On August 12, according to the AFC official announcement, the AFC Champions League Elite will be held on August 16 at 5 pm in Kuala Lumpur.
Match Format
The first AFC Champions League Elite will be different from the previous group stage of the AFC Champions League, adopting a “league system” instead. It will also be divided into two regions: East Asia and West Asia, each with 12 teams. In the league stage, each team will play 4 home games and 4 away games, a total of 8 games. Ultimately, the top 8 teams based on the standings will advance to the knockout stage.
In the knockout stage, the two sides will play a two-leg home-and-away match: the first team in the league stage will face the eighth, the second will face the seventh, and so on.
Shanghai SIPG and Shanghai Shenhua from the Chinese Super League will participate in the AFC Champions League Elite; Shandong Taishan will participate in the play-off and will advance to the AFC Champions League Elite if they win.
League Stage: September 16, 2024 – February 19, 2025
Knockout Stage: March 2025
Draw Rules
In terms of the draw, the 12 teams in each region will be divided into two tiers, with teams in the same tier playing 4 games against other teams in the same tier, and 4 games against teams in the other tier. The opponents for each round will also be determined by a draw. The draw follows the same country avoidance principle.
East Asian team rankings are as follows:
Tier 1: Vissel Kobe (Japan), Ulsan Hyundai (Korea), Shanghai SIPG (China), Buriram United (Thailand), Central Coast Mariners (Australia), Johor Darul Ta’zim (Malaysia);
Tier 2: Kawasaki Frontale (Japan), Pohang Steelers (Korea), Shanghai Shenhua (China), Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan), Gwangju FC (Korea), Play-off winner (Shandong Taishan or BG Pathum United).
During the draw, Tier 1 teams will occupy A1, B1, C1, A2, B2, C2; Tier 2 teams will occupy A3, B3, C3, A4, B4, C4. Subsequently, A column clubs will be paired with B and C column clubs, drawing 8 opposing teams.
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