Nepal, also confirmed as the host of group D qualifiers of U-16 category, to be held from September 10-25 in the capital, are pitted against Syria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon. [break]
In U-19 section, Nepal has been pitted in group A against Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Bangladesh and Maldives. The venue and date for the U-19 qualifiers is yet to be finalized.
Qualifiers of both the categories will be held on round robin basis.
In total, 40 and 39 teams are competing in U-16 and U-19 categories respectively. In both categories the participating teams are divided into seven groups with five or six teams in each group. Top two teams from each group will make it to the final round which will be joined by third best team, one each from West and East Zone making a total of 16 teams in the final round.
North Korea is the defending champions of both age groups. Uzbekistan and Australia are the runners-up of U-16 and U-19 categories respectively.
U-19 groupings
Group A: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives
Group B: Bahrain, Jordan, Tajikistan, Qatar, Kuwait, Bhutan
Group C: Uzbekistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan
Group D: UAE, Syria, Yemen, Palestine, Lebanon
Group E: Korea Republic, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Guam, Chinese Taipei
Group F: DPR Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos
Group G: Australia, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Macau
U-16 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
Nepal meet East Timor in World Cup qualifiers
KATHMANDU (REPUBLICA): Nepal has got East Timor as their opponents in the initial qualifiers from Asian region for 2014 FIFA World Cup Football to be held in Brazil.
According to the draw made public by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Wednesday, Nepal will play against comparatively weaker side East Timor on 29 June and July 3 on a home and away format. East Timor are ranked 201 and Nepal 172 in the FIFA rankings.
The winner among them will meet Jordan in the second round. The second round qualifiers, also on home and away format, will be held on July 23 and 28. In total 16 bottom-ranked teams affiliated to the AFC will play the first round qualifiers on the home and away format.
Likewise, 22 nations have got direct entry into the second round qualifiers and 20 top ranked teams including Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Australia and Bahrain have got direct entry for the third round.
Top four teams from Asian will get direct entry into the World Cup.
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