The 2012 AFC Cup will be the 9th edition of the AFC Cup

AFC Cup

The AFC Cup is an annual international association football competition between domestic clubs sides run by the Asian Football Confederation . Qualification to the competition is to clubs from AFC-affiliated countries which fall into the AFC's 'developing nations' category as laid out in their...

, played between clubs from nations who are members of the Asian Football Confederation

Asian Football Confederation

The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...

.

Allocation of entries per association

The following allocation of berths for the 2012 AFC Cup was approved by the AFC in November 2011:

West Asia

Pos	Member Association	Points	Spots
			Group stage	Play-off
—	2012 AFC Champions League 2012 AFC Champions League The 2012 AFC Champions League will be the 31st edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation , and the 10th under the current AFC Champions League title. The winner will participate in 2012 FIFA Club World Cup.-Allocation of entries per...  qualifying play-off final round losers	—	2	0
1	Kuwait Kuwait Football Association The Kuwait Football Association is the governing body of football in Kuwait.Kuwait have twice been suspended by FIFA for political interference since 2007 and are only being allowed to participate in the 2011 Asian Cup qualifying campaign and other international competitions on a provisional...	35.32	3	0
2	Jordan Jordan Football Association The Jordan Football Association is the governing body of football in Jordan.-Affiliation:* FIFA* AFC* Union Arab de Football Federation* WAFF-External links:* * * at AFC site...	33.47	2	0
3	Syria Syrian Arab Federation for Football The Syrian Arab Federation for Football is the governing body of football in Syria.The make up of the Syrian Football Association Interim Committee has been finalised by FIFA.The following officials have been appointed.Dr Mua'tasem Gotog - Chairman...	30.28	2	0
4	Iraq Iraq Football Association The Iraqi Football Association is the governing body of football in Iraq, controlling the Iraqi national team and the Iraq Super League. It was founded in 1948, and has been a member of FIFA since 1950 and the Asian Football Confederation since 1971....	28.98	2	0
5	Bahrain Bahrain Football Association The Bahrain Football Association is the governing body of football in Bahrain, and controls the Bahrain national football team. It was founded in 1957, and has been a member of FIFA since 1966. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation....	28.13	0	0
7	Oman Oman Football Association The Oman Football Association is the governing body of football in Oman. It was founded in 1978, has been a member of the Asian Football Confederation since 1979 and of FIFA since 1980. Oman Football Association is a relatively young member of the football fraternity...	20.68	2	0
11	Lebanon Federation Libanaise de Football The Lebanese Football Association is the governing body of football in Lebanon. It organizes the Lebanon national football team, the Lebanon women's national football team, the Lebanon national under-23 football team, the Lebanon national under-20 football team, the Lebanon national under-17...	15.09	2	0
12	India All India Football Federation The All India Football Federation is the organisation which manages the game of association football in India. It administers the running of the India national football team and also controls the I-League, India's premier domestic club competition, in addition to various other competitions and...	11.75	2	0
13	Yemen Yemen Football Association The Yemen Football Association is the governing body of football in Yemen. It was founded in 1962, has been a member of the Asian Football Confederation since 1962 and of FIFA since 1980....	11.02	1	1
15	Maldives Football Association of Maldives Football Association of Maldives was founded in 1982 as the governing body of football in the Republic of Maldives. The football association under the guidance of Ministry of Youth development and Sports is responsible for all regulatory aspects of the Game of Football in the Maldives...	9.13	1	1
Total			19	2

