The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League 2023-24 group stage draw will take place at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on 24 August 2023, at 1:30pm IST.
This edition of the AFC Champions League is the first tournament since the governing body decided to switch from the current Spring-Autumn season to the Autumn-Spring calendar. It will be held from September 2023 to May 2024.
How will the draw take place?
40 teams will be divided into 10 groups of 4 teams each.
Teams in the West Zone will be classified from Groups A to E and the teams in the East Zone will be placed in Groups F to J.
Clubs from the same Member Association (MA) will not be placed in the same group.
The Western Region will see Saudi Arabian heavyweights like Al Hilal, Al Ittihad and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, while the United Arab Emirates will have representation from Al Ain FC. From Qatar will be Al Sadd SC, the team will seek to reclaim the title.
Also Read: Durand Cup Quarter Final Draw 2023: East Bengal to pair Gokulam, Mohun Bagan SG to face Mumbai City
Mumbai City FC, the winners of the Indian Super League (ISL), will enter the tournament for the second time after making history last year by becoming the first Indian club to win the AFC title. Champions League. It is also located in the Western District and has been placed in Group 3 along with clubs such as Al Faisaly (JOR), FC Istiklol (TJK), Air Force Club (IRQ) and Ahal FC (TKM).
#Islanders placed in Group 3️⃣ in the AFC Champions League Group Stage Draw tomorrow! 🇮🇳
Yes! Which teams would you like to see us grouped into? 👀#IslandersInAsia#Mumbai City#AamchiCity 🔵 @TheAFCCLpic.twitter.com/MkYrBL2DFs
– Mumbai City Football Club (@MumbaiCityFC) August 23, 2023
In the East region, Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds, the defending champion, will join clubs such as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC, Ulsan Hyundai FC and Pohang Steelers in the group stage after winning the playoffs.
Can Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr take on ISL club Mumbai City FC?
Al-Nassr won 4-2 against Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE with a score of 4-2 in the AFC Champions League play-offs to confirm their place in the group stage. The Saudi Arabia-based club have been placed in Group 4 of the Western Region which means there is a chance that Ronaldo and his team could be placed in the same group as ISL Mumbai club. City FC, are in Group 3 and are the only team from India in the competition.
After the group stage, all 10 group winners along with the three best runners-up will advance to the knockout stage, which is scheduled to take place from February to April.
The final will take place over two stages on May 11 and May 18, 2024, respectively.
AFC Champions League 2023-24: Vote for the final
West Zone
Bottle 1: Al Ittihad (KSA), Persepolis FC (IRN), Al Sadd SC (QAT), Pakhtakor (UZB), Al Hilal SFC (KSA)
Pot 2: Sepahan SC (IRN), Al Duhail SC (QAT), FC Nasaf (UZB), Al Fayha FC (KSA), Nassaji Mazandaran FC (IRN)
jar 3: Al Faisaly (JOR), FC Istiklol (TJK), Air Force Club (IRQ), Ahal FC (TKM), Mumbai City FC (IND)
Pot 4: Al Ain FC (UAE), Al Nassr (KSA), Sharjah FC (UAE), AGMK FC (UZB), Navbahor (UZB)
East Zone
Bottle 1: Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR), Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN), Wuhan Three City Football Club (CHN), Buriram United (THA), Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR)
Pot 2: Ventforet Kofu (JPN), Shandong Taishan FC (CHN), Bangkok United (THA), Pohang Steelers (KOR), Kawasaki Frontal (JPN)
Pot 3: Hanoi FC (VIE), Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI), Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS), Melbourne City FC (AUS), Lion City Sailors (SGP)
Pot 4: Kitchee SC (HKG), Korea International Football Club (KOR), Urawa Red Diamond (JPN), Zhejiang Club (CHN), BG Pathum United Football Club (THA)
When and where will the AFC Champions League group stage draw take place?
The AFC Champions League 2023-24 group stage draw will take place at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur at 1:30pm IST on 24 August 2023.
Where can you watch the AFC Champions League group stage draw?
The AFC Champions League group stage draw can be streamed live on the AFC Hub YouTube channel from 1:30pm IST onwards in India.
There is no live broadcast of the draw in India.
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