2018 AFC U-23 Championship qualification

2018 AFC U-23 Championship qualification
Tournament details
Host countriesKyrgyzstan (Group A)
Saudi Arabia (Group B)
Qatar (Group C)
United Arab Emirates (Group D)
Palestine (Group E)
Myanmar (Group F)
North Korea (Group G)
Thailand (Group H)
Vietnam (Group I)
Cambodia (Group J)
Dates15–23 July 2017[1]
Teams40 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)10 (in 10 host cities)
Tournament statistics
Matches played57
Goals scored205 (3.6 per match)
Attendance277,285 (4,865 per match)
Top scorer(s)Iraq Aymen Hussein (6 goals)
← 2016
2020 →

The 2018 AFC U-23 Championship qualification was an international men's under-23 football competition which decided the participating teams of the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship.

A total of 16 teams qualified to play in the final tournament, including China PR who qualified automatically as hosts.[2]

Draw

Of the 47 AFC member associations, a total of 40 teams entered the competition. The final tournament hosts China PR decided to participate in qualification despite having automatically qualified for the final tournament.[3]

The draw was held on 17 March 2017, 15:00 MYT (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[4] The 40 teams were drawn into ten groups of four teams. For the draw, teams were divided into two zones:

  • West Zone: 20 teams from West Asia, Central Asia and South Asia, to be drawn into five groups of four teams (Groups A–E).
  • East Zone: 20 teams from ASEAN and East Asia, to be drawn into five groups of four teams (Groups F–J).

The teams were seeded according to their performance in the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship final tournament and qualification. The following restrictions were also applied:[5]

  • The nine teams which indicated their intention to serve as qualification group hosts prior to the draw were drawn into separate groups.
  • As Iran and Saudi Arabia refused to travel to each other's country, they would not be drawn into the same group.
  • As Iran, Syria and Lebanon had indicated they would not travel to Palestine, they would not be drawn into the group hosted by Palestine.
Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
West Zone
East Zone
  1.  China (Q)
  2.  Vietnam (H)
  3.  Indonesia
  4.  Myanmar (H)
  5.  Laos
Notes
  • Teams in bold qualified for the final tournament.
  • (H): Qualification group hosts (* Cambodia chosen as qualification group hosts after the draw)
  • (Q): Final tournament hosts, automatically qualified regardless of qualification results
  • (W): Withdrew after draw
Did not enter
West Zone
East Zone
  •  Guam
  •  Northern Mariana Islands

Player eligibility

Players born on or after 1 January 1995 were eligible to compete in the tournament.[7]

Format

In each group, teams played each other once at a centralised venue. The ten group winners and the five best runners-up qualified for the final tournament. If the final tournament hosts China PR won their group or were among the five best runners-up, the sixth best runner-up also qualified for the final tournament.[4]

Tiebreakers

Teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 9.3):[7]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Penalty shoot-out if only two teams are tied and they met in the last round of the group;
  8. Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
  9. Drawing of lots.

Groups

The matches were played between 15 and 23 July 2017.

Schedule
Matchday Dates Matches
Group D Groups A–C, E–J Groups B–J Group A
Matchday 1 15 July 2017 19 July 2017 1 v 4, 2 v 3 3 v 1
Matchday 2 17 July 2017 21 July 2017 4 v 2, 3 v 1 2 v 3
Matchday 3 19 July 2017 23 July 2017 1 v 2, 3 v 4 1 v 2

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Oman 2 2 0 0 7 1 +6 6 Final tournament
2  Iran 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 3
3  Kyrgyzstan (H) 2 0 0 2 2 7 −5 0
4  Sri Lanka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrew
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Kyrgyzstan 1–2 Iran
  • Levchenko 11'
 Report
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Ahmad Yacoub Ibrahim (Jordan)
Oman 5–1 Kyrgyzstan
 Report
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Saoud Al-Athbah (Qatar)
Iran 0–2 Oman
Report
Attendance: 1,000

