2021 AFC Cup

The 2021 AFC Cup will be the 18th edition of the AFC Cup, Asia's secondary club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).[1]

2021 AFC Cup
Tournament details
DatesQualifying:
7 April – 19 May 2021
Competition proper:
14 May – 26 November 2021
TeamsCompetition proper: 39
Total: 49 (from 30 associations)

The winners of the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2022 AFC Champions League, entering the qualifying play-offs, if they have not qualified through their domestic performance.[2]

Al-Ahed, having won the title in 2019, are the title holders, since the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the title was not awarded.[3]

Association team allocation

The 46 AFC member associations (excluding the Northern Mariana Islands, which became a full member in December 2020 and are not eligible for this season) are ranked based on their clubs' performance over the last four years in AFC competitions (their national team's FIFA World Rankings no longer considered).[4] The slots are allocated by the following criteria according to the Entry Manual:[5]

  • The associations are split into five zones (Article 5.1):
  • 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).[6]
    • 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 get 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:[7]
    • 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 do not have enough teams which satisfy this 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

For the 2021 AFC Cup, the associations are allocated slots according to their association ranking which was published on 29 November 2019,[8][9] which takes into account their performance in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup during the period between 2016 and 2019.

Participation for 2021 AFC Cup[10][11]
Participating
Not participating
Notes
  1. ^
    Syria (SYR): No teams from Syria were initially granted an AFC Cup license,[11] but Tishreen and Al-Wahda were successful in their appeal.[12]
  2. ^
    Yemen (YEM): No teams from Yemen were granted an AFC Cup license.[11]
  3. ^
    Pakistan (PAK): No teams from Pakistan were granted an AFC Cup license.[11]
  4. ^
    Uzbekistan (UZB): Uzbekistan 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.
  5. ^
    Afghanistan (AFG): No teams from Afghanistan were granted an AFC Cup license.[11]
  6. ^
    Philippines (PHI): Philippines 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.
  7. ^
    North Korea (PRK): No teams from North Korea were granted an AFC Cup license.[11]
  8. ^
    Macau (MAC): The two teams from Macau granted an AFC Cup license, Benfica de Macau and Chao Pak Kei, withdrew from the competition before the draw.[11][13]
  9. ^
    Guam (GUM): No teams from Guam were granted an AFC Cup license.[11]

Teams

Teams in italics will play in the AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs, and will play in the AFC Cup group stage if they fail to advance to the AFC Champions League group stage. Should they advance to the AFC Champions League group stage, they will not play in the AFC Cup, and will be replaced by the standby team from their association if such team are available.

