2020 AFC Champions League

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2020 AFC Champions League
Tournament details
DatesQualifying:
14–28 January 2020
Competition proper:
10 February – TBD
TeamsCompetition proper: 32
Total: 52 (from 23 associations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played27
Goals scored69 (2.56 per match)
Attendance228,093 (8,448 per match)
Top scorer(s)France Bafétimbi Gomis
Japan Keijiro Ogawa
Qatar Hassan Al-Haydos
(3 goals each)
2019
2021
All statistics correct as of 4 March 2020.
(Note: All statistics do not include qualifying play-offs)

The 2020 AFC Champions League is the 39th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 18th under the current AFC Champions League title.[1]

The winners of the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2021 AFC Champions League, entering the qualifying play-offs if they have not qualified through their domestic performance, the first time since 2008 that an AFC Champions League holders are guaranteed automatic qualification.[2][3] and also earn the right to play in the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar. The runners-up will also qualify if the winners are from Qatar. Both finalists are guaranteed to qualify for the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup in China alongside the hosts' representative and the winning club from a playoff involving the losing semi-finalists.[4] The tournament is the last to involve 32 teams during the group stage, with an increase to 40 teams scheduled for the 2021 season.[5]

Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia are the defending champions.

The competition has been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic until at least the end of June 2020.[6]

Association team allocation

The 47 AFC member associations are ranked based on their national team's and clubs' performance over the last four years in AFC competitions, with the allocation of slots for the 2019 and 2020 editions of the AFC club competitions determined by the 2017 AFC rankings (Entry Manual Article 2.3):[7]

  • The associations are split into two regions:
  • In each region, there are four groups in the group stage, including a total of 12 direct slots, with the 4 remaining slots filled through play-offs.
  • The top 12 associations in each region as per the AFC rankings are eligible to enter the AFC Champions League, as long as they fulfill the AFC Champions League criteria.
  • The top six associations in each region get at least one direct slot in the group stage, while the remaining associations get only play-off slots (as well as AFC Cup group stage slots):
    • The associations ranked 1st and 2nd each get three direct slots and one play-off slot.
    • The associations ranked 3rd and 4th each get two direct slots and two play-off slots.
    • The associations ranked 5th each get one direct slot and two play-off slots.
    • The associations ranked 6th each get one direct slot and one play-off slot.
    • The associations ranked 7th to 12th each get one play-off slot.
  • The maximum number of slots for each association is one-third of the total number of eligible teams in the top division.
  • If any association gives up its direct slots, they are redistributed to the highest eligible association, with each association limited to a maximum of three direct slots.
  • If any association gives up its play-off slots, they are annulled and not redistributed to any other association.

Association ranking

For the 2020 AFC Champions League, the associations are allocated slots according to their association ranking which was published on 15 December 2017,[8] which takes into account their performance in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup, as well as their national team's FIFA World Rankings, during the period between 2014 and 2017.[7][9]

Participation for 2020 AFC Champions League
Participating
Not participating
Notes
  1. ^
    Australia (AUS): The top division run by the Football Federation Australia, the A-League, only have nine Australia-based teams in the 2018–19 season, so Australia can only get a maximum of three total slots (Entry Manual 5.4).[7]
  2. ^
    Syria (SYR): Syria does not have any teams which had an AFC Champions League license.[10]

Teams

The following 52 teams from 23 associations enter the competition.

In the following table, the number of appearances and last appearance count only those since the 2002–03 season (including qualifying rounds), when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League.

