2021 AFC Champions League

Last updated
2021 AFC Champions League
Tournament details
DatesQualifying:
7–10 April 2021 (W)
23 June 2021 (E)
Competition proper:
14 April – 23 November 2021
TeamsCompetition: 40
Total: 49 (from 20 associations)
Final positions
Champions Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal (4th title)
Runners-up Flag of South Korea.svg Pohang Steelers
Tournament statistics
Matches played135
Goals scored379 (2.81 per match)
Attendance147,086 (1,090 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Kenya.svg Michael Olunga
(9 goals)
Best player(s) Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Salem Al-Dawsari [1]
Fair play award Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal
← 2020
2022 →
(Note: All statistics do not include qualifying play-offs)

The 2021 AFC Champions League was the 40th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 19th under the current AFC Champions League title. [2]

Contents

Al-Hilal won their fourth title by defeating Pohang Steelers 2–0 in the final, becoming the most successful team in the history of the competition. As winners, they automatically qualified for the 2022 AFC Champions League (although they had already qualified through their domestic performance). [3] They also earned the right to play in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

The tournament was the first to involve 40 teams during the group stage, with an increase from the previous 32 teams. [4]

Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the semi-finals by fellow South Korean club Pohang Steelers.

Association team allocation

The 46 AFC member associations (excluding the Northern Mariana Islands, which became a full member in December 2020 and are not eligible for this season) are ranked based on their clubs' performance over the last four years in AFC competitions (their national team's FIFA World Rankings no longer considered). [5] The slots are allocated by the following criteria according to the Entry Manual: [6]

Association ranking

For the 2021 AFC Champions League, the associations are allocated slots according to their association ranking which was published on 29 November 2019, [10] [11] which takes into account their performance in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup during the period between 2016 and 2019.

Participation for 2021 AFC Champions League [12]
Participating
Not participating
Notes
  1. ^
    Turkmenistan (TKM): The team from Turkmenistan granted an AFC Champions League license, Köpetdag, withdrew from the competition before the draw. [12]
  2. ^
    Lebanon (LBN): No teams from Lebanon were granted an AFC Champions League license. [12]
  3. ^
    Syria (SYR): No teams from Syria were granted an AFC Champions League license. [12]
  4. ^
    China (CHN): One of the four teams from China which originally entered the AFC Champions League, Jiangsu, withdrew from the competition after the draw. [13]
  5. ^
    Australia (AUS): The three teams from Australia which originally entered the AFC Champions League, Sydney FC, Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar, withdrew from the competition after the draw. [14]
  6. ^
    North Korea (PRK): No teams from North Korea were granted an AFC Champions League license. [12]
  7. ^
    Myanmar (MYA): The team from Myanmar which originally entered the AFC Champions League, Shan United, withdrew from the competition after the draw. [15]

Teams

In the following table, the number of appearances and last appearance count only those since the 2002–03 season (including qualifying rounds), when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League.

