Bahrain getting set to host Asian U-20 qualifiers

TDT | Manama                                                                         

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain is getting all set to host the qualifying matches of Group B for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2023 next week.

Five junior national teams from across the continent are set to feature in the games. They include hosts Bahrain, Bhutan, Qatar, Nepal and Bangladesh.

There are 44 teams overall in the qualification competition, and they have been divided into 10 groups. In each group, the teams will play each other at a centralised venue.

Group A is to be held in Saudi Arabia, Group C in Laos, Group D in Jordan, Group E in Mongolia, Group F in Indonesia, Group G in Oman, Group H in Iraq, Group I in Tajikistan and Group J in Kyrgyzstan.

Following a single round-robin, the 10 group winners and the five best runners-up will book their tickets to next year’s continental showcase. Starting from Saturday, five matchdays featuring two games on each day are scheduled to take place in the Kingdom at the Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Ali Khalifa Stadium at Muharraq Club in Arad.

On each evening, the first fixture is scheduled for a 6pm kick-off while the last game of the night is set for a 9pm start. Bahrain open their qualifying bid against Bangladesh on Saturday, before taking on Nepal on September 14.

The Bahrainis then face Bhutan on September 16 and then wrap up their campaign against Qatar on September 18. The AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2023 is scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan from March 1 to 18 next year.

It will be the 41st edition of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) event. A total of 16 teams will play in the tournament. The top four teams of the tournament will qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia as the AFC representatives besides Indonesia who automatically qualified as hosts.

If Indonesia manages to reach the semi-finals, then one losing quarter-finalist will qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Saudi Arabia are the title holders, having won the title in 2018. Bahrain have appeared in the tournament 10 times. Their best finish was as runners-up in 1986, while they also won bronze in 1977.

The Bahrainis last took part in 2016, when they made it through to the quarter-finals. Bahrain prepared for the qualifiers by taking part in the Arab Cup U-20 in July in Abha, Saudi, where they did not make it past the group stage.