Notes
  1. ^
    Title holders (TH): Al-Hilal are the title holders.
  2. ^
    Singapore (SIN): DPMM, the 2019 Singapore Premier League champions, is a team from Brunei and thus ineligible to represent Singapore in AFC club competitions. As a result, Tampines Rovers, the league runners-up, enter the qualifying play-offs.
  3. ^
    Vietnam (VIE): Hà Nội, the 2019 V.League 1 champions, failed to obtain an AFC license as their U15 team did not participate in Vietnam National U-15 Youth League.[11] As a result, Hồ Chí Minh City, the league runners-up, enter the qualifying play-offs.
2020 AFC Champions League is located in Asian Football Confederation
DSA Metropolitan
DSA Metropolitan
Al-Ain (p)
Al-Ain (p)
Riyadh
Riyadh
Qatar
Qatar
Tehran
Tehran
Tashkent
Tashkent
Baghdad
Baghdad
Seoul Capital Area
Seoul Capital Area
Shanghai
Shanghai
West Kanto
West Kanto
Port (p)
Port (p)
Kedah (p)
Kedah (p)
Tai Po (p)
Tai Po (p)
Bali U (p)
Bali U (p)
Shan U (p)
Shan U (p)
Baghdad teams Al-Shorta Al-Zawraa (p)Tehran teams Persepolis Esteghlal (p)Qatar teams Al-Sadd Al-Duhail Al-Sailiya (p) Al-Rayyan (p)
Baghdad teams
Al-Shorta
Al-Zawraa (p)
Tehran teams
Persepolis
Esteghlal (p)
Qatar teams
Al-Sadd
Al-Duhail
Al-Sailiya (p)
Al-Rayyan (p)
Riyadh teams Al-Nassr Al-HilalDSA Metropolitan teams Sharjah Shabab Al-AhliTashkent teams Pakhtakor Tashkent Lokomotiv Tashkent (p) Bunyodkor (p)
Riyadh teams
Al-Nassr
Al-Hilal
DSA Metropolitan teams
Sharjah
Shabab Al-Ahli
Tashkent teams
Pakhtakor Tashkent
Lokomotiv Tashkent (p)
Bunyodkor (p)
Shanghai teams Shanghai Shenhua Shanghai SIPG (p)West Kanto teams Yokohama F. Marinos FC Tokyo (p)Seoul Capital Area teams Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC Seoul (p)
Shanghai teams
Shanghai Shenhua
Shanghai SIPG (p)
West Kanto teams
Yokohama F. Marinos
FC Tokyo (p)
Seoul Capital Area teams
Suwon Samsung Bluewings
FC Seoul (p)
Location of teams of the 2020 AFC Champions League.
West Region; East Region; (p) Qualifying play-off participants

Schedule

The schedule of the competition is as follows.[12]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the following changes to the schedule had been made:

  • AFC announced on 4 February 2020 that all matches involving Chinese teams on the first three matchdays (except for Chiangrai United versus Beijing FC) had been postponed to 28–29 April, 19–20 and 26–27 May.[13][14]
  • After a meeting with representatives of the member associations from the East Region held on 2 March 2020, it was agreed that:[15]
    • Group stage matches on matchdays 3–6 which could not be played would be moved to 19–20, 26–27 May, 16–17 and 23–24 June.
    • The round of 16 matches were moved from 16–17 and 23–24 June to 11–12 and 25–26 August.
    • The quarter-finals were moved from 25–26 August and 15–16 September to 15–16 and 29–30 September.
    • The semi-finals were moved from 30 September and 21 October to 21 and 28 October.
  • After meetings with representatives of the member associations from the West Region held on 7–8 March 2020, it was agreed that:[16]
    • Group stage matches on matchdays 3–6 which could not be played would be moved to new dates yet to be confirmed.
    • The round of 16 matches were moved from 18–19 and 25–26 May to 10–11 and 24–25 August.
    • The quarter-finals were moved from 24–25 August and 14–15 September to 14–15 and 28–29 September.
    • The semi-finals were moved from 29 September and 20 October to 20 and 27 October.
  • The AFC announced on 14 April 2020 that all matches scheduled for May and June would be postponed until further notice.[6]
Stage Round Draw date First leg Second leg
Preliminary stage Preliminary round 1 No draw 14 January 2020
Preliminary round 2 21 January 2020
Play-off stage Play-off round 28 January 2020
Group stage Matchday 1 10 December 2019[17] 10–12 February 2020, TBC
Matchday 2 17–19 February 2020, TBC
Matchday 3 2–4 March 2020, TBC
Matchday 4 TBC
Matchday 5 TBC
Matchday 6 TBC
Knockout stage Round of 16 TBD TBD
Quarter-finals TBA TBD TBD
Semi-finals TBD TBD
Final TBD TBD

Qualifying play-offs

In the qualifying play-offs, each tie was played as a single match. Extra time and a penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary (Regulations Article 9.2).[1] The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each region was determined based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match.[18] Teams from the same association could not be placed into the same tie. The eight winners of the play-off round (four each from both West Region and East Region) advanced to the group stage to join the 24 direct entrants. All losers in each round from associations with only play-off slots entered the AFC Cup group stage.

