The Asian Football Confederation revealed, on Monday (August 12), the classification of the clubs participating in the AFC Champions League 2 in the new football season 2023-24.
The first edition is scheduled to witness New continental championship 32 clubs will participate, 16 from the west of the continent and the same number from the east. The participating teams will be distributed into 8 groups, 4 groups for the clubs in the west and the same number for the clubs in the east.
So far, 28 clubs have secured their place in the group stage of the tournament. The list of participants is set to be completed by the addition of two teams that qualify from a special play-off, and two losing teams in the Preliminary round For the Asian Elite League (one team from the West, one from the East).
The Elite League is the top competition in the AFC club competition calendar. Its first edition will also be held in the new season, but it will see the participation of only 24 teams, divided into two groups (one for the West, and the other for the East).
AFC Champions League 2 Levels
The Asian Football Confederation has divided the AFC Champions League 2 into two sections (Western and Eastern), with the final match to be played between the champions of the West and East, in a single match on May 17.
Before that, the knockout matches (last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals) will be held in a home-and-away format, while the group stage will be held in a “split league” format, with each team playing 3 matches at home and 3 away.
The first level of the western clubs included Foolad Sepahan of Iran (loser in the preliminary round of the Elite League), the second loser in the preliminary round of the Elite League (Al-Gharafa of Qatar or Shabab Al-Ahli of the Emirates), Al-Taawoun of Saudi Arabia, and Al-Wakrah of Qatar.
The second level included Tractor S.A. of Uzbekistan, Sharjah S.A. of the UAE, Nasaf S.A. of Uzbekistan, and Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya of Iraq. The third level included Al-Hussein Irbid of Jordan, Istiklol S.A. of Tajikistan, Mohun Bagan Super Giant of India, and Al-Khalidiya S.A. of Bahrain.
Al-Wehdat of Jordan came at the top of the fourth and final level, which also includes Ravshan of Tajikistan, the first winner of the preliminary round of the tournament (East Bengal of India or Altyn Asyr of Turkmenistan), in addition to the second winner of the preliminary round of the tournament (Al-Ahli of Bahrain or Kuwait of Kuwait).
Complete levels
- First level: Foolad Sepahan, Al-Gharafa or Shabab Al-Ahli, Al-Taawoun, Al-Wakrah.
- Level 2: Tractor, Sharjah, Nasaf, Air Force.
- Third level: Al-Hussein Irbid, Al-Istiqlal, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Al-Khalidiya.
- Level 4: Al-Wahdat, Rafshan, East Bengal or Altyn Asyr, Al-Ahli Bahrain or Kuwait.
It is worth noting that Group stage draw The AFC Champions League 2 will be held next Friday (August 16), while the competition will start on September 17.
