How East Bengal can qualify for AFC Champions League 2 group stage

The Red and Gold Brigade can play continental football in the upcoming season.

East Bengal FC have a crucial fixture in the forthcoming days that’ll decide if the Indian Super League (ISL) outfit will play against tough Asian clubs during the 2024-25 season. Thanks to winning the 2024 Super Cup triumph, the Kolkata-based club earned the chance to play in the AFC Champions League Two – a new competition introduced by the AFC in their attempt to restructure continental football.

Their upcoming AFC Champions League Two group stage qualification fixture will see East Bengal FC face Altyn Asyr of Turkmenistan in a single-legged tie at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Wednesday, 14 August 2024.

East Bengal’s path to qualification

The '𝗠' factor! 🎩🪄#JoyEastBengal #EmamiEastBengal pic.twitter.com/GdYoCyOakJ

— East Bengal FC (@eastbengal_fc) August 10, 2024

To play in the main stage of 2024-25 AFC Champions League Two – the second tier of Asian club football behind AFC Champions League Elite – East Bengal FC have to beat Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr. The winner of the playoff fixture will qualify for the main group stage of the competition. As for the losers of the qualifying playoffs, they would enter the 2024-25 AFC Challenge League, the third tier of continental club football in Asia.

Mohun Bagan are also in the AFC Champions League Two. The outfit earned direct entry into the group stage following their ISL League Winners’ Shield triumph during the 2023-24 season.

They will be in Pot 3 of the draw. East Bengal FC will be hoping to join their arch-rivals in the group stage draw by winning their qualifier against Altyn Asyr on 14 August 2024. The Red & Gold Brigade would earn entry into the Pot 4 of the draw if they win the qualifier.

In the other qualifier for the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Two, Al-Ahli of Bahrain will battle Al-Kuwait of Kuwait. The winner will join the victors from the East Bengal FC vs Altyn Asyr fixture in the draw for the ACL Two group stage.

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