2012 Thomas Cup qualification
The 2012 Thomas Cup qualification process is a series of tournaments organised by the five BWF confederations to decide 11 of the 12 teams which will play in the 2012 Thomas Cup, with China qualifying automatically as hosts and trophy holders.
Qualification process
The number of teams participating in the final tournament is 12. The allocation of slots for each confederation is the same allocation from 2004 tournament; 4 from each Asia and Europe, and 1 from each Africa, Oceania and Pan Am. Two automatic qualifiers are the host and defending champion.
Confederation qualification
Badminton Confederation of Africa
The qualification for the African teams was held from 22 to 29 February 2012, at the Arat Kilo Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The winners of the African qualification will qualify for the Thomas Cup.
Teams in contention
;Teams qualified for the Group stage
*
Badminton Asia
The qualification for the Asian teams was held from 13 to 19 February 2012, at the Macao Forum in Sé, Macau. The semi-finalists of the Asian qualification will qualify for the Thomas Cup. Since China qualified automatically as hosts and defending champions, an extra slot will be awarded to the team that finishes first in the classification round.
Teams in contention
;Teams qualified for the Group stage
Badminton Europe
The qualification for the European teams will held from 14 to 19 February 2012, at the Sporthallen Zuid in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The semi-finalists of the European qualification will qualify for the Thomas Cup.
Teams in contention
;Teams qualified for the Group stage
Badminton Oceania
The qualification for the Oceanian teams was held from 18 to 19 February 2012, at the Ballarat Badminton Stadium in Ballarat, Australia. The winner of the Oceania qualification will qualify for the Thomas Cup.
Badminton Pan Am
The qualification for the Pan Am teams will hold from 17 to 19 February 2012, at the Los Angeles Badminton Club in El Monte, California, United States. The winner of the Pan Am qualification will qualify for the Thomas Cup.
Teams in contention
;Teams qualified for the Group stage