THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

AFC Challenge Cup 2014 Qualifiers – India drawn to makable group

AFC Challenge Cup 2012 - DPR Korea v India

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