Hosts India in a tough group, but will play qualifiers only as preparations for the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship

India are placed with Iran, Bahrain and Lebanon

The AFC Under-16 Championship 2016 hosts India now know their qualifying opponents after a draw at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Friday. India, who play in the qualifiers, but will play the final round irrespective of their group stage finish have been drawn to face Iran, Bahrain and Lebanon in one of the toughest qualifier groups. A total of 45 nations will participate in the qualifiers with the draw seeding based on the rankings from the last edition in 2014.

Bhutan, who will not take part in the AFC U-16 Championship 2016 qualifiers, but participated in 2014, were removed from the seeding table for the draw. Indonesia were also excluded from the seeding table following FIFA's suspension of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI).

Bangladesh, Cambodia, Maldives, Mongolia and Timor-Leste, who will participate in India 2016 qualifiers, but did not take part in the 2014 edition, were added in the table as non-ranked teams. Eleven group winners and four best second-placed teams will qualify for the finals, with hosts India receiving an automatic qualification (total 16 teams). In case India finish top of their qualifying group or among the four best second-placed teams, the next (5th) second best-placed nation will qualify for the final competition.

The qualifying matches will be played from September 12 to 20.

2016 AFC Under-16 Championship qualifiers

WEST ZONE

Group A: Uzbekistan, Yemen, Palestine (hosts), MaldivesGroup B: Nepal, Oman, Kyrgyzstan (hosts), JordanGroup C: Qatar (hosts), Tajikistan, Iraq, TurkmenistanGroup D: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pakistan, Bangladesh (hosts)Group E: Iran (hosts), Bahrain, India, LebanonGroup F: Syria, Kuwait (hosts), Afghanistan, Sri LankaEAST ZONE

Group G: Malaysia, Laos, Philippines, Northern Mariana Islands, Timor-LesteGroup H: North Korea, Thailand, Singapore, CambodiaGroup I: South Korea, China, Chinese Taipei, MacauGroup J: Australia, Vietnam, Myanmar, GuamGroup K: Japan, Hong Kong, Brunei, Mongolia