AFC Champions League 2023-24: Group Stage Draw – All you need to know

Group Stage draw for the AFC Champions League will take place at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on August 24, 2023, at 01:30 PM IST. The tournament, which is the 21st edition, will run from September 2023 to May 2024.

A total of 40 teams will take part in the coveted tournament, which will be divided into 10 groups of four teams each. Out of these 40 teams, 32 have been finalized whereas the remaining eight spots will be filled by the winners of the Playoff stage.

West Zone teams will be drawn into Groups A to E while the sides in the East Zone will get their places in Groups F to J.

India’s Mumbai City FC, the winner of the ISL League Shield, are drawn in Pot 3 in the West Zone along with teams like Al Faisaly (JOR), FC Istiklol (TJK), Air Force Club (IRQ), Ahal FC (TKM).

West Zone

Pot 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)

Pot 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)/Shabab Al Ahli (UAE), Tractor FC (IRN/Sharjah FC (UAE), Al Arabi SC (QAT)/AGMK FC (UZB), Al Wakrah SC (QAT)/Navbahor (UZB)

East Zone

Pot 1: Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR), Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN), Wuhan Three Towns FC (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 Frontale (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), Incheon United FC (KOR)/Haiphong FC (VIE), Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)/Lee Man (HKG), Zhejiang FC (CHN)/Port FC (THA), Shanghai Port FC (CHN)/BG Pathum United (THA)

Meanwhile, 10 group winners and three-best placed runners-up of each zone will qualify for the knockout stages, which will take place from February to April 2024. The final will be played across two legs on 11 and 18 May 2024.