Football Asian Cup 1972 / Qualification

Qualification for the 1972 Asian Football Championship in Thailand

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The participating teams were divided into two groups according to their geographical location, Israel played because of political problems in return games against South Korea to determine the sixth participant. For the first time, Arab teams also took part in the qualifying tournament.

Iran was automatically qualified as defending champions.

The AFC determined the following places in the finals:

• Middle East : 2 teams (+ Iran)
• Southeast Asia : 1 team (+ Thailand)
• East Asia \ Israel : 1 team

Group 1

(in Bangkok ) May 24 to June 1, 1971

rank	country	Gates	Points
1.	Indonesia	10-0	4th
2.	Thailand	10: 1	2
3.	Brunei	0:19	0

Thailand	-	Brunei	10: 0 (6: 0)
Thailand	-	Indonesia	0: 1 (0: 1)
Indonesia	-	Brunei	9: 0 (6: 0)

rank	country	Gates	Points
1.	Malaysia	4: 2	4th
2.	Cambodia	3: 3	2
3.	Hong Kong	2: 4	0

Cambodia	-	Hong Kong	2: 1 (1: 0)
Hong Kong	-	Malaysia	1: 2 (1: 1)
Malaysia	-	Cambodia	2: 1 (1: 1)

Semifinals:

				Indonesia	-	Cambodia	0: 2 (0: 0)
				Thailand	-	Malaysia	1: 0 (0: 0)

Final:

Thailand

-

Cambodia

4: 2 (3: 2)

Thailand is thus qualified (since Thailand was later designated as the host, Cambodia qualified)

Group 2

(in Kuwait City ) December 13-24 , 1971

rank	country	Gates	Points
1.	Iraq	8-0	6th
2.	Jordan	5: 5	4th
3.	Bahrain	5: 4	2
4th	Sri Lanka	1:10	0

Iraq	-	Sri Lanka	5: 0 (2: 0)
Bahrain	-	Jordan	2: 3 (1: 1)
Iraq	-	Bahrain	1: 0 (0: 0)
Jordan	-	Sri Lanka	2: 1 (1: 0)
Sri Lanka	-	Bahrain	0: 3 (0: 3)
Iraq	-	Jordan	2: 0 (1: 0)

rank	country	Gates	Points
1.	Kuwait	3: 2	3
2.	Lebanon	3: 3	2
3.	Syria	4: 5	1

Kuwait	-	Lebanon	1: 0 (1: 0)
Syria	-	Lebanon	2: 3 (1: 1)
Kuwait	-	Syria	2: 2 (1: 2)

Semifinals:

				Kuwait	-	Jordan	2: 0 (1: 0)
				Iraq	-	Lebanon	4: 1 (1: 0)

Final:

Iraq

-

Kuwait

1: 0 (0: 0)

Iraq and Kuwait are thus qualified for the final tournament.

Group 3

Israel withdrew its report, which automatically qualifies South Korea.