Japan has been drawn against China, Vietnam and Taiwan in Group A at this summer's Women's Asian Cup in Australia, the Japan Football Association said Thursday.

Two-time defending champion North Korea is in the tough group B alongside neighbor South Korea, newcomer Australia, Thailand and Myanmar for the July 16-30 event, which also serves as qualifying competition for next year's Women's World Cup in China.

The top two teams from the nine-team tournament will have spots reserved for them at the World Cup in addition to host China, while the team which finishes third will have a chance to qualify if it wins a playoff against a team from the CONCACAF zone.