China in same group with Australia at 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup

China, as the hosts for the 2025 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-20 (U-20) Asian Cup, will compete with Australia, Kyrgyzstan and Qatar in Group A, according to the draw results announced on Thursday.

The draw results for the other three groups came in the following:

Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Group B;

Uzbekistan, Iran, Indonesia and Yemen in Group C;

Japan, South Korea, Syria and Thailand in Group D.

The tournament will begin from February 12, 2025 and end on March 1, 2025, in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. Top-two teams of each group will make the knockout stage. Top-four finishers will secure qualification for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup that will happen in Chile from September 27 to October 19, 2025.

Two years ago, Uzbekistan edged Iraq 1-0 in the final at home to win their first title of the tournament. China made the quarterfinals as second from Group D following Japan, but lost to South Korea 3-1 in extra time in the last eight.