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Asia’s top clubs will discover their Group Stage opponents when the draw ceremonies for the Continent’s two major club competitions are held in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, January 17.
The Group Stage draws for both the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup 2022 will be conducted virtually at 2pm and 4pm (GMT+8) respectively.
The AFC Champions League draw will see Asia’s top 40 clubs divided among 10 groups, with the 33 contenders who have already secured their places in the Group Stage to be joined by seven Play-off winners.
The 2022 edition of Asia’s flagship club competition will follow the expanded format introduced in last season’s tournament, with both the East and West Regions to feature five groups of four teams, and five group winners and the best three runner-ups from each Region advancing to the Round of 16.
The teams from each region will be divided into four pots of five teams, with defending champions Al Hilal SFC among the contenders placed in Pot 1 in the West Region.
Four clubs are set to make their AFC Champions League debut, with Indian Super League winners Mumbai City FC joined by Saudi Arabia’s Al Faisaly FC and Ahal FC of Turkmenistan in the West Zone, while Australian A-League champions Melbourne City will feature in the East Region draw for the first time.
Among the qualified teams are 2019 champions Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan and 2016 winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, while Ulsan Hyundai from South Korea, who lifted the trophy in 2020, have the chance to advance to the Group Stage via the Play-off Stage.
The 2022 edition of Asia’s flagship club competition will follow the expanded format introduced in last season’s tournament, with both the East and West Regions to feature five groups of four teams, and five group winners and the best three runner-ups from each Region advancing to the Round of 16.
The teams from each region will be divided into four pots of five teams, with defending champions Al Hilal SFC among the contenders placed in Pot 1 in the West Region.
Four clubs are set to make their AFC Champions League debut, with Indian Super League winners Mumbai City joined by Saudi Arabia’s Al Faisaly FC and Ahal FC of Turkmenistan in the West Zone, while Australian A-League champions Melbourne City will feature in the East Region draw for the first time.
Among the qualified teams are 2019 champions Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan and 2016 winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, while Ulsan Hyundai from Korea Republic, who lifted the trophy in 2020, have the chance to advance to the Group Stage via the Play-off Stage.
Please click here to watch the AFC Champions League 2022 virtual draw live at 2pm (GMT +8) and here to follow the AFC Cup 2022 draw at 4pm.
Club Pots for AFC Champions League 2022 Group Stage draw
West Zone:
Pot 1 – Al Sadd SC (QAT), Al Hilal SFC (KSA), Foolad Khouzestan FC (IRN), Al Jazira (UAE), Al Duhail SC (QAT)
Pot 2 – Al Faisaly FC (KSA), Sepahan FC (IRN), Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (UAE), Al Rayyan SC (QAT), Al Shabab (KSA)
Pot 3 – Pakhtakor (UZB), Al Wehdat (JOR), Mumbai City FC (IND), FC Istiklol (TJK), Ahal FC (TKM)
Pot 4 – Air Force Club (IRQ), Play-off winner 1 (KSA/SYR), Play-off winner 2 (UAE/UZB), Play off winner 4 (UAE/IRQ), Al Gharafa (QAT)
East Zone:
Pot 1 – Shandong Taishan FC (CHN), Kawasaki Frontale (JPN), Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR), BG Pathum (THA), Shanghai Port FC (CHN)
Pot 2 – Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN), Jeonnam Dragons (KOR), Chiangrai United (THA), Guangzhou FC (CHN), Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)
Pot 3 – United City FC (PHI), Kitchee SC (HKG), Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE), Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS), Lion City Sailors (SIN)
Pot 4 – Melbourne City FC (AUS), Play-off winner 1 (CHN/AUS/PHI), Play-off winner 2 (JPN/AUS/MYA), Play-off winner 3 (KOR/THA), Play-off winner 4 (KOR/THA)
Club Pots for AFC Cup 2022 Group Stage draw
West Zone:
Pot 1 – Al Ansar (LBN), Tishreen (SYR), Al Riffa (BHR)
Pot 2 – Al Seeb Club (OMA), Shabab Al Khalil (PLE), Nejmeh (LBN)
Pot 3 – Jableh (SYR), East Riffa (BHR), Dhofar Club (OMA)
Pot 4 – Hilal Alquds (PLE), Arabi Club (KUW), Kuwait Club (KUW)
Central Zone:
Pot 1 – FC Nasaf or PFC Sogdiana (UZB), FC Khujand (TJK)
Pot 2 – Altyn Asyr FC (TKM), FC Dordoi (KGZ)
Pot 3 – FC CSKA (TJK), Kopetdag FC (TKM)
Pot 4 – PFC Neftchi (KGZ)
ASEAN Zone:
Pot 1 – Kaya FC Iloilo (PHI), Viettel City (VIE), Kuala Lumpur City FC (MAS)
Pot 2 – Hougang United (SIN), Shan United FC or Ayewady United FC (MYA), Bali United FC (IDN)
Pot 3 – Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM), Kedah Darul Aman (MAS), Tampines Rovers (SIN)
Pot 4 – Hantharwady United FC (MYA), PSM Makassar (IDN), Play-off winner (CAM/LAO)
South Zone (no draw required):
Participating Clubs: Gokulam Kerala (IND), Bashundhara Kings (BAN), Maziya Sports & Recreation (MDV), Play-off winner (IND/BAN/MDV/NEP/SRI/BHU)
East Zone (no draw required)
Participating Clubs: Eastern Long Lions (HKG), MUST CPK (MAC), Tainan City FC (TPE), Play-off winner (HKG/MNG)
