Australia seeded 5 for 2011 Asian Cup qualification

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The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the seedings and qualification process for the AFC Asian Cup 2011, with Australia seeded No.5.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the seedings and qualification process for the AFC Asian Cup 2011, with Australia seeded No.5.

Australia won-t have to join the qualification process until Round 2, where it will be one of 20 teams, split into five groups of four teams each. The top two from these five groups will qualify for the 2011 tournament, joining the top three seeds, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic, hosts Qatar, plus the winners of the AFC Challenge Cup competitions in 2008 and 2010.

The seedings for the qualification format are based on the results from the AFC Asian Cup 2007™ and its qualifiers. The draw for Round One will be conducted at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, December 17, 2007, at 1500hrs (6.00pm AEST).

The seedings are: 1. Iraq; 2. Saudi Arabia; 3. Korea Rep.; 4. Japan; 5. Australia; 6. IR Iran; 7. Uzbekistan; 8. Vietnam; 9. China PR; 10. Thailand; 11. Indonesia; 12. UAE; 13. Bahrain; 14. Oman; 15. Malaysia; 16. Jordan; 17. Syria; 18. Hong Kong; 19. Yemen; 20. Kuwait; 21. Singapore; 22. India; 23. Lebanon; 24. DPR Korea; 25. Myanmar; 26. Maldives; 27. Turkmenistan

In Round One Qualification, the eight teams ranked 20-27 will be paired together, the four winners progressing to the second round, joining teams ranked 4-19, to make a total of 20 teams.

The match schedule and detailed format shall be published prior to the Draw on December 17, 2007.