Iran lands Uzbekistan, Yemen, Indonesia in U20 Asian Cup
Iran was drawn against defending champion Uzbekistan as well as Yemen and Indonesia in the same group at the 2025 AFC U20 Asian Cup – starting February 12 in China.
The draw for the 42nd edition of the continent’s flagships under-20 international event took place in the Chinese city of Shenzhen on Thursday, where 16 teams were split into four groups, with four tickets for next year’s FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile up for grabs.
Head coach Hossein Abdi, who led Iran to the last 16 in last year’s U17 World Cup in Indonesia, will be hoping his boys will get off to flying start when taking on Indonesia in their Group C opener.
Iran, a four-time champion in the 1970s, will play Yemen in its second outing before facing Uzbekistan on the final day of the group stage.
Two 8-0 routs of host Laos and Mongolia either side of a 1-0 win against India saw Abdi’s side ease to the top spot in Group G of the qualifiers in September.
Elsewhere in the finals, China, champion in 1985, will have Australia, Kyrgyz Republic and Qatar as its challengers in Group A.
Qatar won the title in 2014, while Australia was runners-up in 2010.
Five-time winner Iraq heads the Group B cast with Jordan, Saudi Arabia and North Korea also vying for the two quarterfinal spots.
North Korea and Saudi Arabi are three-time champions while Jordan was fourth in 2006.
Leading the Group D challenge will be 2016 champion Japan with 12-time winner South Korea, Syria (1994 winner) and Thailand (champion in 1962, 1969) also hoping to advance to the quarterfinals.