KUALA LUMPUR: Reigning Asian youth champions DPR Korea have been drawn in a relatively easy Group F in the AFC U-19 Championship Qualification Competition which will take place next year.

DPR Korea, who won the Asian youth title after defeating Japan on penalties in November this year in India, have China, Malaysia, Macau, Singapore and Timor Leste for company in Group F.

The top-two teams from each of the seven groups advance to the Finals alongwith the best third-placed team. Hosts Saudi Arabia qualify automatically for the Finals which will be held in 2008.

All the matches will be played in one centralized venue hosted by one country in the group. Forty-two teams came out of pots and were divided into two zones, with each zone being divided further into six technical levels based on the AFC Youth Championship 2006 ranking.

Asian youth runners-up Japan are also strong favourites to qualify from Group E after being joined in the pool by Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Maldives and Chinese Taipei.

Korea Republic have Australia for company in Group F alongwith Vietnam, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Guam.

THE GROUPINGS

GROUP A: Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Mongolia

GROUP B: Iran, India, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, Pakistan

GROUP C: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Syria, Qatar, Turkmenistan, Bhutan

GROUP D: Jordan, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Nepal, Palestine, Afghanistan

GROUP E: Japan, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Maldives, Chinese Taipei.

GROUP F: DPR Korea, China, Malaysia, Macau, Singapore, Timor Leste

GROUP G: Korea Republic, Australia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Guam.

Source: http://www.lastkick.com/?p=1966