In the group stage, a total of 24 matches (three matches per group) were played between 21 and 22 October,[8] with rainy conditions causing some of the matches to be postponed for the 21st to the 22nd.[1][9] The teams finishing in the top two positions in each of the four groups progressed to the knockout stage, while the third and fourth-placed teams was eliminated from the tournament.
The knockout stage matches, which includes quarter-finals, semi-finals, third place play-off and the final, were all played on 23 September 2012. If a match is drawn after 40 minutes of regular play, a penalty shoot-out is used to determine the winner.