Following the approval from AFC, the qualifiers of Group D comprising Uzbekistan, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh and host Nepal will be held from June 2 to 10. Earlier, the event was scheduled for June 23-July 1.[break]
According to the official AFC website, the decision was taken on Thursday under the chairmanship of AFC Vice-president Yousuf Al Serkal at the AFC House, Kuala Lumpur.
However, the decisions of the committee need to be ratified by the AFC executive committee.
Altogether 41 member associations of AFC have registered for the tournament during the groupings. The participating teams are divided into seven groups with six groups of six teams each and another one group of five teams. Altogether 15 teams will be selected for the finals of the competition to be played in 2013. The best first runner-up from among all groups and the host nation will also secure a place in the finals.
The meeting has also approved AFC´s associate member Northern Mariana Islands for participation in the Challenge Cup and President´s Cup on condition that it would fulfill AFC´s criteria.
Similarly, the meeting also approved the tournament regulations for U-16 and U-19 championship finals and criteria for participation in the 2013 and 2014 editions of the AFC club competitions.
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