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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.[2] 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.[3]
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | Qualifying: 8–23 August 2023 Competition proper: 18 September 2023 – 5 May 2024 |
| Teams | Competition proper: 36 Total (maximum): 65 (from 37 associations) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Central Coast Mariners (1st title) |
| Runners-up |  Al Ahed |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 118 |
| Goals scored | 386 (3.27 per match) |
| Attendance | 373,244 (3,163 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |  Marco Túlio (8 goals) |
| Best player(s) | Mikael Doka[1] |
← 2022 2024–25 (ACL Two) → | |
As the title holders, Al-Seeb qualified for the 2023–24 AFC Champions League playoff stage. So they were unable to defend their title.
Central Coast Mariners won the competition for the first time, defeating Al Ahed 1–0 in the final.[4][5] Central Coast Mariners' victory meant that Australia became the first nation to have had clubs winning both the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup, following Western Sydney Wanderers' victory in the 2014 AFC Champions League.
The 47 AFC member associations are ranked based on their club's performance over the last four years in AFC competitions (their national team's FIFA World Rankings are no longer considered).[6] The slots are allocated by the following criteria according to the Entry Manual:[7]
- The associations are split into five zones (Article 5.1):
- West Asia Zone consists of the 12 associations from the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF).
- South Asia Zone consists of the 7 associations from the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).
- Central Asia Zone consists of the 6 associations from Central Asian Football Association (CAFA).
- ASEAN Zone consists of the 12 associations from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF).
- East Asia Zone consists of the 10 associations from the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF).
- The AFC may reallocate one or more associations to another zone if necessary for sporting reasons
Reallocation of Regions
- Excluding the top five associations in each region for AFC Champions League slot allocation, all other associations are eligible to enter the AFC Cup.
- The teams from associations ranked 6th, 11th and 12th which are eliminated in the AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs enter the AFC Cup group stage (Article 3.2). The following rules are applied:
- The associations ranked 6th in both the West Region and the East Region, while allocated one direct slot in the AFC Cup group stage without taking away any direct slot from other associations, are not ranked in each zone for AFC Cup slot allocation (Article 5.3).[8]
- If they advance to the AFC Champions League group stage, the AFC Cup group stage slot is filled by the standby team from their association if such team are available (Article 5.12).
- The rules above do not apply to the AFC Champions League title holders and AFC Cup title holders which are allocated AFC Champions League play-off slots should they not qualify for the tournament through domestic performance.
- In the West Asia Zone and the ASEAN Zone, there are three groups in the group stage, including 9 direct slots, with the 3 remaining slots filled through qualifying play-offs (Article 5.2). The slots in each zone are distributed as follows:
- The associations ranked 1st to 3rd are each allocated two direct slots.
- The associations ranked 4th to 6th are each allocated one direct slot and one play-off slot.
- The associations ranked 7th or below are each allocated one play-off slot.
- If any zone has an association ranked 6th for AFC Champions League slot allocation, which is allocated one direct slot in the AFC Cup group stage, there are 10 direct slots, with the 2 remaining slots filled through qualifying play-offs.
- In the South Asia Zone, the Central Asia Zone, and the East Asia Zone, there is one group in the group stage, including 3 direct slots, with the 1 remaining slot filled through qualifying play-offs (Article 5.2). The slots in each zone are distributed as follows:[9]
- The associations ranked 1st to 3rd are each allocated one direct slot and one play-off slot.
- The associations ranked 4th or below are each allocated one play-off slot.
- If any zone has an association ranked 6th for AFC Champions League slot allocation, which is allocated one direct slot in the AFC Cup group stage, there are 4 direct slots, and to ensure equal opportunity in each zone, another group is added to this zone in the group stage, with the 4 remaining slots filled through qualifying play-offs (Article 5.4.1).
- If any zone has at least 7 play-off slots, to ensure equal opportunity in each zone, another group is added to this zone in the group stage, with the 5 remaining slots filled through qualifying play-offs (Article 5.4.2).
- If any association with direct slots do not fulfill any one of the AFC Cup criteria, they have all their direct slots converted into play-off slots. The direct slots given up are redistributed to the highest eligible association by the following criteria (Articles 5.7 and 5.8):
- For each association, the maximum number of total slots is two (Articles 3.4 and 3.5).
- If any association is allocated one additional direct slot, one play-off slot is annulled and not redistributed.
- If any association with only play-off slot(s), including those mentioned above, do not fulfill the minimum AFC Cup criteria, the play-off slot(s) are annulled and not redistributed (Articles 5.10 and 5.11).
