In the group stage, each group was played on a double
round-robin basis in centralised venues. The winners of each group and three best runners-up from each region advanced to the
round of 16 of the
knockout stage.
Tiebreakers The teams were ranked according to
points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers were applied in the following order (Regulations Article 8.3): • Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams; •
Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams; • Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams; •
Away goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
(not applicable since the matches were played in centralised venue) • If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams; • Goal difference in all group matches; • Goals scored in all group matches; •
Penalty shoot-out if only two teams playing each other in the last round of the group are tied; • Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points); •
Association ranking. ==Schedule==