International football competition
The 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two is the 21st edition of the Asia's second-tier club football tournament, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Previously known as the AFC Cup, which had been in existence for the previous 20 seasons, this is the first season using a revised format and the new name of AFC Champions League Two.[1][2] It will feature 32 teams in the group stage.[3] The winner will be given an indirect preliminary stage slot for the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite, if they have not already qualified through their domestic performance.
Central Coast Mariners were the reigning champions, as the AFC Cup records and statistics are carried forward to the ACL Two.[4] They will not be able to defend the title as they will automatically participate in the AFC Champions League Elite league stage which does not allow teams to transfer from the AFC Champions League Elite league stage to the AFC Champions League Two.
Association team allocation
The associations are allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking,[5] which was published after the 2022 competitions were completed.[6]
- Notes
- ^
AFC Licensing (AFC): Association did not have a licensed club.[7]
Teams
The number of appearances and last appearance include the AFC Cup as the predecessor of the AFC Champions League Two.
- Notes
- ^
Iran (IRN): Fourth place
Tractor qualifies, due to
Sepahan (who were third place in the Pro League) winning the
2023–24 Hazfi Cup.
- ^
Iraq (IRQ): Al-Shorta, the
2023–24 Iraq FA Cup winners, also won the league title. As a result, the
2023–24 Iraq Stars League runners-up, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, qualified for the Champions League Two.
- ^
Malaysia (MAS): Johor Darul Ta'zim, the
2023 Malaysia FA Cup winners, also won the league title. As a result, the
2023 Malaysia Super League runners-up,
Selangor, qualified for the Champions League Two.
- ^
Philippines (PHI): Kaya–Iloilo, the
2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara winners, also won the league title. As a result, the
2024 Philippines Football League runners-up,
DH Cebu, qualified for the Champions League Two.
- ^
Qatar (QAT): Al-Sadd had already qualified for the Champions League Elite as the
2023-24 Qatar Stars League champions has also won the
2024 Emir of Qatar Cup. Thus, second-placed
Al-Rayyan have also qualified for the Champions League Elite league stage, the third-placed
Al-Gharafa qualified for the Champions League Elite qualifying play-off, the fourth-placed
Al-Wakrah qualified for the Champions League Two group stage.
- ^
Saudi Arabia (KSA): Al Hilal being the
2023–24 King Cup winners, have already qualified to
2024-25 AFC Champions League Elite as the
2023–24 Saudi Pro League champions, so Saudi Pro League fourth-placed team will qualify for the Champions League Two group stage.
[8] - ^
Singapore (SGP): Albirex Niigata (S), the
2023 Singapore Premier League champions, are a team from Japan and thus ineligible to represent Singapore in AFC club competitions. As a result,
Lion City Sailors, the Singapore Premier League runners-up, qualified for the Champions League Two group stage. Since
Lion City Sailors also won the 2023 Singapore Cup,
Tampines Rovers FC, also qualified for the group stage as the third placed team in the
2023 Singapore Premier League.
- ^
South Korea (KOR): Pohang Steelers had already qualified for the Champions League Elite as the
2023 K League 1 runners-up when they won the
2023 Korean FA Cup. Thus, third-placed
Gwangju FC qualified for the Champions League Elite qualifying play-off, while the fourth-placed
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors qualified for the Champions League Two group stage.
- ^
Tajikistan (TJK): Istiklol won both the
2023 Tajikistan Higher League and 2023 Tajikistan Cup.
Ravshan Kulob, as the league runners-up, also entered the group stage.
- ^
Thailand (THA): Bangkok United, the
2023–24 Thai League 1 runners-up had qualified for the Champions League Elite qualifying play-off as the
2023–24 Thai FA Cup winner. Thus, third-placed Port qualified for the Champions League Two group stage. Fifth place Muangthong United also qualified for the Champions League Two group stage due to
Thanh Hóa's withdrawal from the competition and
BG Pathum United's decision not to participate.
[9] - ^
Turkmenistan (TKM): Arkadag, the
2023 Ýokary Liga and 2023 Turkmenistan Cup champions only have
AFC Challenge League license. So
Altyn Asyr, the regular season runners-up replaced Arkadag in AFC Champions League Two qualifying play-offs.