Preliminary round 1

Team 1  Score  Team 2
West Region
Chennai City India 0–1 Bahrain Al-Riffa
Al-Faisaly Jordan 1–2 (a.e.t.) Kuwait Al-Kuwait
Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Ceres–Negros Philippines 3–2 Myanmar Shan United
Tampines Rovers Singapore 3–5 (a.e.t.) Indonesia Bali United

Preliminary round 2

Team 1  Score  Team 2
West Region
Bunyodkor Uzbekistan 4–1 Iraq Al-Zawraa
Lokomotiv Tashkent Uzbekistan 0–1 Tajikistan Istiklol
Shahr Khodro Iran 2–1 Bahrain Al-Riffa
Esteghlal Iran 3–0 Kuwait Al-Kuwait
Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Kedah Malaysia 5–1 Hong Kong Tai Po
Buriram United Thailand 2–1 Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City
Port Thailand 0–1 Philippines Ceres–Negros
Melbourne Victory Australia 5–0 Indonesia Bali United

Play-off round

Team 1  Score  Team 2
West Region
Al-Ain United Arab Emirates 1–0 Uzbekistan Bunyodkor
Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia 1–0 Tajikistan Istiklol
Al-Sailiya Qatar 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p)
Iran Shahr Khodro
Al-Rayyan Qatar 0–5 Iran Esteghlal
Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
FC Seoul South Korea 4–1 Malaysia Kedah
Shanghai SIPG China 3–0 Thailand Buriram United
FC Tokyo Japan 2–0 Philippines Ceres–Negros
Kashima Antlers Japan 0–1 Australia Melbourne Victory

Group stage

The draw for the group stage was held on 10 December 2019, 16:30 MYT (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[19] The 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four: four groups each in the West Region (Groups A–D) and the East Region (Groups E–H). Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group.

In the group stage, each group was played on a double round-robin basis, with matches played home-and-away before the suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but moved to centralised venues after restart. The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the round of 16 of the knockout stage.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AHL EST SHO WAH
1 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 4 2 0 2 4 6 −2 6 Round of 16 2–1 1–0 20 Sep
2 Iran Esteghlal 4 1 2 1 6 4 +2 5 3–0 1–1 17 Sep
3 Iraq Al-Shorta 4 1 2 1 4 4 0 5 2–1 1–1 0–1
4 United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrew[a] 1–1 14 Sep 23 Sep
Source: AFC
Notes:
  1. ^ Al-Wahda were unable to travel to Qatar to play the final four matches of the group stage due to several team members testing positive for COVID-19.[20] They were considered to have withdrawn from the competition, and all previous matches played by them shall be considered "null and void" and would not be considered in determining the final group rankings.[21]

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification PAK SAH SHK HIL
1 Uzbekistan Pakhtakor 4 3 1 0 6 1 +5 10 Round of 16 2–1 3–0 0–0
2 United Arab Emirates Shabab Al-Ahli 4 2 1 1 3 2 +1 7 0–0 1–0 1–2
3 Iran Shahr Khodro 4 0 0 4 0 6 −6 0 0–1 0–1 0–0
4 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrew[a] 2–1 23 Sep 2–0
Source: AFC
Notes:
  1. ^ Al-Hilal failed to name the required 13 players and were unable to play their final match of the group stage against Shabab Al-Ahli due to them having only 11 players left with the remaining team members testing positive for COVID-19. They were considered to have withdrawn from the competition, and all previous matches played by them shall be considered "null and void" and would not be considered in determining the final group rankings.[22]

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification PRS TAW DUH SHJ
1 Iran Persepolis 6 3 1 2 8 5 +3 10 Round of 16 1–0 0–1 4–0
2 Saudi Arabia Al-Taawoun 6 3 0 3 4 8 −4 9[a] 0–1 2–0 0–6
3 Qatar Al-Duhail 6 3 0 3 7 8 −1 9[a] 2–0 0–1 2–1
4 United Arab Emirates Sharjah 6 2 1 3 13 11 +2 7 2–2 0–1 4–2
Source: AFC
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Al-Taawoun 6, Al-Duhail 0.

