2023–24 AFC Cup

20th secondary club football tournament organized by the AFC

2023–24 AFC CupTournament 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)
Tournament statistics
Matches played| 18
Goals scored| 48 (2.67 per match)
Top scorer(s)|  Marco Túlio (8 goals)

<- 2022

International football competition

The 2023–24 AFC Cup is the 19th and last edition of the AFC Cup, Asia's secondary club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). From the 2024–25 season, the AFC Cup will be discontinued.[1] The AFC Champions League 2 and the AFC Challenge League will be introduced as Asia's second- and third-tier club tournaments, respectively.[2]

This is the first and only AFC Cup season to have a two-year (autumn-to-spring) schedule, unlike the previous all-year-round (spring-to-autumn) schedule.[3]

Al-Seeb were the title holders, having won their first AFC Cup title in 2022. However, they will not be able to defend their title, having failed to advance through their domestic top-division league.

The winners of the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite, entering the qualifying play-offs, if they have not qualified through their domestic performance.[4]

## Association team allocation[edit]

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).[5] The slots are allocated by the following criteria according to the Entry Manual:[6]

* 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).[7]
* 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:[8]
* 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[edit]

For the 2023–24 AFC Cup, the associations are allocated slots according to the November 2021 AFC club competitions ranking,[9][10][11] 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

West Asia Zone (3 groups)  | Rank | Member
Association  | Points[10] | Slots

|
|
|

Group
stage  | Play-off
Zone | AFC
– | 10 |  Jordan[JOR] | 46.131 | 1 | 0
1 | 13 |  Iraq | 35.223 | 2 | 0
2 | 18 |  Lebanon | 23.618 | 2 | 0
3 | 22 |  Kuwait | 18.307 | 2 | 0
4 | 25 |  Bahrain | 16.812 | 1 | 1
5 | 27 |  Syria | 12.061 | 1 | 1
6 | 31 |  Palestine | 6.894 | 1 | 1
7 | 34 |  Oman | 5.264 | 0 | 1
8 | 41 |  Yemen[AFC] | 0.000 | 0 | 0
Total  | Participating associations: 8  | 10 | 4

Central Asia Zone (1 group)  Rank | Member
Association  | Points[10] | Slots

|
|
|

Group
stage  | Play-off
Zone | AFC
1 | 12 |  Tajikistan | 37.323 | 1 | 1
2 | 16 |  Turkmenistan | 27.871 | 1 | 1
3 | 32 |  Kyrgyzstan | 5.962 | 1 | 1
4 | 41 |  Afghanistan[AFC] | 0.000 | 0 | 0
Total  | Participating associations: 3  | 3 | 3

South Asia Zone (1 group)  Rank | Member
Association  | Points[10] | Slots

|
|
|

Group
stage  | Play-off
Zone | AFC
1 | 17 |  India | 25.290 | 1 | 1
2 | 21 |  Bangladesh | 19.452 | 1 | 1
3 | 29 |  Maldives | 7.853 | 1 | 1
4 | 36 |  Nepal | 1.513 | 0 | 1
5 | 38 |  Sri Lanka[AFC] | 0.785 | 0 | 0
6 | 39 |  Bhutan | 0.611 | 0 | 1
7 | 41 |  Pakistan[AFC] | 0.000 | 0 | 0
Total  | Participating associations: 5  | 3 | 5

ASEAN Zone (3 groups)  | Rank | Member
Association  | Points[10] | Slots

|
|
|

Group
stage  | Play-off
Zone | AFC
– | 14 |  Vietnam[VIE] | 34.937 | 1 | 0
1 | 19 |  Philippines | 23.080 | 2 | 0
2 | 20 |  Malaysia | 21.087 | 2 | 0
3 | 23 |  Australia | 17.277 | 2 | 0
4 | 24 |  Singapore | 17.016 | 1 | 1
5 | 26 |  Indonesia | 15.960 | 1 | 1
6 | 28 |  Myanmar | 9.881 | 1 | 1
7 | 33 |  Cambodia | 5.672 | 0 | 1
8 | 37 |  Laos | 0.843 | 0 | 1
9 | 41 |  Brunei | 0.000 | 0 | 1
10 | 41 |  Timor-Leste[AFC] | 0.000 | 0 | 0
Total  | Participating associations: 10  | 10 | 6

