AFC Champions League 2023-24 Group Stage Draw: Live Updates

01:30 PM: Hello everyone and welcome to Khel Now’s LIVE COVERAGE of AFC Champions League 2023-24 Draw. The event is just moments away! I am your host Aishwarya Chakraborty and will keep you company through what promises a fascinating afternoon of footballing drama. Please wait for 30 Seconds for the Live blog to load.

AFC Champions League 2023-24 Draw: Build-up

The battle lines for the best clubs in Asia will be determined when the AFC Champions League 2023/24 Group Stage draw takes place at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on August 24, 2023 at 4pm.

Marking the first instance of the AFC Club Competitions calendar shifting from its current Spring-Autumn season to an Autumn-Spring calendar, the 21st edition of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s flagship club competition will take place from September 2023 to May 2024.

Divided into 10 groups of four, the draw will witness teams from the West Zone drawn into Groups A to E while the contestants in the East Zone will find their places in Groups F to J. Of the 40 participating teams, the berths of 32 contenders have been confirmed while the remaining eight slots will be occupied by the winners from the Playoff Stage.

Owing to the principle of country protection, clubs from the same Member Association (MA) will not be drawn into the same group. In the East Zone, to join the ranks of former champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC, Ulsan Hyundai FC, and Pohang Steelers in the Group Stage, defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan, will have to first navigate past Hong Kong, China’s Lee Man in the Playoff Stage on August 22 before they can embark on their journey to clinch Asia’s ultimate club prize for a fourth time.

Meanwhile, the West Zone will see four former champions, namely Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC and Al Ittihad, Al Ain FC from the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar’s Al Sadd SC attempt to reclaim the Continental throne. 

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