- For each association, the maximum number of total slots is one-third of the total number of eligible teams (excluding foreign teams) in the top division (Article 5.6). If this rule is applied, any direct slots given up are redistributed by the same criteria as mentioned above, and play-off slots are annulled and not redistributed (Article 9.10).
- All participating teams must be granted an AFC Champions League or AFC Cup license, and, apart from cup winners, finish in the top half of their top division (Articles 7.1 and 9.5). If any association does not have enough teams which satisfy these criteria, any direct slots given up are redistributed by the same criteria as mentioned above, and play-off slots are annulled and not redistributed (Article 9.9).
- If any team granted a license refuses to participate, their slot, either direct or play-off, is annulled and not redistributed (Article 9.11).
Association ranking
For the 2023–24 AFC Cup, the associations are allocated slots according to the November 2021 AFC club competitions ranking,[10][11][12] which takes into account their performance in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup during the period between 2018 and 2021.[2020]
| Participation for 2023–24 AFC Cup | |
|---|---|
| Participating | |
| Not participating | |
|
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- Notes
- ^ Competition in 2020: The 2020 season is not included in the overall ranking due to the cancellation of the remaining matches in the 2020 AFC Cup caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ^ AFC Licensing (AFC): Association did not have a licensed club.[13]
- ^ Jordan (JOR): Jordan are ranked 6th in the West Region for AFC Champions League allocation, and thus are allocated one direct slot in the AFC Cup group stage without taking away any direct slot from other associations.
- ^ Vietnam (VIE): Vietnam are ranked 6th in the East Region for AFC Champions League allocation, and thus are allocated one direct slot in the AFC Cup group stage without taking away any direct slot from other associations.
- Notes
- ^ Iraq (IRQ): The 2022–23 Iraqi Premier League champions Al-Shorta were not granted an AFC license, therefore league runners-up and 2022–23 Iraq FA Cup winners Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya will participate in the AFC Champions League group stage.[13] The only other licensed Iraqi clubs, Al-Zawraa and Al-Kahrabaa, will therefore participate in the AFC Cup.[14]
- ^ Syria (SYR): Al-Fotuwa, the 2022–23 Syrian Premier League champion, won 1–0 against Tishreen, the 2021–22 Syrian Premier League champion, in an additional playoff match.[15]
- ^ Myanmar (MYA): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar, the 2022 General Aung San Shield was not held. Instead, the runners-up of the 2022 Myanmar National League will participate in the AFC Cup play-off round.
- ^ Nepal (NEP): Church Boys United, the 2023 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League champions, failed to obtain an AFC license. Instead, the runners-up, Machhindra will participate in the AFC Cup preliminary stage.
- ^ Palestine (PLE): Hilal Al-Quds, the 2022–23 West Bank Premier League runner-up, failed to obtain an AFC license. Instead, the third place, Shabab Al-Khalil will participate in the AFC Cup play-off stage.
The schedule of the competition is as follows.[16]
| Stage | Round | Draw date | First leg | Second leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary stage | Preliminary round 1 | No draw | 8 August 2023 | |
| Preliminary round 2 | 15–16 August 2023 | |||
| Play-off stage | Play-off round | 22–23 August 2023 | ||
| Group stage | Matchday 1 | 24 August 2023 | 18–21 September 2023 | |
| Matchday 2 | 2–5 October 2023 | |||
| Matchday 3 | 23–26 October 2023 | |||
| Matchday 4 | 6–9 November 2023 | |||
| Matchday 5 | 27–30 November 2023 | |||
| Matchday 6 | 11–14 December 2023 | |||
| Knockout stage | Zonal semi-finals | 28 December 2023 | 12–13 February 2024 (A) | |
| 12–13 February 2024 (W) | 19–20 February 2024 (W) | |||
| Zonal finals | 22 February 2024 (A) | |||
| 16 April 2024 (W) | 23 April 2024 (W) | |||
| Inter-zone play-off semi-finals | 6–7 March 2024 | 13–14 March 2024 | ||
| Inter-zone play-off final | 17 April 2024 | 24 April 2024 | ||
| Final | 5 May 2024 at Sultan Qaboos Stadium, Muscat | |||
- Notes
- A = ASEAN
- C = Central Asia
- E = East Asia
- S = South Asia
- W = West Asia
Preliminary round 1
A total of two teams played in the preliminary round 1.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
Machhindra  |
3–2 |  Paro |
Preliminary round 2
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
Mohun Bagan SG  |
3–1 | Machhindra |
Dhaka Abahani  |
2–1 |  Club Eagles |
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
Phnom Penh Crown  |
3–0 |  Young Elephants |
Yangon United  |
2–1 |  DPMM |
Play-off round
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
Al-Khaldiya  |
2–3 |  Al-Nahda |
Al-Ittihad  |
2–1 |  Shabab Al-Khalil |
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Mohun Bagan SG |
3–1 | Dhaka Abahani |
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
Tampines Rovers  |
2–3 | Phnom Penh Crown |
PSM Makassar  |
4–0 | Yangon United |
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
Monte Carlo  |
1–2 |  Taichung Futuro |
The draw for the group stage was held on 24 August 2023 at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 36 teams were drawn into nine groups of four teams: three groups each in the West Asia Zone (Groups A–C) and the ASEAN Zone (Groups F–H), one group in the Central Asia Zone (Groups E), and one group each in the South Asia Zone (Group D) and the East Asia Zone (Group I). 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 in zones with more than one group (West Asia Zone and ASEAN Zone) could not be drawn into the same group.