East Asia Zone (1 group)  Rank | Member
Association  | Points[10] | Slots

|
|
|

Group
stage  | Play-off
Zone | AFC
1 | 15 |  North Korea[AFC] | 32.286 | 0 | 0
2 | 30 |  Macau | 6.981 | 1 | 1
3 | 35 |  Chinese Taipei | 4.072 | 1 | 1
4 | 40 |  Mongolia | 0.349 | 1 | 0
5 | 41 |  Guam[AFC] | 0.000 | 0 | 0
6 | 41 |  Northern Mariana Islands[AFC] | 0.000 | 0 | 0
Total  | Participating associations: 3  | 3 | 2

Notes

1. ^

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.

2. ^

AFC Licensing (AFC): Association did not have a licensed club.[12]

3. ^

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.

4. ^

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.

## Teams[edit]

West Asia Zone
Group stage direct entrants  | Team  | Qualifying method  | App. (last)

|
|

Al-Wehdat | 2022 Jordan FA Cup winners
2022 Jordanian Pro League runners-up  | 12th (2019)
Al-Zawraa | 2022–23 Iraqi Premier League third place[Note IRQ] | 5th (2018)
Al-Kahrabaa | 2022–23 Iraqi Premier League fifth place[Note IRQ] | 1st
Al-Ahed | 2022–23 Lebanese Premier League champions  | 12th (2021)
Nejmeh | 2022–23 Lebanese Premier League runners-up  | 11th (2022)
Al-Kuwait | 2021–22 Kuwaiti Premier League champions and 2022–23 Kuwaiti Premier League champions  | 12th (2022)
Al-Arabi | 2022–23 Kuwaiti Premier League runners-up  | 3rd (2022)
Al-Riffa | 2021–22 Bahraini Premier League champions  | 7th (2022)
Al-Fotuwa | 2022–23 Syrian Premier League champions[Note SYR] | 1st
Jabal Al-Mukaber | 2022–23 West Bank Premier League champions  | 1st
Qualifying play-off participants  Team  | Qualifying method  | App. (last)

|
|

Al-Khaldiya | 2021–22 Bahraini King's Cup champions  | 1st
Al-Ittihad | 2021–22 Syrian Cup champions  | 5th (2019)
Shabab Al-Khalil | 2022–23 West Bank Premier League third place[Note PLE] | 3rd (2022)
Al-Nahda | 2022–23 Oman Professional League champions  | 4th (2015)
South Asia Zone
Group stage direct entrants  Team  | Qualifying method  | App. (last)

|
|

Odisha | Winners of additional playoff between 2021–22 I-League champions and 2023 Super Cup champions  | 1st
Bashundhara Kings | 2021–22 Bangladesh Premier League champions  | 4th (2022)
Maziya | 2022 Dhivehi Premier League champions
2022 Maldives FA Cup winners  | 9th (2022)
Qualifying play-off participants  Team  | Qualifying method  | App. (last)

|
|

Mohun Bagan SG | Winners of additional playoff between 2021–22 and 2022–23 Indian Super League playoffs winners (as ATK Mohun Bagan)  | 7th (2022 as ATK Mohun Bagan)
Dhaka Abahani | 2021–22 Bangladesh Premier League runners-up  | 6th (2022)
Club Eagles | 2022 Dhivehi Premier League runners-up  | 2nd (2021)
Machhindra | 2023 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League runners-up[Note NEP] | 2nd (2022)
Paro | 2022 Bhutan Premier League champions  | 3rd (2022)
Central Asia Zone
Group stage direct entrants  Team  | Qualifying method  | App. (last)

|
|

Ravshan Kulob | 2022 Tajikistan Higher League runners-up  | 4th (2021)
Altyn Asyr | 2022 Ýokary Liga runners-up  | 9th (2022)
Abdysh-Ata Kant | 2022 Kyrgyz Premier League champions and 2022 Kyrgyzstan Cup winners  | 1st
Qualifying play-off participants  Team  | Qualifying method  | App. (last)

