By Michael Church
DOHA (Reuters) – Holders and hosts Qatar will take on China, Tajikistan and Lebanon in the group stages of the Asian Cup finals in January after the draw was conducted in Doha on Thursday.
Qatar, who won the title for the first time when the tournament was held in the United Arab Emirates in 2019, will open their defence on Jan. 12 against the Lebanese in Group A.
Japan, winners of the competition on a record four occasions and who were runners-up four years ago, were drawn to face Indonesia, Iraq and Vietnam in Group D.
The tournament, originally scheduled to be played in June and July this year, will run from Jan. 12 to Feb. 10 and is being held in Qatar after original hosts China stood down due to the country’s COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
(Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Toby Davis)
