The 2024–25 AFC Challenge League knockout stage will be played from 5 March to 10 May 2025.[1] A total of 8 teams will compete in the knockout stage to decide the champions of the 2024–25 AFC Challenge League.[2]
The following teams advanced from the group stage:
- The winners of the groups and the best runners-up in the West Region (Groups A–C).
- The winners and runner-ups of each group in the East Region (Groups D–E).
More information Region, Group ...
Region |
Group |
Winners |
Runner-ups |
West Region |
A |
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B |
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C |
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East Region |
D |
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E |
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In the knockout stage, the 8 teams will play a single-elimination tournament. Each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, except 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 10).
More information Round, Matchups ...
Round |
Matchups |
Quarter-finals |
- West Region
(Matchups and order of legs determined by identity of best runners-up: first team listed host first leg, second team listed host second leg)
- If best runners-up from Group A
- QF1: Group A runners-up vs. Group B winners
- QF2: Group C winners vs. Group A winners
- If best runners-up from Group B
- QF1: Group B runners-up vs. Group C winners
- QF2: Group A winners vs. Group B winners
- If best runners-up from Group C
- QF1: Group C runners-up vs. Group A winners
- QF2: Group B winners vs. Group C winners
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- East Region
(First team listed host first leg, second team listed host second leg)
- QF3: Group E runners-up vs. Group D winners
- QF4: Group D runners-up vs. Group E winners
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Semi-finals |
(First team listed host first leg, second team listed host second leg)
- West Region
- SF1: Winners of QF1 vs. Winners of QF2
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- East Region
- SF2: Winners of QF3 vs. Winners of QF4
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Final |
(Winners of East Region semi-finals host match)
- Winners of SF2 vs. Winners of SF1
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After the draw, the schedule of each round is as follows.[1]
More information Stage, Round ...
Stage |
Round |
First leg |
Second leg |
Knockout stage |
Quarter-finals |
5–6 March 2025 |
12–13 March 2025 |
Semi-finals |
9–10 April 2025 |
16–17 April 2025 |
Final |
10 May 2025 |
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Summary
In the quarter-finals, the eight qualified teams 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.
More information Team 1, Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score ...
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More information Team 1, Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score ...
East RegionTeam 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
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Group E runners-up | QF3 | Group D winners | 6 Mar | 13 Mar |
Group D runners-up | QF4 | Group E winners | 6 Mar | 13 Mar |
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West Region
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East Region
More information Group E runners-up, v ...
Group E runners-up | v | Group D winners |
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More information Group D winners, v ...
Group D winners | v | Group E runners-up |
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More information Group D runners-up, v ...
Group D runners-up | v | Group E winners |
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More information Group E winners, v ...
Group E winners | v | Group D runners-up |
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Summary
In the Semi-finals, the winners of quarter-finals from each region will face each other in two leg matches. The winners of each tie advance to the final.
More information Team 1, Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score ...
West RegionTeam 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
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Winner QF1 | SF1 | Winner QF2 | 9 Apr | 16 Apr |
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More information Team 1, Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score ...
East RegionTeam 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
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Winner QF3 | SF2 | Winner QF4 | 10 Apr | 17 Apr |
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West Region
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East Region
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Main article: 2025 AFC Challenge League final
In the final, the winners of the each semi-finals will play each other, with the host team (winners of the semi-finals from East Region) alternated from the previous season's final.
2025 AFC Challenge League final