Saudi Gazette report
DOHA — Saudi Arabia will take on Thailand, Kyrgyzstan and Oman in Group F of the Asian Cup finals in January 2023 after the draw was conducted in Doha on Thursday.
The draw was held in the presence of Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and Yasser Almisehal, President of the Saudi Football Federation.
The Saudi national football team are currently without a head coach after Herve Renard stepped down last month to join the French national women’s football team in the upcoming World Cup.
The continental showpiece is scheduled for Jan. 12 to Feb. 10, 2024, in Qatar with seven former winners among the 24 teams divided into six groups.
The top two sides from each group and the four best third-placed teams will advance to the Round of 16 at Qatar 2023.
Tournament hosts and defending champions Qatar are the top-seeded team in Group A with their title defense to begin against two-time runners-up China PR, Tajikistan and Lebanon.
Group B will see 2015 champions Australia, Uzbekistan, Syria and India contesting for the knockout stage spots.
Three-time winners Iran, 1996 runners-up United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, China and Palestine will vie for the knockout stage spots in Group C while record four-time winners Japan, Indonesia, 2007 champions Iraq and Vietnam were drawn in Group D .
Twice champions Korea Republic, the top-seeded team in Group E, will have Malaysia, Jordan and Bahrain to contend with.