Notes
  1. ^
    Title holders (TH): Ulsan Hyundai were the title holders.
  2. ^
    Australia (AUS): Wellington Phoenix, the 2019–20 A-League regular season third place, were a team from New Zealand and thus ineligible to represent Australia in AFC club competitions. As a result, Brisbane Roar, the regular season fourth place, qualify for the 2021 AFC Champions League as Australia 3.
  3. ^
    China (CHN): On 8 February 2021, the AFC announced that Shandong Taishan, the 2020 Chinese FA Cup winners, had not satisfied the mandatory Criterion F.04 of the AFC Club Licensing Regulations (Edition 2016) concerning overdue payables, and their licence was withdrawn by the AFC's independent Entry Control Body, and thus were declared ineligible to participate in the 2021 AFC Champions League. [16] As a result, Shanghai Port qualified for the 2021 AFC Champions League, and Beijing Guoan entered the group stage instead of the qualifying play-offs. [17] On 28 February 2021, league champions Jiangsu announced its dissolution. [18]
  4. ^
    Iraq (IRQ): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq, the 2019–20 Iraqi Premier League and the 2019–20 Iraq FA Cup were cancelled and declared null and void by the Iraq Football Association. Originally a play-off was to be held to determine the teams from Iraq playing in the 2021 AFC Champions League. [19] However, it was later decided that the results of the previous domestic season (2018–19 Iraqi Premier League and 2018–19 Iraq FA Cup) would be used. [20]
  5. ^
    South Korea (KOR): Sangju Sangmu, the 2020 K League 1 fourth place, are a military team and have confirmed that the team would move its franchise city in the 2021 season and would be relegated to K League 2 regardless of their final position in the 2020 season. As a result, Daegu FC, the 2020 K League 1 fifth place, qualified for the 2021 AFC Champions League.
  6. ^
    Philippines (PHI): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, the 2020 Copa Paulino Alcantara was cancelled and not organized by the Philippine Football Federation. The teams from the Philippines playing in the 2021 AFC Champions League were determined only by the results of the 2020 Philippines Football League. [21]
  7. ^
    Replacement 1 (RE1): Pohang Steelers and Ratchaburi Mitr Phol entered the group stage instead of the qualifying play-offs after Jiangsu ceased operation. [22]
  8. ^
    Replacement 2 (RE2): Australian teams Sydney FC, Melbourne City, and Brisbane Roar withdrew from the competition after the draw. [23] Chiangrai United, Daegu FC, and Cerezo Osaka entered the group stage instead of the qualifying play-offs and Kaya–Iloilo entered the qualifying play-offs instead of the preliminary round. [24]
  9. ^
    Singapore (SGP): Albirex Niigata (S), the 2020 Singapore Premier League champions, are a team from Japan and thus ineligible to represent Singapore in AFC club competitions. As a result, Tampines Rovers, the 2020 Singapore Premier League runners-up, qualified for the 2021 AFC Champions League.
  10. ^
    Thailand (THA): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, the Football Association of Thailand extended both the 2020 Thai League 1 and 2020 Thai FA Cup to be completed in 2021. The teams from Thailand playing in the 2021 AFC Champions League were determined by the results of the 2020–21 Thai League 1 after the first half of the season (Round 15). [25] [26]
  11. ^
    Turkmenistan (TKM): Altyn Asyr, the 2020 Ýokary Liga champions, were not granted an AFC Champions League license. As a result, Köpetdag, the league fourth place and the best team granted an AFC Champions League license, qualify for the 2021 AFC Champions League as Turkmenistan 1. [12] [27]
  12. ^
    United Arab Emirates (UAE): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, the 2019–20 UAE Pro League and the 2019–20 UAE President's Cup were cancelled and declared null and void by the United Arab Emirates Football Association. The teams from the United Arab Emirates playing in the 2021 AFC Champions League were determined by the results of the previous domestic season (2018–19 UAE Pro League and 2018–19 UAE President's Cup). [28] [29]
  13. ^
    Uzbekistan (UZB): Nasaf, the 2020 Uzbekistan Super League runners-up, were not granted an AFC Champions League license. As a result, AGMK, the second best team granted an AFC Champions League license (2020 Uzbekistan Super League third place), qualified for the 2021 AFC Champions League. [12] [30]
AFC location map.png
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Riyadh teams
Brown pog.svg Al-Hilal
Yellow pog.svg Al-Nassr

Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman (DSA) Metropolitan teams
Red pog.svg Sharjah
Brown pog.svg Shabab Al-Ahli

Tashkent teams
Red pog.svg Pakhtakor Tashkent
Brown pog.svg AGMK
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Gyeongsang Province teams
Green pog.svg Ulsan Hyundai
Blue pog.svg Pohang Steelers
White pog.svg Daegu FC

