AFF Cup 2022 official draw on Aug 30 in Bangkok

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- The official draw for the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup will be held on Aug 30 in Bangkok, Thailand.

According to the AFF in a statement today, the tournament which enter its 14th edition, will make a welcome return to a full home and away format, with 10 qualified teams competing for the most coveted prize in ASEAN football.

"The official draw will divide the teams into two groups of five, with each team playing two matches, at home and away, in the group stages.

"The top two sides of each group will advance to the knockout stage which involves a two-legged semi-finals and final," it said.

According to the statement, the nine nations in the draw comprise Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Brunei and Timor Leste will compete for the 10th spot during the qualifying round playoff matches.

The representatives from the AFF Council, Member Associations, sponsors and some of the participating teams are expected to be in attendance at the official draw at 2 pm local time.

Meanwhile, AFF President Major General Khiev Sameth in the same statement said the announcement of the official draw marks a significant step forward the preparations for the AFF Cup 2022.

"We believe the fans and the national teams share our excitement, and the draw will kickstart the build-up to the region’s biggest football showpiece taking place at the end of the year," it said.

Fans can tune in to the official draw which will be streamed live on the official AFF Cup 2022 website and social media platforms, as well as on various channels and platforms by official media partners of the event.

-- BERNAMA