Their sole previous finals participation was in in 2004 as a direct entrant.
GROUPS
Group A: Australia, Vietnam, IR Iran, Lebanon
Group B: China PR, Myanmar, Nepal, Chinese Taipei
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