|
|

Khujand | 2022 Tajikistan Higher League third place  | 7th (2022)
Merw Mary | 2022 Ýokary Liga third place  | 2nd (2006)
Alay Osh | 2022 Kyrgyz Premier League runners-up  | 7th (2021)
ASEAN Zone (including Australia)
Group stage direct entrants  | Team  | Qualifying method  | App. (last)

|
|

Haiphong | 2022 V.League 1 runners-up  | 1st
DH Cebu | 2022–23 Philippines Football League runners-up  | 1st
Stallion Laguna | 2022–23 Philippines Football League third place  | 1st
Terengganu | 2022 Malaysia Super League runners-up  | 3rd (2021)
Sabah | 2022 Malaysia Super League third place  | 1st
Macarthur FC | 2022 Australia Cup winners  | 1st
Central Coast Mariners | 2022–23 A-League Men runners-up  | 1st
Hougang United | 2022 Singapore Cup winners  | 3rd (2022)
Bali United | Winner of additional playoff between 2021–22 and 2022–23 Liga 1 champion  | 5th (2022)
Shan United | 2022 Myanmar National League champions  | 4th (2020)
Qualifying play-off participants  Team  | Qualifying method  | App. (last)

|
|

Tampines Rovers | 2022 Singapore Premier League third place  | 14th (2022)
PSM Makassar | Loser of additional playoff between 2021–22 and 2022–23 Liga 1 champion  | 4th (2022)
Yangon United | 2022 Myanmar National League runners-up[Note MYA] | 8th (2020)
Phnom Penh Crown | 2022 Cambodian Premier League champions  | 3rd (2022)
Young Elephants | 2022 Lao League 1 champions  | 2nd (2022)
DPMM | 2022 Brunei FA Cup winners  | 1st
East Asia Zone
Group stage direct entrants  Team  | Qualifying method  | App. (last)

|
|

Chao Pak Kei | 2022 Liga de Elite champions and 2022 Taça de Macau winners  | 2nd (2020)
Taiwan Steel | 2022 Taiwan Premier League champions  | 3rd (2022)
FC Ulaanbaatar | 2022–23 Mongolian National Premier League champions  | 1st
Qualifying play-off participants  Team  | Qualifying method  | App. (last)

|
|

Monte Carlo | 2022 Liga de Elite runners-up  | 1st
Taichung Futuro | 2022 Taiwan Premier League runners-up  | 1st

Notes

1. ^

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.[12] The only other licensed Iraqi clubs, Al-Zawraa and Al-Kahrabaa, will therefore participate in the AFC Cup.[13]

2. ^

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.[14]

3. ^

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.

4. ^

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.

5. ^

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.

## Schedule[edit]

The schedule of the competition is as follows.[15]

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

Notes

* A = ASEAN
* C = Central Asia
* E = East Asia
* S = South Asia
* W = West Asia

## Qualifying play-offs[edit]

Main article: 2023–24 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs

### Preliminary round 1[edit]

A total of two teams played in the preliminary round 1.

Team 1  |  Score | Team 2

|
|

South Asia Zone  Machhindra | 3–2 |  Paro

### Preliminary round 2[edit]

Team 1  |  Score | Team 2

|
|

South Asia Zone  Mohun Bagan SG | 3–1 |  Machhindra
Dhaka Abahani | 2–1 |  Club Eagles
Team 1  |  Score | Team 2

|
|

Central Asia Zone  Merw Mary | 1–0 |  Alay Osh
Team 1  |  Score | Team 2

|
|

ASEAN Zone  Phnom Penh Crown | 3–0 |  Young Elephants
Yangon United | 2–1 |  DPMM

