The draws for the second round of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup draw ceremony that was held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
In the draws, India has been grouped alongside host Qatar, Oman, Afghanistan and Bangladesh in Group E of the World Cup 2022 Asian Qualifiers draw.
The 40 Asian nations have been split into eight groups of five teams each and a total of 12 teams, the eight group winners and the four best runners-up, will then advance to the final round of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup and the 2023 Asian Cup.
The Indian football team will automatically seal a berth in the final round of qualifying if it finishes second in Group E, behind Qatar which is already assured a spot in the 2022 World Cup as the host.
Group A: China, Syria, Philippines, Maldives, Guam.
Group B: Australia, Jordan, Chinese Tapei, Kuati and Nepal.
Group C: Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Cambodia
Group D: Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Palestine, Yemen, Singapore
Group E: Bangladesh, Oman, India, Afghanistan, Qatar
Group F: Japan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Myanmar, Mongolia
Group E: UAE, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia
Group F: South Korea, Lebanon, DPR Korea, Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka