KATHMANDU: Nepal have drawn in Group D, along with Lebanon, Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates, for the AFC U-23 Qualifiers to be held on July 19-23.

The draw for the tournament to take place in the United Arab Emirates was decided in Malaysia today, the All Nepal Football Association informed in a statement today.

Total 40 teams, divided into 10 groups, will be contesting in the qualifiers. The top teams from each group and five best runner-ups will join host China PR in the main event to be held next year.

The top teams from each group and five best runner-ups will join hosts China in the main event to be held next year.

Although directly qualified as the hosts of the main tournament, China had expressed interest to participate in the qualifying stage.

Therefore, if China finish top of their group or finish among the five best second-placed teams, the next second-placed team (sixth in overall) will qualify for the final competition.