### Play-off round[edit]

Team 1  |  Score | Team 2

|
|

West Asia Zone  Al-Khaldiya | 2–3 |  Al-Nahda
Al-Ittihad | 2–1 |  Shabab Al-Khalil
Team 1  |  Score | Team 2

|
|

South Asia Zone  Mohun Bagan SG | 3–1 |  Dhaka Abahani
Team 1  |  Score | Team 2

|
|

Central Asia Zone  Khujand | 1–2 |  Merw Mary
Team 1  |  Score | Team 2

|
|

ASEAN Zone  Tampines Rovers | 2–3 |  Phnom Penh Crown
PSM Makassar | 4–0 |  Yangon United
Team 1  |  Score | Team 2

|
|

East Asia Zone  Monte Carlo | 1–2 |  Taichung Futuro

## Group stage[edit]

Main article: 2023–24 AFC Cup group stage

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

Al-Fotuwa

Al-Ittihad

Jabal Al-Mukaber

Al-Nahda

Al-Wehdat

Kuwait City

Baghdad

Al-Riffa

Odisha

Mohun Bagan SG

Bashundhara Kings

Maziya

Ravshan Kulob

Merw

Altyn Asyr

Abdysh-Ata

Cebu

Stallion Laguna

Macarthur

Central Coast Mariners

Shan United

Phnom Penh Crown

Terengganu

Sabah

Bali United

PSM Makassar

Haiphong

Hougang United

Chao Pak Kei

Tainan City

Taichung Futuro

Ulaanbaatar

Beirut teams
Al Ahed
Nejmeh

Kuwait City teams
Kuwait SC
Al-Arabi

Baghdad teams
Al-Kahrabaa
Al-Zawraa

class=notpageimage|

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

### Group A[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification  |  |  ALN |  AHD |  FUT |  JAB

|
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1  |  Al-Nahda | 4  | 3  | 0  | 1  | 6  | 4  | +2  | 9  | Zonal semi-finals |  | -- | 2–1 | 2–1 | ~~4–0~~
2  |  Al Ahed | 4  | 2  | 0  | 2  | 5  | 5  | 0  | 6  |  | 2–1 | -- | 2–1 | ~~23 Oct~~
3  |  Al-Fotuwa | 4  | 1  | 0  | 3  | 3  | 5  | −2  | 3  |  |  | 0–1 | 1–0 | -- | ~~27 Nov~~
4  |  Jabal Al-Mukaber | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Withdrew[a] |  | ~~12 Dec~~ | ~~6 Nov~~ | ~~1–0~~ | --

Source: AFC
Notes:

1. ^ On 26 November 2023, Jabal Al-Mukaber announced their withdrawal from the competition due to the Israel war against Hamas.[16]

### Group B[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification  |  |  KAH |  WHD |  KSC |  ITT

|
|
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1  |  Al-Kahrabaa | 6  | 4  | 1  | 1  | 10  | 5  | +5  | 13  | Zonal semi-finals |  | -- | 3–1 | 0–0 | 3–1
2  |  Al-Wehdat | 6  | 3  | 1  | 2  | 10  | 7  | +3  | 10  |  |  | 3–1 | -- | 1–1 | 2–0
3  |  Al-Kuwait | 6  | 1  | 4  | 1  | 5  | 5  | 0  | 7  |  | 0–1 | 2–1 | -- | 1–1
4  |  Al-Ittihad | 6  | 0  | 2  | 4  | 3  | 11  | −8  | 2  |  | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | --

Source: AFC

### Group C[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification  |  |  RIF |  ZWR |  ARA |  NEJ

|
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1  |  Al-Riffa | 6  | 4  | 1  | 1  | 15  | 5  | +10  | 13  | Zonal semi-finals |  | -- | 1–1 | 2–1 | 6–1
2  |  Al-Zawraa | 6  | 3  | 2  | 1  | 11  | 7  | +4  | 11  |  |  | 2–1 | -- | 1–2 | 4–1
3  |  Al-Arabi | 6  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 6  | 8  | −2  | 8  |  | 0–3 | 1–1 | -- | 0–0
4  |  Nejmeh | 6  | 0  | 1  | 5  | 4  | 16  | −12  | 1  |  | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | --

