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The club allocations for the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup in 2023 have been determined following the latest AFC Club Competitions Ranking.
Saudi Arabia, who lead the AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2021, are ranked first in the AFC Champions League (West), with three of their clubs automatically qualifying to the Group Stage and one club advancing to the preliminary or playoffs.
Similarly Iran, ranked second, will have the same representation as Saudi Arabia, while two clubs from Qatar and Uzbekistan will contend in the Group Stage with an additional two clubs slotted in the preliminary or playoffs.
South Korea are ranked first in the AFC Champions League (East) followed by Japan and they will be represented by three clubs in the Group Stage and one in the preliminary or playoffs.
The same applies for third and fourth ranked China and Thailand respectively who will both have the same representation as their West Region counterparts of Qatar and Uzbekistan.
In the AFC Cup 2023, Iraq, Lebanon and Kuwait from the West Zone will be represented by two clubs in the Group Stage, similar to the Philippines, Malaysia and Australia in the ASEAN Zone.
Meanwhile India, Bangladesh and Maldives from the South Zone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyz Republic from the Central Zone as well as North Korea, Macau and Chinese Taipei from the East Zone will receive one direct slot to the Group Stage and another entry to the preliminary or playoffs stage.
All Member Associations are eligible to participate in the respective club competitions in 2023, provided they fulfil the requirements stated in the Entry Manual for AFC Club Competitions (2021 Edition).
Additionally, winners from the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup 2022 are entitled to an indirect slot in the respective competitions in 2023.
Please click here for the full 2023 slot allocation list.
