AFC U-16 Women’s Championship qualifiers formats

AFC has announced the dates and formats of the 2011 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship qualifiers.

Qualification Round 1 will be held from October 1 to 10, 2010. Bottom nine ranked teams are divided into two groups based on the zones (South and Central/West and ASEAN/East) and top teams from each group will qualify to Round 2.

Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Guam are in Group A (ASEAN/East group) while India, Uzbekistan, Iran, Jordan and Bahrain are pooled in Group B (South and Central/West group).

Teams ranked 6-8 in the last competition – Thailand, Myanmar and Chinese Taipei – have been given a direct entry to Round 2, which will be played from November 1 to 10, 2010. They will be joined by the Round 1 group winners.

Five teams will play in a single group league for Round 2 and the winners will progress to the Finals.

Top five teams of last edition – Korea Republic, DPR Korea, Japan, Australia and China -will be joined by the Round 2 winners in a one round league to determine the ultimate champions.

Venues for the qualification rounds will be confirmed at a later date.