Australia’s U-16 and U-19 national teams have learned their path to next year’s AFC Women’s U-16 and U-19 Championships following tonight’s official qualifying draw in Malaysia.
Each side will be vying for one of the four qualifying spots on offer in order to join the semi-finalists from the last edition at the 2017 finals.
Australia’s U-16 side have been drawn in Group D alongside Uzbekistan, Hong Kong, Palestine, Iraq and Vietnam, who will host the pool.
The Aussies have been seeded second based on their performance at the last AFC U-16 Championship in China, with the group winners to join DPR Korea, Japan, China PR and Thailand at the 2017 tournament.
Draw Result
Group A: A1 Thailand (hosts) A2 Myanmar A3 Jordan A4 Guam A5 Laos A6 Pakistan
Group B: B1 Korea Republic B2 India B3 Philippines B4 Malaysia B5 Northern Mariana Islands B6 Lebanon
Group C: C1 Islamic Republic of Iran C2 Chinese Taipei C3 Bangladesh (hosts) C4 United Arab Emirates C5 Kyrgyzstan C6 Singapore
Group D: D1 Uzbekistan D2 Australia D3 Vietnam (hosts) D4 Hong Kong D5 Palestine D6 Iraq
The qualifiers will be played from August 27 to September 4, 2016.
Meanwhile, Australia’s U-19 side joined 18 other qualifiers vying for a spot at the AFC U-19 Championship and have been drawn in Group A, alongside Jordan, Lebabon, Singapore and the Northern Mariana Islands.
The Aussies have been seeded top of their pool, with the four group winners to join Japan, DPR Korea, Korea Republic and China PR, at the finals.
Draw Result
Group A: A1 Australia A2 Jordan A3 Lebanon A4 Singapore A5 Northern Mariana Islands
Group B: B1 Uzbekistan B2 Chinese Taipei B3 Hong Kong B4 Tajikistan (hosts) B5 Pakistan
Group C: C1 Thailand (hosts) C2 Myanmar C3 Palestine C4 Kyrgyzstan
Group D: D1 Iran D2 Vietnam (hosts) D3 India D4 Philippines
The qualifiers will be held from October 29 to November 6, 2016 with the Group A host yet to be determined.