Osaka teams
Cyan pog.svg Gamba Osaka
White pog.svg Cerezo Osaka

Greater Bangkok teams
Green pog.svg BG Pathum United
Purple pog.svg Port
class=notpageimage|
Location of teams of the 2021 AFC Champions League.
Brown pog.svg Brown: Group A; Red pog.svg Red: Group B; Orange pog.svg Orange: Group C; Yellow pog.svg Yellow: Group D; Pink pog.svg Pink: Group E;
Green pog.svg Green: Group F; Blue pog.svg Blue: Group G; Cyan pog.svg Cyan: Group H; Turquoise pog.svg Turquoise: Group I; Purple pog.svg Purple: Group J;
White pog.svg Qualifying play-offs

Schedule

The schedule of the competition is as follows. [31] [32]

On 25 January 2021, the AFC published the schedule of the competition. The group stage is played as centralized double round-robin tournament, and the round of 16 and quarter-finals are played as a single match. [33] [34]

Notes:

StageRoundDraw dateMatch date
Preliminary stagePreliminary roundNo draw20 June 2021 (E)
Play-off stagePlay-off round7–10 April 2021 (W), 23 June 2021 (E)
Group stageMatchday 127 January 2021 [35] 14–15 April 2021 (W), 22–26 June 2021 (E)
Matchday 217–18 April 2021 (W), 25–29 June 2021 (E)
Matchday 320–21 April 2021 (W), 28 June – 2 July 2021 (E)
Matchday 423–24 April 2021 (W), 1–5 July 2021 (E)
Matchday 526–27 April 2021 (W), 4–8 July 2021 (E)
Matchday 629–30 April 2021 (W), 7–11 July 2021 (E)
Knockout stageRound of 1613–15 September 2021
Quarter-finals17 September 202116–17 October 2021
Semi-finals19–20 October 2021
Final23 November 2021

The original schedule of the competition, as planned before the pandemic, was as follows.

Original schedule for 2021 AFC Champions League
StageRoundDraw dateFirst legSecond leg
Preliminary stagePreliminary roundNo draw26 January 2021
Play-off stagePlay-off round2 February 2021
Group stageMatchday 1TBD15–16 February 2021 (W), 23–24 February 2021 (E)
Matchday 222–23 February 2021 (W), 2–3 March 2021 (E)
Matchday 38–9 March 2021 (W), 16–17 March 2021 (E)
Matchday 45–7 April 2021
Matchday 519–21 April 2021
Matchday 63–5 May 2021
Knockout stageRound of 1617–19 May 202124–26 May 2021
Quarter-finalsTBD23–25 August 202113–15 September 2021
Semi-finals28–29 September 202119–20 October 2021
Final21 November 202127 November 2021

Qualifying play-offs

In the qualifying play-offs, each tie was played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary. [2] 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 in the West Region. Teams from the same association could not be placed into the same tie. The eight winners of the play-off round (four each from both West Region and East Region) advanced to the group stage to join the 32 direct entrants. [36]

Preliminary round

Team 1 Score Team 2
East Region
Brisbane Roar Flag of Australia (converted).svg Cancelled [note 1] Flag of the Philippines.svg Kaya–Iloilo
Melbourne City Flag of Australia (converted).svg Cancelled [note 2] Flag of Myanmar.svg Shan United

Play-off round

Team 1 Score Team 2
West Region
Al-Gharafa Flag of Qatar.svg 0–1 (a.e.t.) Flag of Uzbekistan.svg AGMK
Al-Wehda Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(2–3 p)		 Flag of Iraq.svg Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Foolad Flag of Iran.svg 4–0 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Ain
Al-Wahda Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 2–1 Flag of Iraq.svg Al-Zawraa
Team 1 Score Team 2
East Region
Shanghai Port Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 0–1 Flag of the Philippines.svg Kaya–Iloilo
Cerezo Osaka Flag of Japan.svg Cancelled [note 1] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Melbourne City
Pohang Steelers Flag of South Korea.svg Cancelled [note 3] Flag of Thailand.svg Ratchaburi Mitr Phol
Daegu FC Flag of South Korea.svg Cancelled [note 1] Flag of Thailand.svg Chiangrai United

