The Main Draw for the 1st Round

Welcome to the AFC House in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the draw of the 1st Round in the AFC Men’s Asian football Qualifiers for the Games of the 32^ndOlympiad in Tokyo, Japan, My Name is Ian Darke, I’m your host for the draw, and this will be the start to the road to Tokyo 2020, the Games of the 32^ndOlympiad

For the 1^st round, the 12 lowest-ranked teams, according to the December 2019 FIFA Rankings, will be split into 2 pots, and to do that, please welcome TRAN QUOC TUAN (Vietnam), the Chairperson of the AFC COMPETITIONS COMMITTEE

Thank you, Mr. Darke, Head coaches and Executives of the 12 participating teams, welcome, today, marks the start of the Road to the 2020 Olympic Games, for the 12 lowest-ranked teams, as Mr. Darke said For the 1st round, the 12 lowest-ranked teams, according to the December 2019 FIFA Rankings, will be split into 2 pots, the 1^st Pot will be:

Indonesia

Cambodia

Macau

Bangladesh

Laos

Bhutan

And the 2^nd pot will be:

Mongolia

Brunei

Timor-Leste

Guam

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

For the draw, please welcome, ABED-ALKHALIQ MASOUD AHMED, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee

Thank you, Mr. Tuan, this will be a big draw for us, right here in Kuala Lumpur, there will be restrictions for this:

For Sri Lanka, the second leg will not be taking place at either Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo or Kalutara Stadium in Kalutara, due to safety and security concerns following the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings, which killed 259 people (including at least 45 foreign nationals and three Police officers), and injured at least 500 People, instead, it will be taking place at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

That’s the Only Restriction for the draw, alright, and now to conduct the draw, please welcome, for Pot A, the former Captain of the Japan National Football Team, Mr. Masami Ihara, and for Pot B, the Former Captain and Head coach of the South Korea National Football Team, Mr. Hong Myung-bo

So are you ready, Mr. Ihara and Mr. Hong?

We’re ready

OK, Mr. Ihara, you Go first with Pot A

Macau

OK, and Mr. Hong, you’re with Pot B

Macau will play

Mongolia

So Macau vs Mongolia, that’s the 1^st Game, and Mr. Ihara will draw the 2^nd team from Pot A

Laos

Mr. Hong, Laos will play

Guam

Laos will be facing Guam, and Mr. Ihara will draw the next Team from Pot A

Indonesia

Mr. Hong, Indonesia will be playing

Sri Lanka

Indonesia will be playing Sri Lanka, and for the Second Leg, the Match will be taking Place at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Mr. Ihara will draw the next Team from Pot A

Bangladesh

OK, Mr. Hong, Bangladesh will face

Brunei

So, Bangladesh vs Brunei, and Mr. Ihara will draw the Penultimate Team from Pot A

Cambodia

Mr. Hong, Cambodia vs

Pakistan

Cambodia vs Pakistan, and Last, but not Least, Mr. Ihara?

Bhutan

And finally, Mr. Hong, Bhutan will be playing

Timor-Leste, so, Bhutan will be playing Timor-Leste, and that’s the draw of the 1st Round in the AFC Men’s Asian football Qualifiers for the Games of the 32nd Olympiad in Tokyo, Japan, I would like to thank both of you for your help and support today, so the 6 Matches will be in Alphabetical Order:

Bangladesh vs Brunei

Bhutan vs Timor-Leste

Cambodia vs Pakistan

Indonesia vs Sri Lanka

Laos vs Guam

Macau vs Mongolia

Let’s get back to Mr. Darke for the closing of the Draw

Thank you, Mr. Tran, and thank you to Both Mr. Ihara and Mr. Hong, and thank you for watching the draw of the 1st Round in the AFC Men’s Asian football Qualifiers for the Games of the 32nd Olympiad in Tokyo, Japan, at the AFC House in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I’m Ian Darke, saying goodbye