Source: AFC

### Group D[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification  |  |  ODI |  BDK |  MBSG |  MAZ

|
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1  |  Odisha | 6  | 4  | 0  | 2  | 17  | 12  | +5  | 12  | Inter-zone play-off semi-finals |  | -- | 1–0 | 0–4 | 6–1
2  |  Bashundhara Kings | 6  | 3  | 1  | 2  | 10  | 10  | 0  | 10  |  |  | 3–2 | -- | 2–1 | 2–1
3  |  Mohun Bagan SG | 6  | 2  | 1  | 3  | 11  | 11  | 0  | 7  |  | 2–5 | 2–2 | -- | 2–1
4  |  Maziya | 6  | 2  | 0  | 4  | 9  | 14  | −5  | 6  |  | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–0 | --

Source: AFC

### Group E[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification  |  |  ABD |  ALT |  MRW |  RAV

|
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1  |  Abdysh-Ata Kant | 6  | 5  | 1  | 0  | 18  | 6  | +12  | 16  | Inter-zone play-off semi-finals |  | -- | 3–0 | 8–3 | 1–0
2  |  Altyn Asyr | 6  | 3  | 1  | 2  | 7  | 9  | −2  | 10  |  |  | 2–4 | -- | 1–0 | 1–1
3  |  Merw Mary | 6  | 0  | 3  | 3  | 6  | 13  | −7  | 3  |  | 1–1 | 1–2 | -- | 1–1
4  |  Ravshan Kulob | 6  | 0  | 3  | 3  | 2  | 5  | −3  | 3  |  | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | --

Source: AFC

### Group F[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification  |  |  MAC |  CRO |  DHC |  SHN

|
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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[a] |  |  | 0–3 | 0–3 | -- | 1–0
4  |  Shan United | 6  | 1  | 1  | 4  | 3  | 14  | −11  | 4[a] |  | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | --

Source: AFC
Notes:

1. ^ a b Ranked on head-to-head points: DH Cebu 4, Shan United 1.

### Group G[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification  |  |  CCM |  TFC |  BUF |  STA

|
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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[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification  |  |  SAB |  HFC |  PSM |  HOU

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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[a] |  |  | 3–2 | -- | 3–0 | 4–0
3  |  PSM Makassar | 6  | 3  | 1  | 2  | 10  | 12  | −2  | 10[a] |  | 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:

1. ^ a b Ranked on head-to-head points: Haiphong 4, PSM Makassar 1.

### Group I[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification  |  |  FUT |  ULA |  TAI |  CPK

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1  |  Taichung Futuro | 6  | 4  | 0  | 2  | 8  | 8  | 0  | 12[a] | Inter-zone play-off semi-finals |  | -- | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–0
2  |  Ulaanbaatar | 6  | 4  | 0  | 2  | 7  | 7  | 0  | 12[a] |  |  | 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:

1. ^ a b Ranked on head-to-head goal difference: Taichung Futuro +1, Ulaanbaatar –1

### Ranking of runner-up teams[edit]

#### West Asia Zone[edit]

Pos | Grp | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

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1  | A |  Al Ahed | 4  | 2  | 0  | 2  | 5  | 5  | 0  | 6  | Zonal semi-finals
2  | C |  Al-Zawraa | 4  | 1  | 2  | 1  | 5  | 5  | 0  | 5  |
3  | B |  Al-Wehdat | 4  | 1  | 1  | 2  | 6  | 7  | −1  | 4

Source: AFC

#### ASEAN Zone[edit]

Pos | Grp | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

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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

## Knockout stage[edit]

Main article: 2023–24 AFC Cup knockout stage

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[edit]

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 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| | |
| | | | | | |
| | | |  Abdysh-Ata Kant| | | | |
| | | |  Abdysh-Ata Kant| 5| 3| 8| | | |
| | | |
|  Taichung Futuro| 0| 1| 1| |
| | | |
| | |
| | | |
|  Al-Riffa| 1| 1| 2| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
|  Al-Nahda| 1| 3| 4| |
| | |  Al-Nahda| | | | |
| West Asia Zone| | | | | | | |
| | |  Al Ahed| | | | | | | | | | |
|  Al Ahed (p)| 0| 1| 1 (4)| | | | | | | |
| | | | |
|  Al-Kahrabaa| 1| 0| 1 (2)| |
| | | | | | | |