Group stage

The draw for the group stage was held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 27 January 2021. [39] The 40 teams were drawn into ten groups of four: five groups each in the West Region (Groups A–E) and the East Region (Groups F–J). For each zone, 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, in consideration of technical balance between groups. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group. [40] In the group stage, each group was played on a double round-robin basis in centralised venues. The winners of each group and three best runners-up from each region advanced to the round of 16 of the knockout stage.

Group A

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification IST HIL SAH AGK
1 Flag of Tajikistan.svg Istiklol 6312108+210 [lower-alpha 1] Advance to Round of 16 — 4–1 0–0 1–2
2 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal (H)6312119+210 [lower-alpha 1] 3–1 — 0–2 2–2
3 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Shabab Al-Ahli 62136607 [lower-alpha 2] 0–1 0–2 — 3–1
4 Flag of Uzbekistan.svg AGMK 6213913−47 [lower-alpha 2] 2–3 0–3 2–1 —
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Head-to-head goal difference: Istiklol 1, Al Hilal −1.
  2. 1 2 Head-to-head goal difference: Shabab Al-Ahli 1, AGMK −1.

Group B

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification SHA TRA PAK QWJ
1 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Sharjah (H)632196+311Advance to Round of 16 — 0–2 4–1 1–0
2 Flag of Iran.svg Tractor 624063+310 0–0 — 0–0 1–0
3 Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Pakhtakor 614168−27 1–1 3–3 — 1–0
4 Flag of Iraq.svg Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 602426−42 2–3 0–0 0–0 —
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Group C

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification EST DUH AHL SHO
1 Flag of Iran.svg Esteghlal 6321148+611Advance to Round of 16 — 2–2 5–2 1–0
2 Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Duhail 6231119+29 4–3 — 1–1 2–0
3 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Ahli (H)623198+19 0–0 1–1 — 2–1
4 Flag of Iraq.svg Al-Shorta 6105312−93 0–3 2–1 0–3 —
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Group D

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification NAS SAD WEH FOO
1 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Nassr (H)632195+411Advance to Round of 16 — 3–1 1–2 2–0
2 Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Sadd 631297+210 1–2 — 3–1 1–1
3 Flag of Jordan.svg Al-Wehdat 621347−37 0–0 0–2 — 1–0
4 Flag of Iran.svg Foolad 612336−35 1–1 0–1 1–0 —
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Group E

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification PER WAH GOA RAY
1 Flag of Iran.svg Persepolis 6501145+915Advance to Round of 16 — 1–0 2–1 4–2
2 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Wahda 641173+413 1–0 — 0–0 3–2
3 Flag of India.svg Goa (H)603329−73 0–4 0–2 — 0–0
4 Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Rayyan 6024612−62 1–3 0–1 1–1 —
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Group F

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification ULS PAT VIE KAY
1 Flag of South Korea.svg Ulsan Hyundai 6600131+1218Advance to Round of 16 — 2–0 3–0 2–1
2 Flag of Thailand.svg BG Pathum United (H)6402106+412 0–2 — 2–0 4–1
3 Flag of Vietnam.svg Viettel 620479−26 0–1 1–3 — 1–0
4 Flag of the Philippines.svg Kaya–Iloilo 6006216−140 0–3 0–1 0–5 —
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Group G

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification NAG POH JOH RAT
1 Flag of Japan.svg Nagoya Grampus 6510142+1216Advance to Round of 16 — 3–0 2–1 3–0
2 Flag of South Korea.svg Pohang Steelers 632195+411 1–1 — 4–1 2–0
3 Flag of Malaysia.svg Johor Darul Ta'zim 611439−64 0–1 0–2 — 0–0
4 Flag of Thailand.svg Ratchaburi Mitr Phol (H)6024010−102 0–4 0–0 0–1 —
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Group H