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification NAS SAD SEP AIN
1 Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr 6 3 2 1 9 5 +4 11 Round of 16 2–2 2–0 0–1
2 Qatar Al-Sadd 6 2 3 1 14 8 +6 9 1–1 3–0 4–0
3 Iran Sepahan 6 2 1 3 6 8 −2 7 0–2 2–1 0–0
4 United Arab Emirates Al-Ain 6 1 2 3 5 13 −8 5 1–2 3–3 0–4
Source: AFC

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BEI MVC SEO CHI
1 China Beijing Guoan 6 5 1 0 12 4 +8 16 Round of 16 3–1 3–1 1–1
2 Australia Melbourne Victory 6 2 1 3 6 9 −3 7 0–2 2–1 1–0
3 South Korea FC Seoul 6 2 0 4 10 9 +1 6 1–2 1–0 5–0
4 Thailand Chiangrai United 6 1 2 3 5 11 −6 5 0–1 2–2 2–1
Source: AFC

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ULS TOK SSH PRG
1 South Korea Ulsan Hyundai 6 5 1 0 14 5 +9 16 Round of 16 1–1 3–1 2–0
2 Japan FC Tokyo 6 3 1 2 6 5 +1 10 1–2 0–1 1–0
3 China Shanghai Shenhua 6 2 1 3 9 13 −4 7 1–4 1–2 3–3
4 Australia Perth Glory 6 0 1 5 5 11 −6 1 1–2 0–1 1–2
Source: AFC

Group G

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification VIS SUW GZE JDT
1 Japan Vissel Kobe 4 2 0 2 4 5 −1 6 Round of 16 0–2 0–2 5–1
2 South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 4 1 2 1 3 2 +1 5 0–1 0–0 25 Nov
3 China Guangzhou Evergrande 4 1 2 1 4 4 0 5 1–3 1–1 4 Dec
4 Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrew[a] 1 Dec 2–1 19 Nov
Source: AFC
Notes:
  1. ^ Johor Darul Ta'zim were unable to travel to Qatar to play the final four matches of the group stage due to the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions after they were denied permission to travel by the Malaysian government.[23] They were considered to have withdrawn from the competition, and all previous matches played by them shall be considered "null and void" and would not be considered in determining the final group rankings.[24]

Group H

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification YOK SSI JEO SYD
1 Japan Yokohama F. Marinos 6 4 1 1 13 5 +8 13 Round of 16 1–2 4–1 4–0
2 China Shanghai SIPG 6 3 0 3 6 10 −4 9 0–1 0–2 0–4
3 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 6 2 1 3 8 10 −2 7 1–2 1–2 1–0
4 Australia Sydney FC 6 1 2 3 8 10 −2 5 1–1 1–2 2–2
Source: AFC

Knockout stage

Round of 16

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
West Region
Group A runners-up R16 West 1 Group B winners 10 Aug 24 Aug
Group B runners-up R16 West 2 Group A winners 10 Aug 24 Aug
Group C runners-up R16 West 3 Group D winners 11 Aug 25 Aug
Group D runners-up R16 West 4 Group C winners 11 Aug 25 Aug
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
East Region
Group E runners-up R16 East 1 Group F winners 11 Aug 25 Aug
Group F runners-up R16 East 2 Group E winners 11 Aug 25 Aug
Group G runners-up R16 East 3 Group H winners 12 Aug 26 Aug
Group H runners-up R16 East 4 Group G winners 12 Aug 26 Aug

Quarter-finals

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
West Region
TBD QF1 TBD 14 Sep 28 Sep
TBD QF2 TBD 15 Sep 29 Sep
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
East Region
TBD QF3 TBD 15 Sep 29 Sep
TBD QF4 TBD 16 Sep 30 Sep

Semi-finals

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
West Region
Winners of QF1 SF1 Winners of QF2 20 Oct 27 Oct
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
East Region
Winners of QF3 SF2 Winners of QF4 21 Oct 28 Oct

