AFC Asian Cup 2023 draw: Hong Kong handed tough draw, will face 3-time winners Iran in group stage

Hong Kong will take on Iran at next year’s AFC Asian Cup after being grouped with the 2019 semi-finalists during the draw in Qatar on Thursday.

Head coach Jorn Andersen’s side will also face Palestine, and the United Arab Emirates, who Hong Kong will play in the first game in Group C on January 14 in The Khalifa International Stadium.

China face a tricky test against the hosts and defending champions Qatar in Group A, which also includes Lebanon and Tajikistan, who are making their debuts at the tournament, and will be China’s first opponents on January 13 at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.

The hosts will get Asia’s most prestigious competition under way the day before against Lebanon at the 68,895-capacity Al Bayt Stadium.

Andersen said the draw, which took place at the at Katara Opera House in Doha, was “not the best, but not the worst either”.

“All the opponents will be very hard for us, so I think the draw was OK,” the Norwegian said. “We don’t have so much experience with these teams. I think they are little bit more physical, but I’m not unsatisfied. This is why you play in these tournaments, to test yourself against those types of teams.”