The top two highest-placing teams from each of the two groups advanced to the knockout stage. In Group A, Thailand secured the group top spot as the group winner with 10 points after defeating Cambodia by 3–1 in their last match while Indonesia became the group runners-up with similar points but has less goals difference with Thailand. Indonesia defeated Philippines by 2–1 in their last match.[2]
Meanwhile, in Group B, Vietnam secured the group top spot with 10 points after defeating Myanmar by 3–0 in their last match while Malaysia became the group runner-up with 9 points after winning 4–1 against Singapore.[3]
All matchup ties will be played over two legs. The team that scores more goals on aggregate over the two legs wins the tie. If the aggregate score is level at the end of normal time of the second leg, the team that scores more away goals across both legs advances. If the away goals are still level, extra time is played (without applying the away goals rule), and if the same number of goals are scored by both teams during extra time, the tie is decided by a penalty shoot-out.