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Iraq 3 3 0 0 12 1 +11 9 Final tournament
2  Saudi Arabia (H) 3 2 0 1 11 3 +8 6
3  Bahrain 3 1 0 2 4 5 −1 3
4  Afghanistan 3 0 0 3 0 18 −18 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Iraq 8–0 Afghanistan
 Report
Attendance: 500
Referee: Sultan Al-Marzooqi (United Arab Emirates)
Saudi Arabia 3–1 Bahrain
 Report
Attendance: 500
Bahrain 1–2 Iraq
 Report
Attendance: 200
Referee: Yaqoob Abdul Baki (Oman)
Afghanistan 0–8 Saudi Arabia
Report
Attendance: 200
Referee: Dmitry Mashentsev (Kyrgyzstan)
Bahrain 2–0 Afghanistan
 Report
Attendance: 70
Referee: Sultan Al-Marzooqi (United Arab Emirates)
Iraq 2–0 Saudi Arabia
 Report
Attendance: 500
Referee: Yaqoob Abdul Baki (Oman)

Group C

  • All matches were held in Qatar.
  • Times listed were UTC+3.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Qatar (H) 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7 Final tournament
2  Syria 3 1 2 0 3 1 +2 5
3  India 3 1 0 2 3 4 −1 3
4  Turkmenistan 3 0 1 2 1 5 −4 1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Syria 2–0 India
  • Srour 64'
  • Arnaout 88'
 Report
Attendance: 853
Qatar 2–0 Turkmenistan
 Report
Attendance: 1,736
Turkmenistan 0–0 Syria
Report
Attendance: 780
Referee: Nivon Robesh Gamini (Sri Lanka)
India 0–1 Qatar
Report
Attendance: 2,768
Referee: Chen Hsin-chuan (Chinese Taipei)
India 3–1 Turkmenistan
 Report
  • Hojovov 13'
Attendance: 312
Qatar 1–1 Syria
 Report
  • Muhtadi 60'
Attendance: 1,760

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Uzbekistan 3 3 0 0 7 1 +6 9 Final tournament
2  United Arab Emirates (H) 3 2 0 1 6 2 +4 6
3  Lebanon 3 1 0 2 3 4 −1 3
4    Nepal 3 0 0 3 0 9 −9 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
United Arab Emirates 5–0   Nepal
 Report
Attendance: 5,423
Referee: Jameel Abdulhusin (Bahrain)
Uzbekistan 3–1 Lebanon
 Report
  • Hammoud 58'
Attendance: 50
Referee: Takuto Okabe (Japan)
Nepal   0–2 Uzbekistan
Report
Attendance: 1,825
Referee: Ahmed Al-Ali (Jordan)
Lebanon 0–1 United Arab Emirates
Report
Attendance: 570
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hoish (Saudi Arabia)
United Arab Emirates 0–2 Uzbekistan
Report
Attendance: 1,250
Referee: Ahmed Al-Ali (Jordan)
Lebanon 2–0   Nepal
 Report
Attendance: 1,850
Referee: Jameel Abdulhusin (Bahrain)

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Palestine (H) 3 2 1 0 8 4 +4 7 Final tournament
2  Jordan 3 2 0 1 11 3 +8 6
3  Tajikistan 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 4
4  Bangladesh 3 0 0 3 1 13 −12 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Jordan 7–0 Bangladesh
 Report
Attendance: 50
Referee: Sherzod Kasimov (Uzbekistan)
Tajikistan 2–2 Palestine
 Report
Attendance: 700
Referee: Mahmood Al-Majarafi (Oman)
Bangladesh 1–3 Tajikistan
  • Mia 33'
 Report
Attendance: 50
Palestine 3–2 Jordan
  • Abuhammad 38'
  • Yousef 66'
  • Wridat 76'
 Report
Attendance: 700
Jordan 2–0 Tajikistan
 Report
Attendance: 50
Referee: Sherzod Kasimov (Uzbekistan)
Palestine 3–0 Bangladesh
 Report
Attendance: 500
Referee: Mahmood Al-Majarafi (Oman)