[7] - ^
United Arab Emirates (UAE): Al-Wasl, who has already qualified to
Champions League Elite as
2023–24 UAE President's Cup winners, also won the
2023–24 UAE Pro League and
Al Ain, the UAE Pro League third-placed team was assured a place in the
2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite league stage by winning the
2023–24 AFC Champions League, so UAE Pro League fourth-placed team,
Sharjah, qualified for the Champions League Two group stage.
Schedule
The schedule of the competition is as follows.[10] All matches will be played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, apart from the final which takes place on Saturday.
Qualifying play-offs
The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each region was determined based on each team's association ranking and their seeding within their association, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match. Teams from the same association could not be placed into the same tie. The two winners of the play-off round (two from West Region) advanced to the group stage to join the 30 direct entrants, while losers of the qualifying play-offs will enter the group stage of the 2024–25 AFC Challenge League.
Group stage
The draw for the group stage took place on August 16th at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[11] The 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four: four groups each in the West Region (Groups A–D) and the East Region (Groups E–H).[12] For each region, teams were seeded into four pots and drawn into the relevant positions within each group, based on their association ranking and their seeding within their association. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group.
Location of the
2024–25 AFC Champions League Two group stage teams
Brown: Group A;
Cyan: Group B;
Orange: Group C;
Yellow: Group D;
Pink: Group E;
Green: Group F;
Blue: Group G;
Red: Group H
West Region
Group A
Updated to match(es) played on 18 September 2024. Source: AFC
Rules for classification:
TiebreakersGroup B
Updated to match(es) played on 18 September 2024. Source: AFC
Rules for classification:
TiebreakersGroup C
Updated to match(es) played on 17 September 2024. Source: AFC
Rules for classification:
TiebreakersGroup D
Updated to match(es) played on 18 September 2024. Source: AFC
Rules for classification:
TiebreakersEast Region
Group E
First match(es) will be played: 19 September 2024. Source: AFC
Rules for classification:
TiebreakersGroup F
First match(es) will be played: 19 September 2024. Source: AFC
Rules for classification:
TiebreakersGroup G
First match(es) will be played: 18 September 2024. Source: AFC
Rules for classification:
TiebreakersGroup H
Updated to match(es) played on 19 September 2024. Source: AFC
Rules for classification:
TiebreakersKnockout stage
In the knockout stage, the 16 teams will play a single-elimination tournament. Each tie will be played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, except the final which will be played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out will be used to decide the winners if necessary (Regulations Article 10). The order of matches (home vs away) was determined at the draw, except for the final. The final was pre-determined on a rotation basis, with the match hosted by the team from the East Region. The draw for the knockout stage will be held on 12 December 2024.
Final
Top scorers
Team eliminated for this round.
Player is not in the team but the team is still active for this round.
- Note
- Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs and matches voided by AFC are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4)
See also
Notes
- ^ pre-determined format
- ^ a b c two-legged ties
References
- ^ "Asian Champions League to relaunch with fewer teams and more prize money in 2024-25 season". AP News. 14 August 2023.
- ^ "History beckons for AFC Cup 2023/24 contenders as final edition of popular competition kicks off". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women's Champions League". the-AFC.
- ^ "Pivotal reforms approved by AFC Competitions Committee". AFC. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ "AFC Club Competitions 2024/25 Slot Allocation" (PDF). fas.org.sg. Football Association of Singapore. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 24 November 2021. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ a b "List of Licensed Clubs - AFC Club Competitions 2024/25" (PDF). 14 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ Sportstar, Team (1 May 2024). "Al Nassr vs Al Khaleej Highlights, King's Cup Semifinal: Ronaldo scores twice to help Al Nassr beat Al Khaleej 3–1". Sportstar. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ ดำหริ, วิสูตร (30 July 2024). "เมืองทองส้มหล่น ได้ไป ACL2 เหตุ บีจี ไม่ขอรับโควตา". thinkcurve (in Thai). Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ "AFC Competitions Committee approves key decisions on reformatted competitions". AFC. 1 July 2023.
- ^ "AFC Champions League Two: #ACLTwo contenders to discover Group Stage fate". the-AFC. 12 August 2024.
- ^ "#ACLTwo group stage draw finalised". Asian Football Confederation. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
Eastern
Lee Man
Lion City Sailors
Muangthong United
Brown: Group A; 
Cyan: Group B; 
Orange: Group C; 
Yellow: Group D; 