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification JEO GAM CHI TAM
1 Flag of South Korea.svg Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 6510225+1716Advance to Round of 16 — 2–1 2–1 9–0
2 Flag of Japan.svg Gamba Osaka 6231157+89 2–2 — 1–1 8–1
3 Flag of Thailand.svg Chiangrai United 622287+18 1–3 1–1 — 1–0
4 Flag of Singapore.svg Tampines Rovers 6006127−260 0–4 0–2 0–3 —
Source: AFC

Group I

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification KAW DAE UNI BJG
1 Flag of Japan.svg Kawasaki Frontale 6600273+2418Advance to Round of 16 — 3–2 8–0 4–0
2 Flag of South Korea.svg Daegu FC 6402226+1612 1–3 — 7–0 5–0
3 Flag of the Philippines.svg United City 6114424−204 0–2 0–4 — 1–1
4 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Beijing Guoan 6015323−201 0–7 0–3 2–3 —
Source: AFC

Group J

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification CER KIT POR GZH
1 Flag of Japan.svg Cerezo Osaka 6420132+1114Advance to Round of 16 — 2–1 1–1 5–0
2 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Kitchee 632163+311 0–0 — 2–0 1–0
3 Flag of Thailand.svg Port (H)6222108+28 0–3 1–1 — 3–0
4 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Guangzhou 6006117−160 0–2 0–1 1–5 —
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Ranking of second-placed teams

West Region

PosGrpTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 E Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Wahda 641173+413Advance to Round of 16
2 B Flag of Iran.svg Tractor 624063+310
3 A Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal 6312119+210
4 D Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Sadd 631297+210
5 C Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Duhail 6231119+29
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Disciplinary points; 5) Drawing of lots.

East Region

PosGrpTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 I Flag of South Korea.svg Daegu FC 6402226+1612Advance to Round of 16
2 F Flag of Thailand.svg BG Pathum United 6402106+412
3 G Flag of South Korea.svg Pohang Steelers 632195+411
4 J Flag of Hong Kong.svg Kitchee 632163+311
5 H Flag of Japan.svg Gamba Osaka 6231157+89
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Disciplinary points; 5) Drawing of lots.

Knockout stage

In the knockout stage, the 16 teams played a single-elimination tournament, with the teams split into the two regions until the final. All ties were played as a single-leg match (Regulations Article 9.1). [41] Extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winners if necessary (Regulations Article 9.3 and 10.1). [2]

Bracket

 
 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
 
              
 
14 September – Sharjah
 
 
 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Sharjah 1 (4)
 
16 October – Riyadh
 
 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al Wahda (p)1 (5)
 
 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al Wahda 1
 
14 September – Doha, Qatar
 
 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Nassr 5
 
 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al Nassr 1
 
19 October – Riyadh
 
 Flag of Iran.svg Tractor 0
 
 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Nassr 1
 
14 September – Dushanbe
 
 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal 2
 
 Flag of Tajikistan.svg Istiklol 0
 
16 October – Riyadh
 
 Flag of Iran.svg Persepolis 1
 
 Flag of Iran.svg Persepolis 0
 
13 September – Dubai, UAE
 
 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal 3
 
 Flag of Iran.svg Esteghlal 0
 
23 November – Riyadh
 
 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal 2
 
 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal 2
 
15 September – Jeonju
 
 Flag of South Korea.svg Pohang Steelers 0
 
 Flag of South Korea.svg Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (p)1 (4)
 
17 October – Jeonju
 
 Flag of Thailand.svg BG Pathum United 1 (2)
 
 Flag of South Korea.svg Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2
 
14 September – Ulsan
 
 Flag of South Korea.svg Ulsan Hyundai (a.e.t.)3
 
 Flag of South Korea.svg Ulsan Hyundai (p)0 (3)
 
