On 27 January, AFC will held the draw for AFC Champions League and AFC Cup. In this article, we will post about how the slots allocation will be for each member association and how the seeding will be for the draw.
AFC Champions League Slot Allocation
In this section, we compare the original slots allocation for each MA with the final slot allocation for ACL 2021. Turkmenistan, Lebanon, Syria, and DPR Korea will not participate in ACL 2021 despite initially having direct and/or indirect slots.
West Region
Rank | MA | Original Slots 2021-2022 | Final Slots for 2021 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Qatar | 3+1 | 3+1 |
2 | Saudi Arabia | 3+1 | 3+1 |
3 | IR Iran | 2+2 | 3+1 |
4 | United Arab Emirates | 2+2 | 2+2 |
5 | Iraq | 1+2 | 1+2 |
6 | Uzbekistan | 1+1 | 1+1 |
7 | Jordan | 1+0 | 1+0 |
8 | India | 1+0 | 1+0 |
9 | Tajikistan | 1+0 | 1+0 |
10 | Turkmenistan | 1+0 | 0+0 |
11 | Lebanon | 0+1 | 0+0 |
12 | Syria | 0+1 | 0+0 |
2. Lebanon’s indirect slot is annulled since they can’t meet the minimum conditions (Stadia, Logistics, Visa, Accommodation, and licensed club)
3. Syria’s indirect slot is annulled since they can’t meet the minimum conditions (Stadia, Logistics, Visa, Accommodation, and licensed club)
East Region
Rank | MA | Original Slots 2021-2022 | Final Slots for 2021 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | China PR | 3+1 | 3+1 |
2 | Japan | 3+1 | 3+1 |
3 | Korea Republic | 2+2 | 2+2 |
4 | Thailand | 2+2 | 2+2 |
5 | Australia | 1+2 | 1+2 |
6 | Philippines | 1+1 | 1+1 |
7 | DPR Korea | 1+0 | 0+0 |
8 | Vietnam | 1+0 | 1+0 |
9 | Malaysia | 1+0 | 1+0 |
10 | Singapore | 1+0 | 1+0 |
11 | Hong Kong | 0+1 | 1+0 |
12 | Myanmar | 0+1 | 0+1 |
AFC Champions League Seeding Pots
From 2021 season, AFC made a major changes to the draw mechanism. There will be an open draw for all participating clubs. All clubs divided into 4 pots for each region, based on their AFC Club Competitions Ranking and seeding in their MA.
20 clubs in each region is ordered based on this principle:
- First club from MA ranked 1 to 4
- Second club from MA ranked 1 to 4
- Third club from MA ranked 1 to 2
- First club from MA ranked 6 to 10
- First club from MA ranked 5
- 4 play-offs winner
After the ordering, the 20 clubs then divided into 4 pots. First 5 clubs will be in Pot 1, the next 5 clubs will be in Pot 2, and so on. First club from MA ranked 5 will be put in Pot 4 with play-offs winner, to match the technical balance with the play-offs winner.
West Region
Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
---|---|---|---|
QAT 1 Al Duhail | KSA 2 Al Nassr | UZB 1 Pakhtakor | IRQ 1 Al Shorta |
KSA 1 Al Hilal | IRN 2 Tractor | JOR 1 Al Wehdat | PO Winner 1 |
IRN 1 Persepolis | UAE 2 Shabab Al Ahli | IND 1 Goa | PO Winner 2 |
UAE 1 Sharjah | QAT 3 Al Rayyan | TJK 1 Istiklol | PO Winner 3 |
QAT 2 Al Sadd | KSA 3 Al Ahli | IRN 3 Esteghlal | PO Winner 4 |
2. Esteghlal is placed in Pot 3 as its direct slot has been reallocated from Turkmenistan
East Region
Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
---|---|---|---|
CHN 1 Jiangsu | JPN 2 Gamba Osaka | PHI 1 United City | AUS 1 Sydney FC |
JPN 1 Kawasaki Frontale | KOR 2 Ulsan Hyundai | HKG 1 Kitchee | PO Winner 1 |
KOR 1 Jeonbuk | THA 2 Port | VIE 1 Viettel | PO Winner 2 |
THA 1 BG Pathum United | CHN 3 Guangzhou | MAS 1 Johor Darul Ta’zim | PO Winner 3 |
CHN 2 Shandong Taishan | JPN 3 Nagoya Grampus | SIN 1 Tampines Rovers | PO Winner 4 |
2. Kitchee is placed in Pot 3 as its direct slot has been reallocated from DPR Korea
AFC Cup Slot Allocation
In this section, we compare the original slots allocation for each MA with the final slot allocation for AFC Cup 2021. Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, DPR Korea, Macau and Guam will not participate in AFC Cup 2021 despite initially having direct and/or indirect slots.
