Enticing draw awaits Asia’s finest futsal sides
Asia’s best teams will learn their fate at the AFC Futsal Championship 2018 draw which will take place in Chinese Taipei today. 11-time champion Iran will return to defend its title after remaining unbeaten in Group B of qualifying for the South and Central Zones. It booked its berth alongside Tajikistan who held its nerve to confirm a ninth appearance as group runner-up, the-afc.com reported.
Like Iran, Uzbekistan went unbeaten throughout the qualifiers, scoring 22 goals and conceding only six to win Group A. Kyrgyzstan sealed second place.
In the ASEAN Zone, Vietnam and Thailand topped their groups, while Malaysia and Myanmar finished second to progress to the regional semifinals and, as a result, the 2018 AFC Futsal Championship.
As three-time AFC Futsal Championship winner, Japan is also one of the competition’s heavyweights. It qualified with ease from the East Zone, scoring 24 goals and conceding only two to finish top of Group A.
After failing to qualify in 2016, South Korea will return to the tournament after pipping China PR to top spot in Group B.
China, however, duly beat Chinese Taipei on penalties in the East Zone’s playoff to secure its ticket to the AFC Futsal Championship. Chinese Taipei qualified automatically as host.
The West Zone teams were forced to endure a tense qualifying campaign, with the successful quartet – Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan – only making the cut on the final day.
Draw
16 teams will be drawn into four groups of four teams, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the quarterfinals. The first matches are set be played on February 1, 2018, with the final set for February 11.