East Asia

Pos	Member Association	Points	Spots
			Group stage	Play-off
—	2012 AFC Champions League 2012 AFC Champions League The 2012 AFC Champions League will be the 31st edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation , and the 10th under the current AFC Champions League title. The winner will participate in 2012 FIFA Club World Cup.-Allocation of entries per...  qualifying play-off final round losers	—	2	0
6	Vietnam Vietnam Football Federation The Vietnam Football Federation is the governing body of football in Vietnam. It is responsible for the Vietnam men's, women's, olympic, and other youth teams as well as national competitions....	24.16	2	0
8	Indonesia Football Association of Indonesia The Football Association of Indonesia or PSSI is the governing body of football in Indonesia. It was founded on April 19, 1930, 15 years before Indonesian independence...	17.58	1	0
9	Singapore Football Association of Singapore The Football Association of Singapore is the governing body of football in Singapore. It was founded in 1952. Prior to that, the Singapore Amateur Football Association, founded in 1892, was the governing body for football in Singapore...	16.51	2	0
10	Hong Kong Hong Kong Football Association The Hong Kong Football Association , often abbreviated to the HKFA, is the governing body of association football in Hong Kong. Its current chairman is Brian Leung Hung-Tak and its general secretary is Vincent Yuen Mun-Chuen.- History :...	15.68	2	0
14	Malaysia Football Association of Malaysia The Football Association of Malaysia is the governing body for football in Malaysia, responsible for organising the Malaysian national football team and the major football and futsal tournaments within the country. The Football Association of Malaysia main headquarters is located at Wisma...	10.79	1	1
16	Myanmar Myanmar Football Federation The Myanmar Football Federation is the governing body of football in Myanmar. The MFF oversees the Burmese men's national team, the women's national team, and youth national teams as well as national football championships and professional club competitions.-History:Reportedly introduced during...	5.47	1	1
Total			11	2

Notes Different from previous seasons where losers of the AFC Champions League qualifying play-off semi-final round also entered the AFC Cup, from 2012 only losers of the AFC Champions League qualifying play-off final round will enter the AFC Cup. Kuwait

Kuwait Football Association

The Kuwait Football Association is the governing body of football in Kuwait.Kuwait have twice been suspended by FIFA for political interference since 2007 and are only being allowed to participate in the 2011 Asian Cup qualifying campaign and other international competitions on a provisional...

 have three teams entering as Al-Kuwait

Kuwait SC

Kuwait Sporting Club is a Kuwaiti professional football club. They have won the Kuwaiti Premier League 10 times, with the most recent one coming in 2008. Kuwait SC also has 23 trophies to their name in Kuwaiti Club Football history. Kuwait SC plays in Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium in Al Asimah,...

, the 2011 AFC Cup runners-up failed to fulfil the criteria set by AFC to compete in the 2012 AFC Champions League, and thus directly entered the 2012 AFC Cup. Bahrain

Bahrain Football Association

The Bahrain Football Association is the governing body of football in Bahrain, and controls the Bahrain national football team. It was founded in 1957, and has been a member of FIFA since 1966. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation....

, while eligible to enter the AFC Cup, chose not to participate in 2012. Indonesia

Football Association of Indonesia

The Football Association of Indonesia or PSSI is the governing body of football in Indonesia. It was founded on April 19, 1930, 15 years before Indonesian independence...

 only have one team entering as their league champion will enter the 2012 AFC Champions League

2012 AFC Champions League

The 2012 AFC Champions League will be the 31st edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation , and the 10th under the current AFC Champions League title. The winner will participate in 2012 FIFA Club World Cup.-Allocation of entries per...

 qualifying play-off. Malaysia

Football Association of Malaysia

The Football Association of Malaysia is the governing body for football in Malaysia, responsible for organising the Malaysian national football team and the major football and futsal tournaments within the country. The Football Association of Malaysia main headquarters is located at Wisma...

 will return to the competition, after not participating in 2011. Myanmar

Myanmar Football Federation

The Myanmar Football Federation is the governing body of football in Myanmar. The MFF oversees the Burmese men's national team, the women's national team, and youth national teams as well as national football championships and professional club competitions.-History:Reportedly introduced during...

 applied for upgrade from the AFC President's Cup

AFC President's Cup

The AFC President's Cup is an annual international association football competition between domestic clubs sides run by the Asian Football Confederation .-Competition format:...

 to the AFC Cup, and was approved by the AFC in November 2011, and will make their debut in the competition.

The four associations (Yemen, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar) with the lowest points according to the AFC evaluation system have one team entering the group stage and one team entering the play-off.

Qualifying teams

A total of 34 teams will participate in the 2012 AFC Cup.