Notes
  1. ^
    Title holders (TH): Al-Ahed are the title holders.
  2. ^
    Bangladesh (BAN): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh, the 2019–20 Bangladesh Premier League was cancelled and declared null and void by the Bangladesh Football Federation.[14] The teams from Bangladesh playing in the 2021 AFC Cup are determined by the results of the previous domestic season (2018–19 Bangladesh Premier League).[15]
  3. ^
    Brunei (BRU): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brunei, the 2020 Brunei Super League was cancelled and declared null and void by the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam,[16] and the 2020 Brunei FA Cup was also cancelled and not organized.[17] The team from Brunei playing in the 2021 AFC Cup are determined by the results of the previous domestic season (2018–19 Brunei Super League). MS ABDB, the 2018–19 Brunei Super League champions, were not granted an AFC Cup license. As a result, Kasuka, the best team granted an AFC Cup license (2018–19 Brunei Super League runners-up), qualify for the 2021 AFC Cup.[11][18]
  4. ^
    Hong Kong (HKG): R&F, the 2019–20 Hong Kong Premier League third place, withdrew from the league after the season.[19] As a result, Lee Man, the 2019–20 Hong Kong Premier League fourth place, qualify for the 2021 AFC Cup.
  5. ^
    Indonesia (IDN): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, the 2020 Liga 1 and the 2020 Piala Indonesia were cancelled and declared null and void by the Football Association of Indonesia.[20] The teams from Indonesia playing in the 2021 AFC Cup are determined by the results of the previous domestic season (2019 Liga 1 and 2018–19 Piala Indonesia). PSM Makassar, the 2018–19 Piala Indonesia winners, were not granted an AFC Cup license. As a result, Persipura Jayapura, the second best team granted an AFC Cup license (2019 Liga 1 third place), qualify for the 2021 AFC Cup.[10][21]
  6. ^
    India (IND): Originally, Mohun Bagan, the 2019–20 I-League champions (they were already assured of the title before the league was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India), and ATK, the 2019–20 Indian Super League playoffs winners, would qualify for the 2021 AFC Cup.[22] However, the owners of ATK and Mohun Bagan merged to form ATK Mohun Bagan for the 2020–21 Indian Super League season. The All India Football Federation decided that ATK Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru, the 2019–20 Indian Super League regular season third place, would qualify for the 2021 AFC Cup .[23]
  7. ^
    Jordan (JOR): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan, the 2020 Jordan FA Cup was cancelled and not organized by the Jordan Football Association. The teams from Jordan playing in the 2021 AFC Cup are determined only by the results of the 2020 Jordanian Pro League. Al-Jazeera and Al-Ramtha, the 2020 Jordanian Pro League runners-up and third place, were not granted an AFC Cup license. As a result, Al-Salt and Al-Faisaly, the second and third best teams granted an AFC Cup license (2020 Jordanian Pro League fourth place and fifth place), qualify for the 2021 AFC Cup.[10][24]
  8. ^
    Lebanon (LBN): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon, the 2019–20 Lebanese Premier League and the 2019–20 Lebanese FA Cup were cancelled and declared null and void by the Lebanese Football Association (the competitions were previously suspended due to domestic issues including protests and financial problems).[25][26] The teams from Lebanon playing in the 2021 AFC Cup are determined by the results of the previous domestic season (2018–19 Lebanese Premier League and 2018–19 Lebanese FA Cup).[27]
  9. ^
    Malaysia (MAS): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, the 2020 Malaysia FA Cup was cancelled and declared null and void by the Football Association of Malaysia.[28] The 2020 Malaysia Cup winners would originally qualify for the 2021 AFC Cup,[29] but it was also cancelled and declared null and void. The teams from Malaysia playing in the 2021 AFC Cup are determined only by the results of the 2020 Malaysia Super League.[30]
  10. ^
    Maldives (MDV): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Maldives, the 2020 Maldives FA Cup was cancelled and declared null and void by the Football Association of Maldives.[31] The teams from the Maldives playing in the 2021 AFC Cup are determined only by the results of the 2019–20 Dhivehi Premier League.[32]
  11. ^
    Myanmar (MYA): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar, the 2020 General Aung San Shield was cancelled and declared null and void by the Myanmar Football Federation.[33] The teams from Myanmar playing in the 2021 AFC Cup are determined only by the results of the 2020 Myanmar National League.
  12. ^
    Nepal (NEP): Machhindra, the 2019–20 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League champions, were not granted an AFC Cup license. As a result, Nepal Army Club, the best team granted an AFC Cup license (2019–20 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League runners-up), qualify for the 2021 AFC Cup.[11][34]
  13. ^
    Oman (OMA): Dhofar, the 2019–20 Sultan Qaboos Cup winners, were not granted an AFC Cup license. As a result, Al-Nasr, the second best team granted an AFC Cup license (2019–20 Oman Professional League fifth place), qualify for the 2021 AFC Cup.[11][35]
  14. ^
    Philippines (PHI): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, the 2020 Copa Paulino Alcantara was cancelled and not organized by the Philippine Football Federation. The teams from the Philippines playing in the 2021 AFC Cup are determined only by the results of the 2020 Philippines Football League.[36] Azkals Development Team, the 2020 Philippines Football League third place, are a team under the control of the Philippine Football Federation and thus ineligible to represent the Philippines in AFC club competitions. Therefore, there is no standby team from the Philippines as there are only six teams in the league and only teams in the top half are eligible.
  15. ^
    Palestine (PLE): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Palestine, the 2019–20 Palestine Cup was cancelled and declared null and void by the Palestinian Football Association. The teams from Palestine playing in the 2021 AFC Cup are determined only by the results of the 2019–20 West Bank Premier League.[37]
  16. ^
    Singapore (SIN): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, the 2020 Singapore Cup was cancelled and not organized by the Football Association of Singapore. The teams from Singapore playing in the 2021 AFC Cup are determined only by the results of the 2020 Singapore Premier League.[38] Albirex Niigata (S), the 2020 Singapore Premier League champions, is a team from Japan and thus ineligible to represent Singapore in AFC club competitions. As a result, Geylang International, the 2020 Singapore Premier League fourth place, qualify for the 2021 AFC Cup.
  17. ^
    Sri Lanka (SRI): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka, the 2019–20 Sri Lanka Champions League was cancelled and not organized by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka. The 2019–20 Sri Lanka FA Cup winners qualify for the 2021 AFC Cup.
  18. ^
    Turkmenistan (TKM): Altyn Asyr, the 2020 Ýokary Liga champions and 2020 Turkmenistan Cup winners, and Ahal, the 2020 Ýokary Liga runners-up, were not granted an AFC Champions League license, but were granted an AFC Cup license. As a result, they qualify for the 2021 AFC Cup.[10][39]
  19. ^
    Timor-Leste (TLS): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in East Timor, the 2020 LFA Primeira was cancelled and not organized by the East Timor Football Federation.[40] The 2020 Copa FFTL winners qualify for the 2021 AFC Cup.[41]
  20. ^
    Uzbekistan (UZB): Nasaf, the 2020 Uzbekistan Super League runners-up, were not granted an AFC Champions League license, but were granted an AFC Cup license. As a result, AGMK, the second best team granted an AFC Champions League license (2020 Uzbekistan Super League third place), qualify for the 2021 AFC Champions League, and will play in the AFC Cup if they fail to advance to the AFC Champions League group stage.[10][42]
Location of teams of the 2021 AFC Cup.
Brown: Group A; Red: Group B; Orange: Group C; Yellow: Group D; Pink: Group E;
Green: Group F; Blue: Group G; Cyan: Group H; Turquoise: Group I; Purple: Group J;
Qualifying play-offs