20 October – Jeonju
 
 Flag of Japan.svg Kawasaki Frontale 0 (2)
 
 Flag of South Korea.svg Ulsan Hyundai 1 (4)
 
15 September – Osaka
 
 Flag of South Korea.svg Pohang Steelers (p)1 (5)
 
 Flag of Japan.svg Cerezo Osaka 0
 
17 October – Jeonju
 
 Flag of South Korea.svg Pohang Steelers 1
 
 Flag of South Korea.svg Pohang Steelers 3
 
14 September – Toyota
 
 Flag of Japan.svg Nagoya Grampus 0
 
 Flag of Japan.svg Nagoya Grampus 4
 
 
 Flag of South Korea.svg Daegu FC 2
 

Round of 16

The round of 16 was played over one leg, with the matchups determined by the combination tables based on which group runners-up qualified.

Team 1 Score Team 2
West Region
Istiklol Flag of Tajikistan.svg 0–1 Flag of Iran.svg Persepolis
Sharjah Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p)		 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Wahda
Esteghlal Flag of Iran.svg 0–2 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal
Al-Nassr Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 1–0 Flag of Iran.svg Tractor
Team 1 Score Team 2
East Region
Ulsan Hyundai Flag of South Korea.svg 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 p)		 Flag of Japan.svg Kawasaki Frontale
Nagoya Grampus Flag of Japan.svg 4–2 Flag of South Korea.svg Daegu FC
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Flag of South Korea.svg 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)		 Flag of Thailand.svg BG Pathum United
Cerezo Osaka Flag of Japan.svg 0–1 Flag of South Korea.svg Pohang Steelers

Quarter-finals

The quarter-finals were played over one leg, with the matchups and home team decided by draw held on 17 September at 15:00 (UTC+8) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Team 1 Score Team 2
West Region
Al Wahda Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 1–5 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Nassr
Persepolis Flag of Iran.svg 0–3 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal
Team 1 Score Team 2
East Region
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Flag of South Korea.svg 2–3 (a.e.t.) Flag of South Korea.svg Ulsan Hyundai
Pohang Steelers Flag of South Korea.svg 3–0 Flag of Japan.svg Nagoya Grampus

Semi-finals

The semi-finals were played over one leg.

Team 1 Score Team 2
West Region
Al-Nassr Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 1–2 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal
Team 1 Score Team 2
East Region
Ulsan Hyundai Flag of South Korea.svg 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p)		 Flag of South Korea.svg Pohang Steelers

Final

Main article: 2021 AFC Champions League final

The final was played over a single leg on 23 November. The host was determined on a rotational basis, with the match hosted by team from the West Region in odd-numbered years (Regulations 9.1.2). [2]

Al-Hilal Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 2–0 Flag of South Korea.svg Pohang Steelers
Live Report
Stats Report
King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
Attendance: 50,171
Referee: Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)

Top scorers

  Team eliminated for this round.
  Player is not in the team but team still active for this round.
RankPlayerTeamMD1MD2MD3MD4MD5MD6R16QFSFFTotal
1 Flag of Kenya.svg Michael Olunga Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Duhail 1132119
2 Flag of Brazil.svg Gustavo Flag of South Korea.svg Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 141118
3 Flag of The Gambia.svg Modou Barrow Flag of South Korea.svg Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 31116
Flag of Brazil.svg Edgar Flag of South Korea.svg Daegu FC 12111
Flag of Brazil.svg Leandro Damião Flag of Japan.svg Kawasaki Frontale 213
Flag of France.svg Bafétimbi Gomis Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al Hilal 11112
Flag of Brazil.svg Patric Flag of Japan.svg Gamba Osaka 1221
8 Flag of Mali.svg Cheick Diabaté Flag of Iran.svg Esteghlal 111115
Flag of Brazil.svg Cesinha Flag of South Korea.svg Daegu FC 1121
Flag of Morocco.svg Abderazak Hamdallah Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Nassr 11111