• 30 teams (19 in West Asia Zone, 11 in East Asia Zone) will directly enter the group stage.
• 4 teams (2 in West Asia Zone, 2 in East Asia Zone) will compete in the qualifying play-off. The 2 winners (1 in West Asia Zone, 1 in East Asia Zone) will qualify for the group stage.

Group stage direct entrants: West Asia (Groups A–E) Team Qualifying method App Last App 2012 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off final round losers 2012 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off final round losers   Salgaocar 2010–11 I-League 2010–11 I-League The 2010–11 I-League is the fourth season of the I-League, the highest football league competition in India. It began on 3 December 2010 and will end in May 2011. Dempo are the defending champions...  champions 2011 Indian Federation Cup 2011 Indian Federation Cup The 2011 Indian Federation Cup will be the 33rd season of the knock-out competition. On 13 August 2011 the AIFF announced that 21 clubs had been accepted to the tournament.....  winners 1st none   Kingfisher East Bengal 2010–11 I-League 2010–11 I-League The 2010–11 I-League is the fourth season of the I-League, the highest football league competition in India. It began on 3 December 2010 and will end in May 2011. Dempo are the defending champions...  runners-up 6th 2011   Al-Zawra'a 2010–11 Iraqi Premier League 2010–11 Iraqi Premier League The 2010-11 season was the 37th edition of the Iraqi Premier League. The season began on 26 November 2010, and ended on 15 August 2011. Dohuk FC were the defending champions....  champions 2nd 2009   Arbil 2010–11 Iraqi Premier League 2010–11 Iraqi Premier League The 2010-11 season was the 37th edition of the Iraqi Premier League. The season began on 26 November 2010, and ended on 15 August 2011. Dohuk FC were the defending champions....  runners-up 3rd 2011   Al-Wehdat 2010–11 Jordan League 2010–11 Jordan League The 2010–11 Jordan League is the 59th season of the top flight football in Jordan.Al-Faisaly are the defending champions.-Teams:Ittihad Al-Ramtha and Al-Karmel were relegated to the second level of Jordan football after ending the 2009–10 season in the bottom two places...  champions 2010–11 Jordan FA Cup 2010–11 Jordan FA Cup The 2010-11 version of the Jordan FA Cup was the 31st edition to be played. It is the premier knockout tournament for football teams in Jordan. The tournament has been adjusted to be played over one leg rather than two in previous editions....  winners 7th 2011   Al-Faisaly 2010–11 Jordan League 2010–11 Jordan League The 2010–11 Jordan League is the 59th season of the top flight football in Jordan.Al-Faisaly are the defending champions.-Teams:Ittihad Al-Ramtha and Al-Karmel were relegated to the second level of Jordan football after ending the 2009–10 season in the bottom two places...  runners-up 6th 2011   Al-Qadsia 2010–11 Kuwaiti Premier League 2010–11 Kuwaiti Premier League -League standing:|rowspan=1|2012 AFC Cup group stage|rowspan=1|2012 AFC Cup group stage 1|rowspan=1|2012 AFC Cup group stage 2|rowspan=1|Relegation playoff|rowspan=1|Relegation-Promotion/relegation playoff:...  champions 3rd 2011   Kazma 2011 Kuwait Emir Cup 2011 Kuwait Emir Cup The Kuwaiti Emir Cup is the premier cup competition involving teams from the Kuwaiti Premier League and the Kuwaiti Division One league.The 2011 edition is the 48th to be held.The winners qualify for the AFC Cup.-First round:-Quarter-Finals:...  winners 2nd 2010   Al-Kuwait Kuwait SC Kuwait Sporting Club is a Kuwaiti professional football club. They have won the Kuwaiti Premier League 10 times, with the most recent one coming in 2008. Kuwait SC also has 23 trophies to their name in Kuwaiti Club Football history. Kuwait SC plays in Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium in Al Asimah,... 