Final

Winners of SF2 (East Region) v Winners of SF1 (West Region)
Winners of SF1 (West Region) v Winners of SF2 (East Region)

Top scorers

As of 4 March 2020
  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 2R1 2R2 QF1 QF2 SF1 SF2 F1 F2 Total
1 Qatar Hassan Al-Haydos Qatar Al-Sadd 1 2 3
France Bafétimbi Gomis Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 1 2
Japan Keijiro Ogawa Japan Vissel Kobe 3
4 Saudi Arabia Salman Al-Moasher Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 2 2
Iran Ali Alipour Iran Persepolis 2
Japan Kyogo Furuhashi Japan Vissel Kobe 1 1
Morocco Abderrazak Hamdallah Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr 1 1
Japan Teruhito Nakagawa Japan Yokohama F. Marinos 2
Japan Ado Onaiwu Japan Yokohama F. Marinos 2
Uzbekistan Igor Sergeev Uzbekistan Pakhtakor 2

Note: Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4).[1]

Toyota Player of the Week awards

Stage Matchday Player of the Week Team Ref.
Group stage Matchday 1 Japan Keijiro Ogawa Japan Vissel Kobe [25]
Matchday 2 Japan Teruhito Nakagawa Japan Yokohama F. Marinos [26]
Matchday 3 Australia Terry Antonis South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings [27]
Matchday 4
Matchday 5
Matchday 6

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "2020 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation.
  2. ^ "More Member Associations to benefit from inclusive AFC Champions League". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 23 November 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  3. ^ "ACL 2020 to kick-off in Singapore and Philippines". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  4. ^ "AFC Executive Committee enhances future AFC Asian Cups". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  5. ^ "AFC to invest in new era of national team and club competitions". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  6. ^ a b "AFC extends postponement of all matches and competitions". AFC. 14 April 2020.
  7. ^ a b c "Entry Manual: AFC Club Competitions 2017–2020" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
  8. ^ a b c "AFC Club Competitions Ranking (as of 15 December 2017)" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
  9. ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking Mechanics (2017 version)" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
  10. ^ "List of Licensed Clubs for AFC Champions League 2020" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation.
  11. ^ "SỐC: Hà Nội FC mất suất tham dự AFC Champions League 2020 và AFC Cup 2020" (in Vietnamese). Fox Sports Vietnam. 8 October 2019.
  12. ^ "AFC Competitions Calendar 2020". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 4 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Decisions of AFC Emergency Meeting in Kuala Lumpur". AFC. 4 February 2020.
  14. ^ "ACL 2020 Schedule Emergency Meeting Revised Match Dates". AFC. 4 February 2020.
  15. ^ "East Zone teams agree to new dates". AFC. 2 March 2020.
  16. ^ "AFC Emergency Meetings conclude in Doha and Dubai". AFC. 8 March 2020.
  17. ^ "Excitement builds ahead of star-studded #ACL2020 draw". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 9 December 2019.
  18. ^ "AFC Champions League 2020 At A Glance". AFC.
  19. ^ "ACL2020 draw sets stage for spectacular affair". Asian Football Confederation. 10 December 2019.
  20. ^ "Al Wahda unable to travel to AFC Champions League (West)". Asian Football Confederation. 10 September 2020.
  21. ^ "AFC COVID-19 Sub Committee's decision on Al Wahda". Asian Football Confederation. 14 September 2020.
  22. ^ "Al Hilal - Update on AFC Champions League". Asian Football Confederation. 23 September 2020.
  23. ^ "Johor Darul Ta'zim forced out of Asian Champions League after Malaysia refuses to lift travel restrictions". ESPN. 11 November 2020.
  24. ^ "Latest update on AFC Champions League 2020". Asian Football Confederation. 13 November 2020.
  25. ^ "ACL2020 MD1 Toyota Player of the Week: Keijiro Ogawa". Asian Football Confederation. 14 February 2020.
  26. ^ "ACL2020 MD2 Toyota Player of the Week: Teruhito Nakagawa". Asian Football Confederation. 21 February 2020.
  27. ^ "ACL2020 Toyota Player of the Week: Terry Antonis". Asian Football Confederation. 6 March 2020.

External links