in a group are equal on points on completion of the group matches, their places shall be determined as follows: Greater number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned. Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned. Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned (Away Goals do not apply in this stage of the competition). Goal difference in all the group matches. Kicks from the penalty mark if only two teams are involved and they are both on the field of play. Drawing of lots. Qualifying round Pakistan is added back into the final qualifying round after Sri Lanka withdrew at the last minute. 24 teams will be split into six groups of four, playing in a home and away format. The top two of each group will progress to the finals. Matches will start on 22 February 2006 and ends on 15 November 2006. On 1 August 2006, Lebanon officially withdrew from the competition after having played only one match, due to their ongoing conflict with Israel. Group A Group B Group C Group D Note: Bahrain is ranked higher than Kuwait by the two head-to-head game results (Bahrain 2 – 1 Kuwait). 1 On 1 August 2006, it was announced that the AFC had accepted a withdrawal request from the Federation Libanaise de Football due to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict. The results of the Lebanon-Kuwait game on 22 February 2006 have been declared null and void and do not count towards the group rankings. The following fixtures were also canceled: against Bahrain, 16 August 2006 (in Bahrain National Stadium, Manama, Bahrain) against Australia, 31 August 2006 (in Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia) against Bahrain, 6 September 2006 (in Beirut Municipal Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon) against Kuwait, 11 October 2006 (in National Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait) against Australia, 15 November 2006 (in Beirut Municipal Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon) Group E Note: Iraq is ranked higher than China PR by the two head-to-head game results (Iraq 3 – 2 China PR). 1 All Iraq's home matches played in Al Ayn, United Arab Emirates. 2 All Palestine's home matches played in Amman, Jordan. Group F Qualified teams 1 Bold indicates champion for that year 2 Italic indicates host 3 Vietnam's debut since the unification of Vietnam at 1975 4 As South Vietnam Goal scorers 4 Goals Yasser Al-Qahtani 3 Goals Kazuki