The 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers draw was held in Melbourne yesterday, with 20 nations divided into five groups of four teams each.

The top two teams from each group and the best third-placed team among all the groups will qualify for the tournament proper, to be held in Australia in three years time.

Champions Japan, runners-up Australia, third-placed South Korea, 2012 AFC Challenge Cup 2012 winners North Korea and the champions of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup will get direct berths in the final competition.

The groupings drawn yesterday were: Group A – Jordan, Syria, Oman and Singapore.

Group B – Iran, Kuwait, Thailand and Lebanon. Group C – Iraq, China, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. Group D – Qatar, Bahrain, Yemen and Malaysia. Group E – Uzbekistan, UAE, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dan Riley at [email protected]