### Zonal semi-finals[edit]

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  | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2  | 1st leg  | 2nd leg

|
|
|
|

West Asia Zone  Al-Riffa | 2–4  |  Al-Nahda | 1–1 | 1–3 (a.e.t.)
Al Ahed | 1–1 (4–2 p)  |  Al-Kahrabaa | 0–1 | 1–0 (a.e.t.)
Team 1  |  Score | Team 2

|
|

ASEAN Zone  Macarthur FC | 3–0 |  Sabah
Central Coast Mariners | 4–0 |  Phnom Penh Crown

### Zonal finals[edit]

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  | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2  | 1st leg  | 2nd leg

|
|
|
|

West Asia Zone  Al Ahed |  |  Al-Nahda | 16 Apr | 23 Apr
Team 1  |  Score | Team 2

|
|

ASEAN Zone  Macarthur FC | 2–3 (a.e.t.)  |  Central Coast Mariners

### Inter-zone play-off semi-finals[edit]

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.Tooltip Aggregate score | 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[edit]

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.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2  | 1st leg  | 2nd leg

|
|
|
|

Abdysh-Ata Kant |  |  Central Coast Mariners | 17 Apr | 24 Apr

### Final[edit]

Main article: 2023–24 AFC Cup 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.

## Top scorers[edit]

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

|
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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
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  |  |  |

## See also[edit]

* 2023–24 AFC Champions League
* 2023 AFC Women's Club Championship
* 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite
* 2024–25 AFC Champions League 2
* 2024–25 AFC Challenge League
* 2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League

## References[edit]

1. ^ "History beckons for AFC Cup 2023/24 contenders as final edition of popular competition kicks off". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
2. ^ "AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women's Champions League". AFC. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
3. ^ "AFC Executive Committee unveils dynamic enhancements to the AFC Club Competitions". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 25 February 2022. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
4. ^ "More Member Associations to benefit from inclusive AFC Champions League". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 23 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
5. ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking Mechanics". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original on 2019-04-21. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
6. ^ "Entry Manual for AFC Club Competitions (2021 Edition)". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
7. ^ "2021-2022 йилги ОЧЛ ва ОФК кубоги мусобақалари учун йўлланмалар тақсимоти эълон қилинди". Uzbekistan Professional Football League. 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
8. ^ "ОФИЦИАЛЬНО: ЧЕМПИОН ТАДЖИКИСТАНА-2020 ВЫСТУПИТ В ГРУППОВОМ ЭТАПЕ ЛИГИ ЧЕМПИОНОВ АФК-2021!". Tajikistan Football Federation. 9 December 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
9. ^ "Slot allocation for AFC Champions League and AFC Cup 2023 confirmed". AFC. Archived from the original on 2021-12-30. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
10. ^ a b c d e f "AFC Club Competitions Ranking". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original on 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
11. ^ "AFC Country Ranking 2021". FootyRankings. 24 November 2021. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
12. ^ a b "List of Licensed Clubs for the 2023/24 AFC Cup" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
13. ^ أندية (الزوراء ، القوة الجوية ، الكهرباء) تحصل على الرخصة الآسيوية للموسم 2023/ 2024، تمهيداً للمشاركة في بطولات الاندية على مستوى القارة (in Arabic). Iraq Football Association. 16 May 2023.
14. ^ الفتوة يتأهل لكأس الاتحاد الآسيوي بالفوز على تشرين. Kooora (in Arabic). 25 June 2023.
15. ^ "Asian Football Calendar (Aug 2023 - Jul 2024)". The AFC. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
16. ^ "Palestinian Jabal Al Mukaber Withdraw from AFC Cup". Qatar News Agency. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023 - via Gulf Times.

## External links[edit]

* Official website

* v
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*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[Grp]: Group
*[Agg.]: Aggregate score