Beirut
Kuwait City
Baghdad
Location of the 2023-24 AFC Cup Group Stage teams
Brown: Group A; 
Cyan: Group B; 
Orange: Group C; 
Yellow: Group D; 
Pink: Group E;
Green: Group F; 
Blue: Group G; 
Red: Group H; 
Turquoise: Group I; 
Purple: Group J
Brown: Group A; 
Cyan: Group B; 
Orange: Group C; 
Yellow: Group D; 
Pink: Group E;
Green: Group F; 
Blue: Group G; 
Red: Group H; 
Turquoise: Group I; 
Purple: Group JGroup A
Source: AFC
Notes:
Notes:
- On 26 November 2023, Jabal Al-Mukaber announced their withdrawal from the competition.[17]
Group B
Source: AFC
Group C
Source: AFC
Group D
Source: AFC
Group E
Source: AFC
Group F
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | MAC | CRO | DHC | SHN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Macarthur FC |
6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 5 | +18 | 15 | Zonal semi-finals | — | 5–0 | 8–2 | 4–0 | |
| 2 | Phnom Penh Crown |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 12 | 3–0 | — | 4–0 | 4–0 | ||
| 3 |  DH Cebu |
6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 19 | −15 | 4[lower-alpha 1] | 0–3 | 0–3 | — | 1–0 | ||
| 4 | Shan United |
6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 14 | −11 | 4[lower-alpha 1] | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | — |
Source: AFC
Notes:
Notes:
Group G
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | CCM | TFC | BUF | STA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Coast Mariners |
6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 7 | +14 | 13 | Zonal semi-finals | — | 1–1 | 6–3 | 9–1 | |
| 2 |  Terengganu |
6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 12 | 1–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | ||
| 3 | Bali United |
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 1–2 | 1–1 | — | 5–2 | ||
| 4 | Stallion Laguna |
6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 27 | −18 | 1 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 2–5 | — |
Source: AFC
Group H
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | SAB | HFC | PSM | HOU | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sabah |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 9 | +10 | 12 | Zonal semi-finals | — | 4–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | |
| 2 |  Haiphong |
6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 9 | +4 | 10[lower-alpha 1] | 3–2 | — | 3–0 | 4–0 | ||
| 3 | PSM Makassar |
6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 12 | −2 | 10[lower-alpha 1] | 0–5 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | ||
| 4 | Hougang United |
6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 18 | −12 | 3 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 1–3 | — |
Source: AFC
Notes:
Notes:
Group I
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | FUT | ULA | TAI | CPK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Taichung Futuro |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 12[lower-alpha 1] | Inter-zone play-off semi-finals | — | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | |
| 2 |  Ulaanbaatar |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 12[lower-alpha 1] | 0–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–0 | ||
| 3 | Taiwan Steel |
6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 12 | +3 | 9 | 5–1 | 3–0 | — | 4–2 | ||
| 4 | Chao Pak Kei |
6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 3 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 4–1 | — |
Source: AFC
Notes:
Notes:
Ranking of runner-up teams
West Asia Zone
Source: AFC
ASEAN Zone
| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | Phnom Penh Crown |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 12 | Zonal semi-finals |
| 2 | G | Terengganu |
6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 12 | |
| 3 | H | Haiphong |
6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 9 | +4 | 10 |
Updated to match(es) played on 30 November 2023. Source: AFC
In the knockout stage, the 11 teams will play a single-elimination tournament. Each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, except the ASEAN Zone's semi-finals, ASEAN Zone's final and the final which will be played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out will be used to decide the winners if necessary (note that the away goals rule is abolished). (Regulations Article 11.3).