2011 AFC Cup runners-up 4th 2011   Al-Ahed 2010–11 Lebanese Premier League 2010–11 Lebanese Premier League The 2010–11 Lebanese Premier League is the 63rd season of top-tier football in Lebanon. A total of twelve teams are competing in the league, with Al Ahed the defending champions.-Teams:...  champions 2010–11 Lebanese FA Cup 2010–11 Lebanese FA Cup The 2011 edition of the Lebanese FA Cup was the 39th edition to be played. It is the premier knockout tournament for football teams in Lebanon.Al-Ansar went into this edition as the holders. Al Ansar holds the most wins with 12 titles.-Round 1:...  winners 6th 2011   Safa 2010–11 Lebanese Premier League 2010–11 Lebanese Premier League The 2010–11 Lebanese Premier League is the 63rd season of top-tier football in Lebanon. A total of twelve teams are competing in the league, with Al Ahed the defending champions.-Teams:...  runners-up 3rd 2009   VB VB Sports Club VB Sports Club is a professional Maldivian football club based in Malé, Maldives. VB Sports Club is the former Island Football Club acquired by a leading entity and renamed on 8 November 2006.... 2011 Dhivehi League 2011 Dhivehi League -Clubs:*All Youth Linkage FC*Club Eagles*Club Valencia*Club Vyansa*Maaziya SRC*New Radiant SC*VB Sports Club*Victory SC-Standings:Format: In Round 1 and Round 2, all eight teams play against each other. Top six teams after Round 2 play against each other in Round 3. Teams with most total points...  champions 2011 Maldives FA Cup winners 4th 2011   Al-Suwaiq Al-Suwaiq Al-Suwaiq is an Omani football club based in Oman. It was founded in 1970.-Performance in AFC competitions:*AFC Cup: 2 appearances-Notable players: Lionardo Zaid Jaber Mahmoud Za'tara Hassan Rabia Francis Kasonde- External links :*... 2010–11 Omani League 2010–11 Omani League 2010 sees the beginning of the 35th edition of the Omani League known locally as the Oman Mobile League.-Teams:Al-Khaburah and Al Seeb were relegated to the second level league after finishing in the bottom two in the 2009-10 season....  champions 3rd 2011   2011 Sultan Qaboos Cup winners   Al-Shorta 2010–11 Syrian Premier League AFC Cup play-off winners 1st none   Al-Ittihad 2010–11 Syrian Cup 2010–11 Syrian Cup The 2010-11 version of the Syrian Cup is the 41st edition to be played. It is the premier knockout tournament for football teams in Syria. Al-Karamah went into this edition as the holders once again....  winners 3rd 2011   Al-Oruba Al-Oruba (Zabid) For other uses, see Al-Oruba Al-Oruba Yemeni Club ’ is a Yemeni football club based in San‘a’, Yemen. The club was founded in 2008.-Performance in AFC competitions:*AFC Cup: 1 appearances-Current squad:... 2010–11 Yemeni League 2010–11 Yemeni League The 2010–11 Yemeni League is the 19th edition of top level football in Yemen.The season started in November and will last until June 2011. The league winners will qualify for the AFC Cup...  champions 1st none Qualifying play-off participants: West Asia   Victory Victory SC Victory Sports Club is a Maldivian sports club best known for its football team. Victory SC is known for winning the president's cup for 20th time in 2009. The team has won titles that no other local team can match... 2011 Dhivehi League 2011 Dhivehi League -Clubs:*All Youth Linkage FC*Club Eagles*Club Valencia*Club Vyansa*Maaziya SRC*New Radiant SC*VB Sports Club*Victory SC-Standings:Format: In Round 1 and Round 2, all eight teams play against each other. Top six teams after Round 2 play against each other in Round 3. Teams with most total points...  runners-up 5th 2011   Al-Tilal 2010–11 Yemeni League 2010–11 Yemeni League The 2010–11 Yemeni League is the 19th edition of top level football in Yemen.The season started in November and will last until June 2011. The league winners will qualify for the AFC Cup...  runners-up 3rd 2011

