Doha: The draw for the 20th Asian Games football tournament, scheduled to take place in Japan from Sep. 19 to Oct. 4, 2026, has placed the Qatar Under-23 national football team in Group D alongside South Korea and Saudi Arabia. According to Qatar News Agency, the football competition features 15 national teams divided into four groups. Groups A, B, and C each contain four teams, while Group D consists of three teams. Under the tournament format, the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals. Host nation Japan leads Group A alongside Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, and Hong Kong. Group B comprises China, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and North Korea, while Group C features Vietnam, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, and Kuwait. The men's football tournament at the Asian Games is designated for Under-23 national teams, with competition regulations allowing each squad to register up to three overage players. Football action is set to kick off early on September 15, with the final taking place on Oct ober 3 to decide the gold medal winner.