HA NOI (VNS) — Viet Nam will play powerhouse Japan in a qualifying round of the Asian Football Confederation U23 Championship, following a recent draw in Malaysia.

The two sides are in Group I, together with Macau and Malaysia.

There are 43 teams competing in the qualifier, where participants are divided into 10 groups, as the matches are to be held in Kuala Lumpur from March 23-31, 2015.

The ten winners from these groups, along with five second-place teams with best results, will advance to the finals in Qatar in 2016.

The championship is considered an Olympic qualifying round. The top four squads will be eligible for the Rio de Janero Games. — VNS