The qualifying process for the 1998 Thomas Cup took place from 14 to 22 February 1998 to decide the final teams which would play in the final tournament.
Qualification process The qualification process was divided into two regions, the Asian Zone and the European Zone. Seeded teams received a bye into the second round while unseeded teams competed in the first round for a place in the second round. The first two rounds were played in a round-robin format. Teams in the second round competed for a place in the knockout stages. Semi-final winners in each zone were guaranteed qualification for the final tournament to be held in Hong Kong while the remaining teams competed in a third place playoff match for a place in the final tournament.
Indonesia qualified for the final tournament as defending champions while Hong Kong qualified as hosts.
Qualified teams Country Qualified as Qualified on Final appearance1998 Thomas Cup hostsDecember 19962nd1996 Thomas Cup winners25 May 199617thAsian Zone winners22 February 19989thAsian Zone runners-up22 February 199817thThird place in Asian Zone22 February 19988thEuropean Zone winners21 February 199820thEuropean Zone runners-up21 February 19981st Third place in European Zone21 February 19988th
Asian Zone The qualification rounds for the Asian Zone were held from 15 to 22 February at the PhilSports Arena in Manila, Philippines. Eighteen teams took part in qualifying for the final tournament.
First round Group A
Group B
Group C
Second round Group X
Group Y
Knockout stage
Semi-finals
Third place
Final
European Zone The European qualifying rounds were held in the Slagenhallen for first round matches and in the Jotunhallen starting from the second round in Sandefjord, Norway.
First round Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Second round Group W
Group X
Group Y
Group Z
Knockout stage
Semi-finals
Third place
Final
References