Thailand, whose best performance came in 2008 at home when they reached the final before going down 4-0 to Iran, were placed alongside Indonesia, Philippines and Myanmar in Tuesday’s draw at AFC House.

Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia complete the second four-team group of this zone. The matches of this group will be played in Thailand from November 26 to December 1, 2011.

The top three teams from each of the four zones will qualify for the 16-nation tournament proper along with three direct entrants – defending champions Iran, runners-up Uzbekistan and third-placed Japan – and hosts UAE.

China, who finished fourth last year after losing 6-1 to Japan in the third-place playoff, lead Group B in East Zone. Chinese Taipei and Macau complete this group while Korea Republic, Hong Kong and Mongolia are in Group A. The six teams will battle it out from November 13 to 18 in Malaysia.

Nine West Zone teams were split into two groups of five and four with hosts Kuwait, Qatar, Palestine, Syria and Saudi Arabia were drawn in Group A while Lebanon, Iraq, Bahrain and UAE finding themselves in Group B. Kuwait City will host the West Zone qualifiers from December 9 to 16.

Hosts Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Maldives will play one round robin league and top three teams will qualify from the South and Central Zone. The qualifiers for this zone will be played from November 25 to 27.

THE GROUPINGS

Asean Zone
Group A: Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar
Group B: Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia

East Zone
Group A: Korea Republic, Hong Kong, Mongolia
Group B: China, Chinese Taipei, Macau

West Zone
Group A: Kuwait, Qatar, Palestine, Syria, Saudi Arabia
Group B: Lebanon, Iraq, Bahrain, UAE

South and Central Zone
Group A: Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Maldives