The draw for the Zonal finals and the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals was held on 28 December 2023, 14:00 MYT (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Bracket
| Zonal semi-finals | Zonal finals | Inter-zone play-off semi-finals | Inter-zone play-off finals | Final | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Macarthur FC | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sabah | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Macarthur FC | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ASEAN Zone | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central Coast Mariners (a.e.t.) | 3 | Central Coast Mariners | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central Coast Mariners | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Odisha | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Phnom Penh Crown | 0 | Central Coast Mariners | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Abdysh-Ata Kant | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abdysh-Ata Kant | 5 | 3 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taichung Futuro | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central Coast Mariners | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Al Ahed | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Al-Riffa | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Al-Nahda | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Al-Nahda | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Asia Zone | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Al Ahed | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Al Ahed (p) | 0 | 1 | 1 (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Al-Kahrabaa | 1 | 0 | 1 (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zonal semi-finals
In the Zonal semi-finals, the four qualified teams from the West Asia Zone (Groups A–C) play in two ties, and the four qualified teams from the ASEAN Zone (Groups F–H) play in two ties, with the matchups and order of legs determined by the group stage draw and the identity of the best runners-up.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Macarthur FC |
3–0 | Sabah |
| Central Coast Mariners |
4–0 | Phnom Penh Crown |
Zonal finals
Draw for the Zonal finals was held on 28 December. In the Zonal finals, the two winners of West Asia Zonal semi-finals play each other, with the order of legs decided by draw. The two winners of ASEAN Zonal semi-finals play each other, with the host decided by draw. The winners of the West Asia Zonal final advances to the final, while the winners of the ASEAN Zonal final advance to the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Macarthur FC |
2–3 (a.e.t.) | Central Coast Mariners |
Inter-zone play-off semi-finals
Draw for the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals was held on 28 December. In the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals, the four zonal winners other than the West Asia Zone play in two ties (the winners of the South Asia Zone (Group D), the winners of the Central Asia Zone (Group E), the winners of the East Asia Zone (Group I), and the winners of the ASEAN Zonal final. The matchups and order of legs will be decided by draw.
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdysh-Ata Kant |
8–1 | Taichung Futuro |
5–0 | 3–1 |
| Central Coast Mariners |
4–0 | Odisha |
4–0 | 0–0 |
Inter-zone play-off final
In the Inter-zone play-off final, the two winners of the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals will play each other, with the order of legs determined by the Inter-zone play-off semi-final draw. The winners of the Inter-zone play-off final advance to the final.
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdysh-Ata Kant |
1–4 | Central Coast Mariners |
1–1 | 0–3 |
Final
In the final, the winners of the West Asia Zonal final and the winners of the Inter-zone play-off final will play each other, with the host team (winners of the West Zone) alternated from the previous season's final.
| Al-Ahed | 0–1 | Central Coast Mariners |
|---|---|---|
| Report [18] |
|
Team eliminated / inactive for this round.
Player is not in the team but team still active for this round.
| Rank | Player | Team | MD1 | MD2 | MD3 | MD4 | MD5 | MD6 | ZSF1 | ZSF2 | ZF1 | ZF2 | ISF1 | ISF2 | IF1 | IF2 | F | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marco Túlio |
Central Coast Mariners |
3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | |||||||||||
| 2 |  Shintaro Shimizu |
Phnom Penh Crown |
1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |||||||||||
| 3 | Darren Lok |
Sabah |
2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |||||||||||
| Niki Torrão |
Chao Pak Kei |
2 | 4 | |||||||||||||||
| 5 | Ange Kouamé |
Taiwan Steel |
1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||||
| Kayrat Zhyrgalbek uulu |
Abdysh-Ata Kant |
1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||
| 7 |  Ulises Dávila |
Macarthur FC |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||||
| Mikael Doka |
Central Coast Mariners |
1 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Jed Drew |
Macarthur FC |
1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
 Mourtada Fall |
Odisha |
2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
 Valère Germain |
Macarthur FC |
1 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Hashim Sayed Isa |
Al-Riffa |
1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
 Đorđe Maksimović |
Hougang United |
2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Magamed Uzdenov |
Abdysh-Ata Kant |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||
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