Oman will face challenging matches in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 finals after the Red Warriors were drawn in Group F along with Asian favourites Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Kyrgyzstan.
The draw of the continental showpiece took place on Thursday noon at the Katara Opera House in Doha in presence of Oman national head coach Branko Ivankovic and team manager Maqbool al Balushi besides top official attendees represented by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa, top dignitaries and football figures.
The Red Warriors will begin their campaign with a tight match against three-time winners Saudi Arabia on January 17 while they will meet Thailand on January 24 and conclude group games against Kyrgyzstan on January 29.
Hosts and defending champions Qatar will lead Group A which also comprises China, Tajikistan and Lebanon.
The 18th edition of the Asian Cup finals is scheduled to take place during January 12 to February 10 in different 2022 Fifa World Cup venues in Doha.
The top seeded team and 2015 title winners Australia are grouped alongside Uzbekistan, Syria and India in Group B.
Three times winners Iran and the former runners-up and the previous edition hosts UAE were pitted together in Group C besides Hong Kong and Palestine.
Asian heavyweights and four-time champions Japan who will be vying for the fifth title were drawn in Group D with Iraq, title winners of 2007, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Two-time winners South Korea will compete with Malaysia, Jordan and Bahrain in Group E.
The 24 teams - seeded in accordance with the latest Fifa World Ranking - are divided into six groups. The top two teams in each group besides the four best third-placed teams will progress into the Round of 16 in Asian Cup Qatar 2023.
The eagerly anticipated showpiece will be staged across eight stadiums including six venues for the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022, namely: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium, Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Education City Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium as well as the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium and Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.
Asian Cup Qatar 2023 draw
Group A: Qatar, China, Tajikistan, Lebanon
Group B: Australia, Uzbekistan, Syria, India
Group C: Iran, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Palestine
Group D: Japan, Indonesia, Iraq, Vietnam
Group E: South Korea, Malaysia, Jordan, Bahrain
Group F: Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Oman
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