I. Introduction of AFC Champions League:
AFC Champions League, also known as the Asian Champions League, or AFC Champions League for short, is an Asian club football championship founded by AFC in 2002, formerly known as the Asian Champions Club Championship and the Asian Club Championship.
The AFC Champions League is the highest level of club football in Asia, equivalent to the European Champions League and the Libertadores Cup in South America, and higher than the AFC Champions Cup. The winning team will represent AFC in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Second, the birth:
The first AFC Champions League was held in the 2002/03 season, and its predecessor was the Asian Champions Club Championship and the Asian Club Championship.
The first Asian Champions Club Championship was held in 1967, with 8 teams participating. The tournament of 197 1 was suspended until 1986 was reopened and renamed as the Asian Club Championship. Only local league champions can participate. The first Asian Cup Winners' Cup was held in 199 1, with the participation of world cup champions. The winners of the two events will compete for the Asian Super Cup.
Introduction of AFC Champions League 2023 competition system;
1, group match
The 2023 AFC Champions Group Match will start in February 2023, and it will be divided into 8 groups with 4 teams in each group. The group stage will be held from February to May, and the top two in each group will advance to the knockout stage.
The AFC Champions Group Match will adopt the double round robin system, and each team will play one game at home and away. The ranking of the group stage will be determined according to the team's winning or losing situation, goal difference, total number of goals and direct confrontation in the group stage.
In the group stage, the team will play in different cities. These cities include Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Doha.
2. knockout
The elimination of the AFC Champions League 2023 season will begin in May, and * * * will be divided into four stages: 16, 8, semi-final and final. There will be a single match in the knockout round, and the winner will advance to the next round.
The draw for the knockout stage will be made after the group stage. In the process of drawing lots, the top team in the group stage will compete with the bottom team to ensure the fairness of the competition.
The knockout rounds will be held in different cities, including Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Doha.