Group stage direct entrants: East Asia (Groups F–H) Team Qualifying method App Last App 2012 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off final round losers 2012 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off final round losers   Kitchee 2010–11 Hong Kong First Division League 2010–11 Hong Kong First Division League 2010–11 Hong Kong Football Association First Division League is the 99th top tier football league of Hong Kong. The 2010–11 Hong Kong First Division League is contested by 10 teams. The defending champion is South China AA...  champions 2nd 2008   Citizen 2010–11 Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield 2010–11 Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield 2010–11 Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield, officially named as HKFA Canbo Senior Shield due to the competition's sponsorship by Guangdong Canbo Electrical, is the 109th season of one of the Asian oldest football knockout competition, Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield...  winners 1st none   Arema 2010–11 Indonesia Super League 2010–11 Indonesia Super League The 2010–11 Indonesia Super League was the third season of the Indonesia Super League , a fully professional football competition that replaced the Premier Division as the top rank of football competition structure in the country...  runners-up 1st none   Kelantan Kelantan FA The Kelantan Football Association enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Kelantan, Malaysia. The team is based in the city of Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. They are currently playing in the top division in Malaysian football, the Malaysia Super League... 2011 Malaysia Super League champions 1st none   Yangon United 2011 Myanmar National League 2011 Myanmar National League -League table:Below is the league table for 2011 season. Yangon United FC secured theirfirst ever championship in this season and have also become champions of 2011 Max Cement MFF Cup. This is the first time a team has win...  champions 1st none   Tampines Rovers Tampines Rovers FC Tampines Rovers Football Club are a professional association football club based in Tampines, Singapore, that play in the S.League. Founded in 1945, they have won the national league championship five times, the Singapore Cup thrice and the ASEAN Club Championship once... 2011 S.League 2011 S.League The 2011 S.League is the 16th season since the establishment of the S-League, the top professional football league in Singapore. The season began on 12 February 2011 and is scheduled to end at 28 November 2011. Etoile FC are the defending champions...  champions 5th 2011   Home United Home United FC Home United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapore's S.League.-History:The Police Sports Association was founded in the mid-1940s to organise football activities for the Singapore Police Force. They sent two teams to compete in the Singapore Amateur Football... 2011 Singapore Cup 2011 Singapore Cup The 2011 Singapore Cup starts in June 2011. It is the 14th staging of the annual Singapore Cup tournament....  winners 6th 2009   Song Lam Nghe An 2011 V-League 2011 V-League The 2011 V-League season was the 28th season of Vietnam's professional football league.Eximbank have taken over as official sponsor of the V-League.- Teams :...  champions 2nd 2011   Navibank Saigon 2011 Vietnamese Cup winners 1st none Qualifying play-off participants: East Asia   Terengganu Terengganu FA The Football Association of Terengganu The Football Association of Terengganu The Football Association of Terengganu (Bahasa Melayu: Persatuan Bola Sepak Negeri Terengganu (PBSNT) enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Terengganu. The team is based in Kuala... 2011 Malaysia FA Cup 2011 Malaysia FA Cup The 2011 Malaysia FA Cup, also known as Astro Malaysia FA Cup due to the competition's sponsorship by Astro Arena, is the 22nd season of the Malaysia FA Cup, a knockout competition for Malaysia's state football association and clubs....  winners 1st none   Ayeyawady United 2011 Myanmar National League 2011 Myanmar National League -League table:Below is the league table for 2011 season. Yangon United FC secured theirfirst ever championship in this season and have also become champions of 2011 Max Cement MFF Cup. This is the first time a team has win...  runners-up 1st none

Schedule

Schedule of dates for 2012 competition.

Phase	Round	Draw date	First leg	Second leg
Qualifying play-offs	Finals	6 December 2011 (Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million... , Malaysia)	TBA
Group stage	Matchday 1		6–7 March 2012
	Matchday 2		20–21 March 2012
	Matchday 3		3–4 April 2012
	Matchday 4		10–11 April 2012
	Matchday 5		24–25 April 2012
	Matchday 6		8–9 May 2012
Knockout phase	Round of 16		22–23 May 2012
	Quarter-finals	TBA	18 September 2012	25 September 2012
	Semi-finals		2 October 2012	23 October 2012
	Final		3 November 2012 at home of one of the finalists

External links

• AFC Cup Official Page