AFC announces the competition format of Women’s Asian Cup India 2022
In preparation for the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022TM (“WAC2022”), AFC provides to member associations the relevant information.
- Mode of Competition
The twelve (12) teams shall be divided into three (3) groups of four (4) teams and each group shall play a one (1)-round league format, where each team in the group shall play one (1) match against every other team.
The first-placed and second-placed Participating Teams in each group, as well as the two (2) best third-placed Participating Teams among all groups, shall qualify for the Knockout Stage (Quarter Finals).
The four (4) winners from the Quarter Finals shall qualify to the Semi Finals, where the winners will advance to the Final.
The top five (5) ranked teams of the WAC2022 shall qualify to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023TM (“FWWC2023”).
In the event that Australia finishes among the top five (5) teams of the WAC2022, the sixth (6th) ranked team will also qualify into FWWC2023.
- Playoff Format
There will be Playoff matches (maximum of four (4) matches) organised among the losing teams of the Quarter Finals (excluding Australia if applicable) to determine the remaining teams that will qualify to FWWC2023 as well as the two (2) teams that will qualify into the Inter-Confederation Playoff matches to represent Asia.
The fixtures and sequence of the Playoff matches will depend on the progress of Australia in the Competition and will have the following three (3) scenarios:
| Scenario 1: Australia advances to the Semi Finals | ||
| Slots Explanation | Matches | Match Dates |
| · Four (4) Semi Finalists (including Australia), gain the direct slot for FWWC2023 | PO1: Losing Team QF1 vs Losing Team QF 3 | 2 Feb 2022 |
| · Four (4) losing teams from the Quarter Finals to play a Playoff Match. | PO2: Losing Team QF2 vs Losing Team QF 4 | 2 Feb 2022 |
| · The two (2) winning teams will gain the direct slots and the two (2) losing teams will be entitled for the Inter-Confederation Playoff slots for the FWWC2023. | ||
| Scenario 2: Australia does not advance to the Semi Finals | ||
| Slots Explanation | Matches | Match Dates |
| · Four (4) Semi Finalists gain the direct slot for FWWC2023. | PO1: Team 3 vs Team 1 | 2 Feb 2022 |
| · Since Australia has a direct slot to FWWC2023, the remaining three (3) losing teams from the Quarter Finals shall play the Playoff matches in a one-round robin format. | PO2: Team 2 vs Team 3
PO3: Team 1 vs Team 2 | 4 Feb 2022
6 Feb 2022 |
| · The team ranked first amongst the three (3) Playoff teams shall win the direct slot and the remaining two (2) teams will be entitled for the Inter-Confederation Playoff slots for the FWWC2023 | ||
| Scenario 3: Australia does not advance to the Quarter Finals | ||
| Slots Explanation | Matches | Match Dates |
| · Four (4) Semi Finalists gain the direct slot for FWWC2023. | PO1: Losing team QF1 vs Losing team QF3
PO2: Losing team QF2 vs Losing team QF4
PO3: Winner PO1 vs Winner PO2
PO4: Losing team PO1 vs Losing team PO2 | 2 Feb 2022
2 Feb 2022
4 Feb 2022
4 Feb 2022 |
| · Four (4) losing teams from the Quarter Finals to play two (2) rounds of Playoff matches. | ||
| · The second round of the Playoffs will be played against the two (2) winning teams and the two (2) losing teams of the first round. | ||
| · Winner of PO3 shall gain the remaining direct slot; whilst the Losing team of PO3 & Winner of PO4 shall have the inter- confederation Playoff slots for FWWC2023. | ||
