The official qualifying draw ceremony for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup took place at the AFC House, Kuala Lumpur moments ago. A total of 20 teams have been drawn to the various groups.
The Indian national team has been drawn to a makable Group A along with Myanmar, Chinese Taipei and Guam.
The tournament will be hosted by South Asian neighbours Maldives [+ read more] and the Indian team will be hoping to win the competition and earn direct qualification to the 2014 AFC Asian Cup in Australia.
The four teams in each group will play against each other in a one-round league in a centralised venue. The matches will be played on March 2, 4 and 6 with the exception of Group B where the games will be played on March 17, 19 and 21.
The four group winners and two best second-placed teams will join host nation the Maldives at the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup finals.
2014 AFC CHALLENGE CUP – QUALIFYING GROUPS
Group A – Hosts Myanmar
Myanmar, India, Chinese Taipei, Guam
Group B – Hosts Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikstan, Pakistan, Macau
Group C – Hosts Laos
Laos, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Mongolia
Group D – Hosts Nepal
Nepal, Palestine, Bangladesh, Northern Mariana Islands
Group E – Hosts Philippines
Philippines, Turkmenistan, Cambodia, Brunei