KUALA LUMPUR:The
draw for the preliminary and qualifying rounds of the Asian Cup
was conducted in Beijing on Saturday with delegates from the
Asian Football Confederation and Chinese football officials
joining arms to launch the tournament.
China, hosts of the event
in 2004, and Japan, reigning holders of the trophy, are
automatic participants, with Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab
Emirates, South Korea, Iraq, Qatar and Uzbekistan seeded first.
Second-seeded nations comprise Kuwait, Thailand, Bahrain,
Lebanon, Indonesia, Oman and Syria, with Jordan, Turkmenistan,
Tajikistan, Palestine, Yemen, Malaysia and Vietnam coming as
third-seeded nations.
Asian Cup 2004
Preliminary round
Group A
Myanmar, Brunei, Maldives
Group B
Taipei, East Timor, Sri Lanka
Group C
Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Nepal
Group D
Hong Kong, Laos, Bangladesh
Group E
Pakistan, Singapore, Macau
Group F
Bhutan, Mongolia, Guam
Group G
India, North Korea
Qualifying round
Group A
Uzbekistan, Thailand, Tajikistan, winner D
Group B
Qatar, Kuwait, Palestine, winner E
Group C
Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Indonesia, winner F
Group D
Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, winner G
Group E
South Korea, Oman, Vietnam, winner C
Group F
Iraq, Bahrain, Malaysia, winner A
Group G
UAE, Syria, Turkmenistan, winner B
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