With the anticipation building up, the stage is set for the 42 Member Associations who will be competing from October 23 to 31, 2021 for the 15 positions up for grabs to join host Uzbekistan ahead of the fifth edition of the AFC U23 Asian Cup in 2022, which will be staged in the Central Zone for the first time in Asian football history.

The draw will divide the teams into two Regions – the West Region comprising 23 West, South and Central Participating Teams as well as the East Region, which will consist of 19 East and ASEAN Participating Teams.

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Ulsan stretched their AFC Champions League winning streak to 14 matches, sitting comfortably at the top of the group with 15 points, three ahead of Thailand's BG Pathum United.

While Ulsan are almost sure of advancing to the Round of 16 even if they were to lose to BG Pathum United on Sunday, Hinterseer wants only a win.

Sarach struck in the 83rd minute to help the Thai champions secure their fourth win in five games, to sit three points behind Group F leaders Ulsan Hyundai FC who defeated Vietnam’s Viettel FC 3-0 in the day’s later match.

The win means BG Pathum United are very much in the running for a place in the Round of 16 and Sarach is determined to help his team progress.

Jiang Wenhao and Leng Jixuan scored Beijing FC’s goals inside the first five minutes to leave the Filipino side chasing the game, but a big second-half performance from Withe’s men saw them bag three goals in the space of 21 minutes to turn the game around, with veteran Mark Hartmann finding the back of the net on two occasions, either side of AFC Cup all-time top scorer Bienvenido Marañon’s equaliser.

The red-hot Japanese champions were fuelled by a clinical Leandro Damiao hat-trick as they qualified for the Round of 16 as group winners, leaving Daegu with a job to do if they are to join them.

With nine points from five matches but having piled on 18 goals and conceded only six, the K League outfit are still in a strong position to qualify as one of the three best runners-up teams in the East Zone, but that possibility relies heavily on their ability to get three points against United City FC of the Philippines.

The 22nd edition of the tournament will kick off on 21 November 2022, when Qatar – the reigning champions of Asia – take their FIFA World Cup bow at the tournament’s first match at the stunning 60,000-seat Al Bayt Stadium (lead photo) in Al Khor City.

Qatar will host the most compact version of the tournament in modern history. All eight stadiums are within 50km of central Doha, while fans, players and officials will be able to stay in one accommodation throughout the event, which will conclude with the final at the 80,000-seat Lusail Stadium on 18 December 2022 – which is also Qatar National Day.