2023 AFC Asian Cup: AFC Asian Cup Live Updates – On Tuesday, June 14, waves of ecstasy spread across the Indian football fraternity, as the Blue Tigers qualified for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. While the journey so far has been remarkable, the real challenge starts now, as Sunil Chhetri & Co. will rub shoulders will some of the biggest teams of Asian. Follow 2023 AFC Asian Cup live updates with InsideSport.IN.
Given India’s ranking, it is very likely that they will be placed in Pot 4 in the draw, which subsequently means that all of the three teams that India will face will be stronger on paper than them.
✅ 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗘𝗗
🇮🇳 India book their #AsianCup2023 place for the second successive time by finishing 🔝 of #ACQ2023 Group D! pic.twitter.com/M3tORbQ5cM
— #AFCU23 (@afcasiancup) June 14, 2022
2023 AFC Asian Cup: India face TOUGH CHALLENGE after qualifying for 2023 AFC Asian Cup, to face BIGGEST teams of Asia – Check out India’s possible group stage opponents
The pot distribution of AFC Asian Cup works in that such a way that teams who qualify from the second qualification round are assigned Pot 1 & Pot 2, while the exact pot is decided on the FIFA Ranking of the team.
FIFA Rankings of teams who qualified in the second round:
IR Iran -21
Japan – 23
Korea Republic – 29
Australia – 42
Saudi Arabia – 49
Qatar – 51
UAE – 68
Iraq – 72
Oman – 75
China – 77
Syria – 88
Vietnam – 96
Lebanon – 97
2023 AFC Asian Cup: India face TOUGH CHALLENGE after qualifying for 2023 AFC Asian Cup, to face BIGGEST teams of Asia – Check out India’s possible group stage opponents
As for the other teams who qualify from the third round like India, they are assigned Pot 3 & Pot 4, and the exact pot is once again assigned on the basis of their FIFA Rankings.
FIFA Rankings of teams who qualified in the Third Round:
Uzbekistan – 83
Bahrain – 89
Jordan – 91
Kyrgyz Republic – 95
Palestine – 100
India – 106
Thailand – 111
Tajikistan – 114
Indonesia – 159
Hong Kong – 147
Malaysia – 154
India’s Possible Group Stage Opponents:
Pot 1 – IR Iran, Japan, Korea Republic, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
The Pot 1 comprises the strongest teams. From this particular pot, India could be up against any of the big guns in the likes of IR Iran, Japan, Korea Republic, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
2023 AFC Asian Cup: India face TOUGH CHALLENGE after qualifying for 2023 AFC Asian Cup, to face BIGGEST teams of Asia – Check out India’s possible group stage opponents
Pot 2 – UAE, Iraq, Oman, China, Syria, Vietnam
Though the Pot 2 does not look as intimidating as the first pot, it still contains some of Asia’s biggest teams. UAE, Iraq, Oman, China, Syria and Vietman could be placed in this pot.
Pot 3 – Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Jordan, Kyrgyz Republic, Palestine
The match against the team from Pot 3 is what will be a must-win encounter for India, as teams from Pot 1 and Pot 2 could be too skilled for the Blue Tigers to beat. Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Jordan, Kyrgyz Republic and Palestine could be placed in this group.
Pot 4 – India, Thailand, Tajikistan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia
As we have previously mentioned, India are expected to be placed in the fourth pot, and hence, they will not face any team from this particular pot.
Note – The pots we have mentioned are not official and changes are likely to happen. The host nation, which has not been decided yet, will go directly into Pot 1, while the third round qualification process has not ended yet.
2023 AFC Asian Cup: India face TOUGH CHALLENGE after qualifying for 2023 AFC Asian Cup, to face BIGGEST teams of Asia – Check out India’s possible group stage opponents
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