Confederation qualification processes -
AFC
On 13 August 2010 the AFC announced a proposed format 4 the qualifiers tat was identical 2 tat 4 the 2010 finals, even though the final number of qualifiers had not been determined. A final format, with the initial stages modified slightly fr 2010, was announced in March 2011.
Qualification begins with 2 sets of 2-leg knock-out qualification rounds - the 1st held on 29 June/3 July 2011 & the 2nd on 23/28 July - reducing the number of teams in the main draw to 20. As in the 2010 format, the 3rd stage consists of 5 groups of 4 teams (with matches held betw September 2011 & February 2012) with the top 2 in each group advancing to 2 groups of 5 tat will play a further group stage during 2012. The top 2 teams in each group qualify 4 the 2014 finals directly, with the 2 3rd-placed teams playing-off 4 a chance 2 qualify via a further inter-confederation qualifying tie.
The draw for the 1st 2 rounds of qualifiers was held in Kuala Lumpur on 30 March 2011, & the AFC 1st Round schedule r schedule on 29 June 2011 4 the 1st leg & 3rd July 2011 4 the 2nd leg:
- Malaysia vs Chinese Taipei
- Bangladesh vs Pakistan
- Cambodia vs Laos
- Sri Lanka vs Philippines
- Afghanistan vs Palestine
- Vietnam vs Macau
- Nepal vs Timor-Leste
- Mongolia vs Myanmar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FI..._qualification