The 2016 AFF U-16 Youth Championship was the 11th edition of the AFF U-16 Youth Championship, organised by the ASEAN Football Federation for the men's under-16 national teams of Southeastern Asia. It is hosted by Cambodia for the third time after the 2007 AFF U-17 Youth Championship and 2015 AFF U-16 Youth Championship, and won by Australia. It is played between 10 and 23 July 2016.[1]
A total of 11 teams played in the tournament. The Indonesian Football Association was suspended by football's world governing body FIFA because of government interference in the Southeast Asian country's national league on 30 May 2015 but this was lifted on 13 May 2016.[2][3] However, Indonesia withdrew from the tournament.
Players born on or after 1 January 2000 are eligible to compete in the tournament. Each team can register a maximum of 23 players (minimum three of whom must be goalkeepers).
Participant teams
All twelve member associations of the ASEAN Football Federation were set to take part in the tournament featuring three groups of four teams, but with Indonesia's suspension, they were omitted and the AFF reverted to two groups featuring six and five teams.[4]
The two venues to host matches are Olympic Stadium and Army Stadium in Phnom Penh. The matches of Group A will hold in Olympic Stadium and Army Stadium, the matches of Group B will hold in Olympic Stadium and the matches of Knockout stage will hold in Olympic Stadium.
The top two teams of each group advance to the semi-finals.
Tiebreakers[6]
The teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
Goal difference in all the group matches;
Greater number of goals scored in all the group matches;
Result of the direct match between the teams concerned;
Kicks from the penalty mark if the teams concerned are still on the field of play.
As per statistical convention in football, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws.
^"Futsal Club meet kicks-off busy AFF 2016 calendar". ASEAN Football Federation. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
^"FIFA Congress drives football forward, first female secretary general appointed". FIFA. Archived from the original on May 16, 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
^"Indonesian FA suspended by FIFA for government meddling". Eurosport. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
^"Full turnout for AFF U16 and U19". Kuala Lumpur: ASEAN Football Federation. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
^"Futsal Club meet kicks-off busy AFF 2016 calendar". Vietnam: ASEAN Football Federation. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
^"AFF U16 Championship 2016 Tournament Regulations" (PDF). ASEAN Football Federation. Section 9.1.5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 August 2016.