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Australia 3 3 0 0 12 0 +12 9 Final tournament
2  Myanmar (H) 3 2 0 1 5 3 +2 6
3  Singapore 3 1 0 2 4 10 −6 3
4  Brunei 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Australia 2–0 Brunei
 Report
Attendance: 3,000
Myanmar 2–0 Singapore
 Report
Attendance: 13,200
Referee: Khamis Al-Kuwari (Qatar)
Singapore 0–7 Australia
Report
Attendance: 750
Referee: Ammar Mahfoodh (Bahrain)
Brunei 0–3 Myanmar
Report
Attendance: 10,260
Referee: Mooud Bonyadifar (Iran)
Singapore 4–1 Brunei
 Report
Attendance: 9,270
Australia 3–0 Myanmar
 Report
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Ammar Mahfoodh (Bahrain)

Group G

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  North Korea (H) 3 2 1 0 14 2 +12 7 Final tournament
2  Hong Kong 3 1 2 0 6 2 +4 5
3  Laos 3 1 1 1 4 8 −4 4
4  Chinese Taipei 3 0 0 3 2 14 −12 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Laos 3–1 Chinese Taipei
 Report
  • Jhou Cheng 3'
Attendance: 12,400
North Korea 1–1 Hong Kong
  • So Jong-hyok 63'
 Report
Attendance: 14,500
Hong Kong 1–1 Laos
 Report
  • Kettavong 73'
Attendance: 12,500
Referee: Nguyễn Hiền Triết (Vietnam)
Chinese Taipei 1–7 North Korea
  • Lee Hsiang-wei 27'
 Report
Attendance: 13,000
Chinese Taipei 0–4 Hong Kong
Report
Attendance: 13,000
North Korea 6–0 Laos
  • Kim Kuk-bom 5'
  • So Jong-hyok 14', 33'
  • Ri Hun 21'
  • Kim Yu-song 56'
  • Jon Se-gye 87'
 Report
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: Wang Di (China)

Group H

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Malaysia 3 2 0 1 5 3 +2 6 Final tournament
2  Thailand (H) 3 1 2 0 4 1 +3 5
3  Indonesia 3 1 1 1 7 3 +4 4
4  Mongolia 3 0 1 2 1 10 −9 1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Indonesia 0–3 Malaysia
Report
Attendance: 360
Thailand 1–1 Mongolia
 Report
  • Munkh-Erdene 89' (pen.)
Attendance: 1,500
Mongolia 0–7 Indonesia
Report
Attendance: 296
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)
Malaysia 0–3 Thailand
Report
Attendance: 3,019
Referee: Hasan Akrami (Iran)
Malaysia 2–0 Mongolia
 Report
Attendance: 669
Thailand 0–0 Indonesia
Report
Attendance: 4,400

Group I

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  South Korea 3 2 1 0 12 1 +11 7 Final tournament
2  Vietnam (H) 3 2 0 1 13 3 +10 6
3  Timor-Leste 3 1 1 1 7 5 +2 4
4  Macau 3 0 0 3 2 25 −23 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
South Korea 10–0 Macau
 Report
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Aziz Asimov (Uzbekistan)
Vietnam 4–0 Timor-Leste
 Report
Attendance: 6,010
Referee: Yu Ming-hsun (Chinese Taipei)
Timor-Leste 0–0 South Korea
Report
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Khurram Shahzad (Pakistan)
Macau 1–8 Vietnam
 Report
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Masoud Tufayelieh (Syria)
Timor-Leste 7–1 Macau
 Report
  • Lo Man Hin 64'
Attendance: 5,500
Referee: Aziz Asimov (Uzbekistan)
South Korea 2–1 Vietnam
 Report
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Masoud Tufayelieh (Syria)