West Zone
Rank | MA | Original Slots 2021-2022 | Final Slots for 2021 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Jordan | 2+0 | 2+0 |
2 | Lebanon | 2+0 | 2+0 |
3 | Syria | 2+0 | 0+2 |
4 | Bahrain | 1+1 | 2+0 |
5 | Oman | 1+1 | 2+0 |
6 | Palestine | 1+1 | 1+1 |
7 | Kuwait | 0+1 | 0+1 |
8 | Yemen | 0+1 | 0+0 |
2. Yemen’s indirect slot is annulled since they can’t meet minimum conditions (Stadia, Logistics, Visa, Accommodation, and licensed club)
3. Since there are only 4 teams in the play-offs for 3 group stage slot, two clubs from highest-ranked MA (Two clubs from Syria) received bye to the group stage
South Zone
Rank | MA | Original Slots 2021-2022 | Final Slots for 2021 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | India | 1+1 | 1+1 |
2 | Bangladesh | 1+1 | 1+1 |
3 | Maldives | 1+1 | 1+1 |
4 | Nepal | 0+1 | 0+1 |
5 | Sri Lanka | 0+1 | 0+1 |
6 | Bhutan | 0+1 | 0+1 |
7 | Pakistan | 0+1 | 0+0 |
Central Zone
Rank | MA | Original Slots 2021-2022 | FInal Slots for 2021 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Uzbekistan | 1+0 | 1+0 |
2 | Tajikistan | 1+1 | 1+1 |
3 | Turkmenistan | 1+1 | 1+1 |
4 | Kyrgyz Republic | 1+1 | 1+1 |
5 | Afghanistan | 0+1 | 0+0 |
2. Since there are 4 direct entrants to the group stage, additional group is added to the Central Zone to ensure equal opportunity
3. Afghanistan’s indirect slot is annulled since they can’t meet minimum conditions (Stadia, Logistics, Visa, Accommodation, and licensed club)
4. Since there are 3 teams in the play-offs for 4 group stage slot, 2nd club from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyz Republic received bye to the group stage
ASEAN Zone
Rank | MA | Original Slots 2021-2022 | Final Slots for 2021 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Philippines | 1+0 | 1+0 |
2 | Vietnam | 2+0 | 2+0 |
3 | Malaysia | 2+0 | 2+0 |
4 | Singapore | 2+0 | 2+0 |
5 | Myanmar | 1+1 | 1+1 |
6 | Indonesia | 1+1 | 1+1 |
7 | Cambodia | 1+1 | 1+1 |
8 | Laos | 0+1 | 0+1 |
9 | Brunei | 0+1 | 0+1 |
10 | TImor-Leste | 0+1 | 0+1 |
East Zone
Rank | MA | Original Slots 2021-2022 | Final Slots for 2021 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | DPR Korea | 1+1 | 0+0 |
2 | Hong Kong | 1+1 | 1+1 |
3 | Macau | 1+1 | 0+0 |
4 | Chinese Taipei | 0+1 | 1+0 |
5 | Mongolia | 0+1 | 1+0 |
6 | Guam | 0+1 | 0+0 |
2. Macau’s representative, Benfica Macau and Chao Pak Kei, refuse to enter AFC Cup 2021, despite being licensed and meeting sporting criteria. So, their direct slot is redistributed to MA ranked 5th (Mongolia) and their indirect slot is annulled. Mongolia’s indirect slot is annulled
3. Guam’s indirect slot is annulled since they can’t meet minimum conditions (Stadia, Logistics, Visa, Accommodation, and licensed club)
4. Since there are only 1 team in the play-offs for 1 group stage slot, 2nd club from Hong Kong received bye to the group stage
AFC Cup Seeding Pots
Same with ACL, there will also be an open draw for AFC Cup. All participating clubs divided into 4 pots for each zone (except South and East Zone), based on their AFC Club Competitions Ranking and seeding in their MA.
All clubs in each zone is ordered based on this principle:
- First club from its MA, then ordered by ranking of its MA
- Second club from its MA, then ordered by ranking of its MA
- Play-offs winner
After the ordering, the clubs then divided into 4 pots.
West Zone
Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
---|---|---|---|
JOR 1 Al Salt | BHR 1 Al Hidd | JOR 2 Al Faisaly | BHR 2 Al Muharraq |
LBN 1 Al Ahed | OMA 1 Al Seeb | LBN 2 Al Ansar | OMA 2 Al Nasr |
SYR 1 Tishreen | PLE 1 Markaz Balata | SYR 2 Al Wahda | Winner PO |
Central Zone
Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
---|---|---|---|
UZB 1 AGMK | TKM 1 Altyn Asyr | TJK 2 Khujand | KGZ 2 Alay |
TJK 1 Ravshan | KGZ 1 Dordoi | TKM 2 Ahal |
ASEAN Zone
Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
---|---|---|---|
PHI 1 Kaya Iloilo | SIN 1 Lion City Sailors | CAM 1 Boeung Ket | SIN 2 Geylang International |
VIE 1 Ha Noi | MYA 1 Shan United | VIE 2 Sai Gon | Winner PO 1 |
MAS 1 Kedah | IDN 1 Bali United | MAS 2 Terengganu | Winner PO 2 |
We expect that all subsequent ACL and AFC Cup group stage draws will follow this principle.
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