Thirty-nine teams have entered the fray for this edition of the tournament and have been divided into two zones – West (22) and East (17).

The teams will be divided into seven groups of six and five teams each. West Zone will have two groups of six and two of five teams while East will have two groups of six teams each and one of five.

Top two teams from each of the groups and third best team from West and East zones will qualify for the tournament proper.

TEAMS AND ZONES

West by ranking

1. Uzbekistan, 2. UAE, 3. Syria, 4. Iraq, 5. Iran, 6. Kuwait, 7. Tajikistan, 8. Oman, 9. Saudi Arabia, 10. Bahrain, 11. Yemen, 12. Bangladesh, 13. Qatar, 14. Nepal, 15. Kyrgyzstan, 16. Pakistan, 17. India, 18. Afghanistan, 19. Lebanon, 20. Palestine, 21. Maldives, 22. Sri Lanka.

East by ranking

1. DPR Korea, 2. Australia, 3. Japan, 4. Indonesia, 5. Vietnam, 6. China, 7. Timor Leste, 8. Chinese Taipei, 9. Thailand, 10. Laos, 11. Hong Kong, 12. Singapore, 13. Korea Republic, 14. Myanmar, 15. Malaysia, 16. Guam, 17. Macau.