Group J

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  China[a] 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7 Final tournament
2  Japan 3 2 0 1 11 2 +9 6
3  Cambodia (H) 3 1 1 1 1 2 −1 4
4  Philippines 3 0 0 3 0 11 −11 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. ^ China PR, as final tournament hosts, are automatically qualified regardless of qualification results.
Japan 8–0 Philippines
 Report
Attendance: 321
Referee: Payam Heidari (Iran)
China 0–0 Cambodia
Report
Attendance: 7,326
Referee: Kim Dae-yong (South Korea)
Philippines 0–2 China
Report
Attendance: 4,328
Referee: Timur Faizullin (Kyrgyzstan)
Cambodia 0–2 Japan
Report
Attendance: 15,825
Referee: Sukhbir Singh (Singapore)
Japan 1–2 China
 Report
Attendance: 6,372
Referee: Payam Heidari (Iran)
Cambodia 1–0 Philippines
 Report
Attendance: 17,282
Referee: Kim Dae-yong (South Korea)

Ranking of second-placed teams

Due to groups having different number of teams after the withdrawal of Sri Lanka from Group A, the results against the fourth-placed teams in four-team groups were not considered for this ranking.

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 H  Thailand 2 1 1 0 3 0 +3 4 Final tournament
2 C  Syria 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4
3 I  Vietnam 2 1 0 1 5 2 +3 3
4 E  Jordan 2 1 0 1 4 3 +1 3
5 J  Japan 2 1 0 1 3 2 +1 3
6 B  Saudi Arabia 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3
7 A  Iran 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 3[a]
8 F  Myanmar 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 3[a]
9 D  United Arab Emirates 2 1 0 1 1 2 −1 3
10 G  Hong Kong 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) disciplinary points; 5) drawing of lots.
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Ranked by disciplinary points (Iran: 0 pts; Myanmar: 6 pts).

Qualified teams

The following 16 teams qualified for the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship.

Team Qualified as Qualified on Previous appearances in AFC U-23 Championship1
 China Hosts 25 November 2016[2] 2 (2013, 2016)
 Oman Group A winners 23 July 2017 1 (2013)
 Iraq Group B winners 23 July 2017 2 (2013, 2016)
 Qatar Group C winners 23 July 2017 1 (2016)
 Uzbekistan Group D winners 19 July 2017 2 (2013, 2016)
 Palestine Group E winners 23 July 2017 0 (debut)
 Australia Group F winners 23 July 2017 2 (2013, 2016)
 North Korea Group G winners 23 July 2017 2 (2013, 2016)
 Malaysia Group H winners 23 July 2017 0 (debut)
 South Korea Group I winners 23 July 2017 2 (2013, 2016)
 Thailand 1st best runners-up 23 July 2017 1 (2016)
 Syria 2nd best runners-up 23 July 2017 2 (2013, 2016)
 Vietnam 3rd best runners-up 23 July 2017 1 (2016)
 Jordan 4th best runners-up 23 July 2017 2 (2013, 2016)
 Japan 5th best runners-up 23 July 2017 2 (2013, 2016)
 Saudi Arabia 6th best runners-up 23 July 2017 2 (2013, 2016)
1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

Goalscorers

There were 205 goals scored in 57 matches, for an average of 3.6 goals per match.

6 goals

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Notes

  1. ^ The match between Thailand and Mongolia was postponed due to heavy rain from 19:00 to 20:10.

References

  1. ^ "AFC Calendar of Competitions 2017 (UPDATED) Updated as of 12 April 2016" (PDF). The-AFC.com. 12 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b "AFC Competitions Committee recommends new AFC Cup format". AFC. 25 November 2016.
  3. ^ "Stage Set For AFC U-23 Championship 2018 Qualifiers Draw". AFC. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  4. ^ a b "AFC U-23 Championship 2018 hopefuls learn their opponents". AFC. 17 March 2017.
  5. ^ "AFC U-23 CHINA 2018 QUALIFIERS - Official Draw". YouTube. 17 March 2017.
  6. ^ "FIFA Congress drives football forward, first female secretary general appointed". FIFA. Archived from the original on May 16, 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Regulations AFC U-23 Championship 2018" (PDF). AFC.
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