AFC Champions League 2023: Format, Fixtures, Telecast and more

The Islanders are placed in the same group with Neymar's Al Hilal

Mumbai City FC wrote its name in history books in the 2022-23 edition of the AFC Champions League. It became the first Indian club to record a win at the continental showpiece. The upcoming ACL campaign will be special due to the new roadmap by AFC which will prevent Indian clubs from participating in the top tier of Asian club football. 

Therefore, Mumbai City FC will be the last Indian club to play in the AFC Champions League until the country’s rank in Asia improves. While that is a different matter altogether, Des Buckingham’s side will be looking at the upcoming fixtures in the 2023-24 campaign with an aim to improve on last year’s performance. 

Mumbai City FC is in Group D in the 2023-24 AFC Champions League. Accompanying them will be last edition’s finalists Al Hilal, Nassaji Mazandaran, and Navbahor. Only the top-placed team in the group stages will advance into the knockout rounds.

Teams

Al-Hilal

Nassaji Mazandaran

Mumbai City FC

Navbahor

Format

Out of the four teams in the group, only the top-ranked team will advance into the knockout stages. Teams will play two rounds of matches against each other on home & away basis in the initial stages. The AFC Champions League adopts a round-robin format. Knockout stages will be one-legged fixtures.

Fixtures

18 September 2023 - Mumbai City FC vs Nassaji Mazandaran (7:30 PM)

3 October 2023 - Navbahor vs Mumbai City FC (7:30 PM)

23 October 2023 - Al-Hilal vs Mumbai City FC (11:30 PM)

6 November 2023 - Mumbai City FC vs Al-Hilal (7:30 PM)

28 November 2023 - Nassaji Mazandaran vs Mumbai City FC (9:30 PM)

4 December 2023 - Mumbai City FC vs Navbahor (9:30 PM)

Mumbai City FC’s squad:

Goalkeepers: Mohammad Nawaz, Phurba Lachenpa, Ahan Prakash, Bhaskar Roy

Defenders: Akash Mishra, Tiri, Sanjeev Stalin, Rahul Bheke, Mehtab Singh, Rostyn Griffiths, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Halen Nongtdu, Nathan Rodrigues

Midfielders: Alberto Noguera Ripoll, Franklin Nazareth, Jayesh Rane, Lalengmawia Ralte, Vinit Rai, Yoell Van Nieff

Forwards: Abdenasser El Khayati, Ayush Chhikara, Bipin Singh, Greg Stewart, Gurkirat Singh, Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Seilenthang Lotjem, Vikram Pratap Singh