Preliminary round
Four groups of four teams each and two of three are played as one-venue mini-tournaments from 22 to 27 January 2013.  The six group winners progress to the main round.

Main round
The six preliminary round winners join the 22 highest-ranked qualifying contenders in seven groups of four teams played as one-venue mini-tournaments between 27 and 30 March 2013. The seven group winners progress to the final tournament, where they join hosts Belgium, while the seven runners-up and best third-placed team enter the play-offs.

Play-offs
The eight teams are drawn into four pairs to play two-legged ties on 17 and 24 September. The four winners complete the final tournament lineup.

Final tournament
The final tournament between 28 January and 8 February 2014 will begin with the 12 contenders draw into four groups of three teams. The top two from each group will progress to the quarter-finals, from where the tournament is a knockout competition.

Further details, including the criteria for separating teams that finish level on points in a group, can be found in the official competition regulations.