Note: Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs and matches voided by AFC are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4). [2]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Australian teams Sydney FC, Melbourne City, and Brisbane Roar withdrew from the competition after the draw. [23] Chiangrai United, Daegu FC, and Cerezo Osaka entered the group stage instead of the qualifying play-offs and Kaya–Iloilo entered the qualifying play-offs instead of the preliminary round. [24]
  2. ↑ Shan United withdrew from the AFC Champions League following the state of emergency in Myanmar and Melbourne City would enter the play-off round instead of the preliminary round. [37] Later Melbourne City FC also withdrew, along the other Australian teams, [23] thus their opponent Cerezo Osaka entered the group stage. [24]
  3. ↑ Pohang Steelers and Ratchaburi Mitr Phol entered the group stage instead of the qualifying play-offs after Jiangsu ceased operations. [38]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">AFC Champions League Two</span> Annual second-tier Asian club football competition

The AFC Champions League Two is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation. It is the second-tier competition of Asian club football, ranked below the AFC Champions League Elite and above the AFC Challenge League.

The 2015 AFC Champions League was the 34th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 13th under the current AFC Champions League title.

The 2015 AFC Cup was the 12th edition of the AFC Cup, Asia's secondary club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The 2014 AFC Champions League was the 33rd edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 12th under the current AFC Champions League title. Guangzhou Evergrande were the defending champions, but were eliminated by Western Sydney Wanderers in the quarter-finals.

The 2016 AFC Champions League was the 35th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 14th under the current AFC Champions League title.

The 2016 AFC Cup was the 13th edition of the AFC Cup, Asia's secondary club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The 2017 AFC Cup was the 14th edition of the AFC Cup, Asia's secondary club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The 2017 AFC Champions League was the 36th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 15th under the current AFC Champions League title.

The 2018 AFC Champions League was the 37th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 16th under the current AFC Champions League title.

The 2018 AFC Cup was the 15th edition of the AFC Cup, Asia's secondary club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The 2019 AFC Champions League was the 38th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 17th under the current AFC Champions League title.

The 2019 AFC Cup was the 16th edition of the AFC Cup, Asia's secondary club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 AFC Champions League</span> 39th edition of premier club football tournament organized by the AFC

The 2020 AFC Champions League was the 39th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 18th under the current AFC Champions League title.

The 2020 AFC Cup was an abandoned season of the AFC Cup which was the 17th edition of the competition, Asia's secondary club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The 2021 AFC Cup was the 18th edition of the AFC Cup, Asia's secondary club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The 2022 AFC Champions League was the 41st edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 20th under the current AFC Champions League title.

The 2022 AFC Cup was the 19th edition of the AFC Cup, Asia's secondary club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The 2023–24 AFC Cup was the 20th edition of the AFC Cup, Asia's secondary club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the final edition under the AFC Cup title, as the competition was revamped under the name AFC Champions League Two starting in 2024–25. This was the first AFC Cup season to have a two-year (autumn-to-spring) schedule, unlike the previous all-year-round (spring-to-autumn) schedule.

The 2023–24 AFC Champions League was the 42nd edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 21st and final under the AFC Champions League title, as the competition would be rebranded as the AFC Champions League Elite starting in 2024–25.

