VietNamNet Bridge – The draw for the AFF Cup 2012 final round took place in Bangkok, Thailand on July 11, to define members of the two groups of the largest football event in Southeast Asia.

According to draw rules, the two host teams – Thailand and Malaysia – must be in different groups.

The Southeast Asian Football Federation (AFF) also places the two top football teams in the latest FIFA rankings – Vietnam and Indonesia – in two different groups. As the two seeds, the Philippines and Singapore are also not in the same group.

Finally, the A group includes host Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and the top team of the qualifier round. In the B group, host Malaysia will compete with Indonesia, Singapore and the second team of the qualifier round.

The final round will be held in Malaysia and Thailand from November 24 to December 1. The two leading teams of each group will enter the semi-finals, in the round-robin form. The finale will be also in this form.

Before the final round, the qualifier round will take place in Myanmar from October 3 to 10 to select two of the five teams (Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, East Timor and Brunei) for the final round. According to football experts, Myanmar and Laos are potential teams.

AFF Cup 2012 schedule (24/11-24/12):

Group A

24/11: Vietnam – top team of the qualifier round
27/11: Vietnam – the Philippines
30/11: Thailand – Vietnam

Semi-final
First leg: 8/12: second team of group A – first team of group B; 9/12 second team of group B – first team of group A
Second leg: 12/12: first team of group B – second team of group A; 13/12: first tem of group A – second team of group B

Finale
First leg: 19/12 the winner of the first semi-final game – the winner of the second semi-final game.
Second leg: 22/12 the winner of the second semi-final game – the winner of the first semi-final game

Draw result

Group A: Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, first team of the qualifier round
Group B: Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, second team of the qualifier round

Compiled by S. Tung