2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualification
Also for the third edition of the AFC Challenge Cup qualifying for the final round was held.
The Maldives, which were eliminated in the regular qualifiers for Asia Cup in the first round, this time took part in the qualification.
Prequalification
The teams Mongolia and Macao played in the first round for a place in the group stage of qualifying. The first leg on April 7 in Macao Macao won 2-0 and the second leg on April 14 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia won 3-1. By the away goals rule, thus qualified Macao.
Group stage
In the group stage were 16 teams into four groups of four teams against each other. The group winners and best runners qualified for the final tournament. Defending champion and host India, Tajikistan and North Korea were already qualified for the final round.
The draw for the group stage on 28 January 2009 resulted in the following groups:
- Group A: Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Macau
- Group B: Turkmenistan, Philippines, Bhutan, Maldives
- Group C: Nepal, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Palestine
- Group D: Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Chinese Taipei, Brunei
Group A
All games at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Group B
All games in Rasmee Dhandu Stadium, Male, Maldives
Group C
All games in Rangasala Dasarath Stadium, Kathmandu, Nepal
Afghanistan withdrew its participation back on March 24, 2009.
Nepal was before Palestine group runners. Because of the point - and Torgleichheit and draw in the direct encounter the Fair Play ranking was used. Nepal had received a total in the two games a yellow card, Palestine three, so Nepal was placed in the table in front of Palestine.
Group D
All games in Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Determination of the best runners
Because of the retreat from Afghanistan in Group C Nepal had completed only two games as opposed to the other runners. In order to compare the teams, so only two games were also scored for the other runners, namely against the first and against the third-ranked of each group. The games against the fourth-placed were not counted. Accordingly, the following table was:
- AFC Challenge Cup
- Football in 2009