References

  1. ↑ "Al-Hilal reign in Asia after tale of two Al-Dawsaris in AFC Champions League triumph". Arab News. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "AFC Champions League 2021 Competition Regulations" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
  3. ↑ "More Member Associations to benefit from inclusive AFC Champions League". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 23 November 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  4. ↑ "AFC to invest in new era of national team and club competitions". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 26 October 2019. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  5. ↑ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking Mechanics". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "Entry Manual for AFC Club Competitions (2021 Edition)". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "More Member Associations to benefit from inclusive AFC Champions League". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 23 November 2019.
  8. ↑ "Four Thailand clubs in AFC Champions League 2021; Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore also get group stage entry – Reports". Fox Sports Asia. 4 December 2019. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  9. ↑ "AFC Executive Committee announces updates to 2020 competitions calendar". AFC. 10 September 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 "AFC Club Competitions Ranking". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
  11. ↑ "AFC Country Ranking 2019". FootyRankings. 24 November 2019. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "List of Licensed Clubs for AFC Champions League 2021" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
  13. ↑ "Latest update on AFC Champions League (East)". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  14. ↑ "Latest update on AFC Champions League". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 4 June 2021.
  15. ↑ "Latest updates on AFC Club Competitions". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 30 April 2021.
  16. ↑ "Latest Decision by AFC Entry Control Body". Asian Football Confederation. 8 February 2021.
  17. ↑ "Latest update on AFC Champions League (East)". Asian Football Confederation. 25 February 2021.
  18. ↑ "Jiangsu FC: Inter Milan owners close Chinese Super League champions". BBC Sport. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  19. ↑ "Iraqi Premier League called off". Asian Football Confederation. 4 June 2020.
  20. ↑ "Vice-chairman of the Iraq FA normalisation committee Shamel Kamel in dialogue with Al-Mada Paper". Al-Mada Paper. 1 July 2020.
  21. ↑ Saldajeno, Ivan Stewart (28 May 2020). "PFF to submit protocols to GAB for possible PFL return". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  22. ↑ "Latest update on AFC Champions League (East)". AFC. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  23. 1 2 3 "Latest update on AFC Champions League". AFC. 4 June 2021.
  24. 1 2 3 "Contenders for AFC Champions League (East) Group and Playoff stages confirmed". AFC. 6 June 2021.
  25. ↑ "บทสรุปการจัดการแข่งขันฟุตบอลลีกอาชีพ ไทยลีก 1 -2 ฤดูกาล 2563". Football Association of Thailand. 21 April 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  26. ↑ "Thai League 1 teams say no to scrapping results of first four games". The Phuket News. 22 April 2020.
  27. ↑ "Пять клубов высшей лиги Туркменистана успешно прошли процесс лицензирование АФК". Türkmenistanyň Futbol Federasiýasy. Archived from the original on 2021-05-07. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
  28. ↑ "قرارات الاجتماع الطارئ لمجلس إدارة اتحاد الكرة". UAE Football Association. 18 June 2020.
  29. ↑ "No champions declared following cancellation of UAE Pro League 2019-20 season". Asian Football Confederation. 19 June 2020.
  30. ↑ "OFK "Nasaf"ga OChLda ishtirok etish huquqini bermadi. Qarshi jamoasi OFK Kubogida ishtirok etishi mumkin". daryo.uz. 16 December 2020.
  31. ↑ "AFC Competitions Calendar 2021". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 5 December 2019.
  32. ↑ "Latest update on the AFC Club Competitions in 2021 and 2022". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 5 July 2021.
  33. ↑ "AFC Club Competitions' Group Stages to be played in centralised venues". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 25 January 2021.
  34. ↑ "Venues for AFC Champions League 2021 Group Stage revealed". Asian Football Confederation. 11 March 2021.
  35. ↑ "Largest-ever AFC Club Competitions' cast to discover opponents". Asian Football Confederation. 22 January 2021.
  36. ↑ "ACL 2021 Draw Mechanism". Asian Football Confederation. 26 January 2021 – via YouTube.
  37. ↑ "Latest updates on AFC Club Competitions". AFC. 30 April 2021.
  38. ↑ "Latest update on AFC Champions League (East)". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  39. ↑ "2021 AFC Champions League draw produces thrilling groups". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 27 January 2021.
  40. ↑ "ACL 2021 Draw Mechanism". Asian Football Confederation. 26 January 2021 – via YouTube.
  41. ↑ "Latest update on the AFC Club Competitions in 2021 and 2022". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
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