Asian route to World Cup 2013 mapped

The Official draw for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 ? Asian Qualifier distributes teams into 4 groups

The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 ? Asian Qualifier Qatar, to , to take place at Doha?s  Katara Beach from the 22nd to the 26th of January, was outlined today, after the Official draw held this Thursday, 20th December 2012.

Hamad Al Mannai, Tournament Director and Vice Chairman of Futsal and Beach Soccer, Qatar Football Association; Nasser Al Khater, Communications and Marketing Director for the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee; Joan Cusco, FIFA Beach Soccer CEO (and FIFA Beach Soccer Committee Member); and Josep Ponset, Beach Soccer Worldwide’s Head of Competitions, were on hand to draw the groups for the Asian qualifiers in the ceremony, held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Official Hotel Partner of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 – AFC Qualifiers .

Qatar, Australia, Bahrain, China, Iran, Iraq, Japan ? 2011 AFC Beach Soccer Champions, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan were placed into 4 groups.

In Group A, are Qatar, Oman and Australia.

Japan, Bahrain and Lebanon will face off in Group B.

Drawn in Group C are the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia.

And, in Group D, are Iran, China and Iraq.

The first place teams from each group advance to the semi-finals. The two finalists and the third place, play-off winner will earn qualification to the global showcase in September.

A state-of-the-art, 3,000 person, temporary stadium will be built on the shore. The qualifying rounds will be free of charge and a small fan zone will also be set up adjacent to the event.