KUALA LUMPUR - Thailand were drawn in Group F alongside Iraq, Vietnam, Indonesia and Taiwan in the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Thailand, coached by Kiatisak Senamuang, will kick off their campaign with a home game against Southeast Asian rivals Vietnam on June 11 and visit Taiwan on June 16.
The remaining games are against Iraq (home) on Sept 8, Indonesia (away) on Oct 8, Vietnam (away) on Oct 13, Taiwan (home) on Nov 12, Iraq (away) on March 24 and Indonesia (home) on March 29.
Asian champions Australia are in Group B with Jordan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Bangladesh.
South Korea, runners-up at this year's Asian Cup, were drawn in the same group as Kuwait, Lebanon, Myanmar and Laos.
Regional heavyweights Japan are in Group E with Syria, Afghanistan, Singapore and Cambodia, while Iran, Asia's top-ranked country, ended up in Group D with Oman, India, Turkmenistan and Guam.
The eight group winners and four best runners-up advance to the third round of World Cup qualifying and also qualify for the 2019 Asian Cup in United Arab Emirates.
While a separate tournament to determine the other 12 Asian Cup qualifiers will take place involving the 28 teams that didn't advance to the next stage of World Cup qualifiers.
Bhutan, which started the first round of qualifiers as the world's worst team, according to Fifa rankings, ended up in the same group as China, Hong Kong, Maldives and Qatar, the 2022 World Cup hosts.