The knockout stage was the second and final stage of the 2018 AFF Championship, following the group stage. It was played from 1 to 15 December with the top two teams from each group (two in total) advancing to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination tournament. Each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. The away goals rule, extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary.
Vietnam won 3–2 on aggregate against Malaysia in the final to win their second title.
Qualified teams
The top two placed teams from each of the two groups advanced to the knockout stage. In Group A, Vietnam secured the group top spots with 10 points after defeating Cambodia by 3–0 in their last match while Malaysia became the group runners-up with 9 points after beating Myanmar with similar scores of 3–0.[1][2] Meanwhile in Group B, Thailand secured the group top spots with 10 points after defeating Singapore by 3–0 in their last match while Philippines became the group runners-up with 8 points after drawing 0–0 against Indonesia.[3][4]
^"Vietnam defeat Cambodia 3-0, entering semifinal of 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup". Vietnam News Agency. Vietnam+. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
^"Football: Malaysia beat Myanmar to join Vietnam in Asean semis". The Straits Times. Reuters. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
^Wang Meng Meng (25 November 2018). "Football: Singapore bow out of AFF Suzuki Cup after 3-0 loss to Thailand". The Straits Times. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
^Lorenzo del Carmen (25 November 2018). "Philippines returns to the semifinals with Indonesia stalemate". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
^"REPORT: Malaysia 0-0 Thailand". 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup. 1 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^"Malaysia vs Thailand [AFF Suzuki Cup: Semi-finals]". World Football. 1 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
^ ab"Malaysia vs. Thailand 0–0". Soccerway (UK). 1 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
^"REPORT: Philippines 1-2 Vietnam". 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup. 2 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^"Philippines vs Vietnam [AFF Suzuki Cup: Semi-finals]". World Football. 2 December 2018. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
^ ab"Philippines vs. Vietnam 1–2". Soccerway (UK). 2 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
^"REPORT: Thailand 2 Malaysia 2 (Malaysia advance on away goals)". 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup. 5 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^"Thailand vs Malaysia [AFF Suzuki Cup: Semi-finals]". World Football. 5 December 2018. Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
^ ab"Thailand vs. Malaysia 2–2". Soccerway (UK). 5 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
^"REPORT: Vietnam 2 Philippines 1 (Vietnam win 4-2 on aggregate)". 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^"Vietnam vs Philippines [AFF Suzuki Cup: Semi-finals]". World Football. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
^ ab"Vietnam vs. Philippines 2–1". Soccerway (UK). 6 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
^"FINAL 1ST LEG REPORT: Malaysia 2-2 Vietnam". 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup. 11 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^"Malaysia vs Vietnam [AFF Suzuki Cup: Finals]". World Football. 11 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^ ab"Malaysia vs. Vietnam 2–2". Soccerway (UK). 11 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^"2018 AFF Championship Final Summary [Malaysia (2) – (2) Vietnam]". ESPN (UK). Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^"FINAL 2ND LEG REPORT: Vietnam 1 Malaysia 0 (Vietnam win 3-2 on aggregate)". 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup. 15 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
^"Vietnam vs Malaysia [AFF Suzuki Cup: Finals]". World Football. 15 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
^ ab"Vietnam vs. Malaysia 1–0". Soccerway (UK). 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
^"2018 AFF Championship Final Summary [Vietnam (1) – (0) Malaysia]". ESPN (UK). Retrieved 15 December 2018.