Schedule

The schedule of the competition is as follows.[43]

On 11 November 2020, the AFC approved a new calendar for the competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, where the group stage is played as centralized single round-robin tournament, and the preliminary round, play-off round, and ASEAN Zone semi-finals and final are played as a single match.[44] On 25 January 2021, the AFC published the schedule of the competition.[45]

Notes:

  • W: West Asia Zone
  • S: South Asia Zone
  • C: Central Asia Zone
  • A: ASEAN Zone
  • E: East Asia Zone
Stage Round Draw date First leg Second leg
Preliminary stage Preliminary round 1 No draw 7 April 2021 (S)
Preliminary round 2 14 April 2021 (S)
28 April 2021 (A)
Play-off stage Play-off round 20 April 2021 (W)
21 April 2021 (S)
19 May 2021 (A)
Group stage Matchday 1 27 January 2021[46] 14–20 May 2021 (S, C, E)
23–29 May 2021 (W)
22–28 June 2021 (A)
Matchday 2
Matchday 3
Knockout stage Zonal semi-finals 10–11 August 2021 (A)
13–14 September 2021 (W) 27–28 September 2021 (W)
Zonal finals TBD 25 August 2021 (A)
11 August 2021 (C)
20 October 2021 (W)		 25 August 2021 (C)
3 November 2021 (W)
Inter-zone play-off semi-finals 14–15 September 2021 28–29 September 2021
Inter-zone play-off final 20 October 2021 3 November 2021
Final 26 November 2021

The original schedule of the competition, as planned before the pandemic, was as follows.

Original schedule for 2021 AFC Cup
Stage Round Draw date First leg Second leg
Preliminary stage Preliminary round No draw 5–6 January 2021 (W, A)
26–27 January 2021 (S, C, E)		 12–13 January 2021 (W, A)
2–3 February 2021 (S, C, E)
Play-off stage Play-off round 19–20 January 2021 (W, A)
9–10 February 2021 (S, C, E)		 26–27 January 2021 (W, A)
16–17 February 2021 (S, C, E)
Group stage Matchday 1 TBD 15–17 February 2021 (W, A); 2–3 March 2021 (S, C, E)
Matchday 2 1–3 March 2021 (W, A); 16–17 March 2021 (S, C, E)
Matchday 3 15–17 March 2021 (W, A); 6–7 April 2021 (S, C, E)
Matchday 4 5–7 April 2021 (W, A); 13–14 April 2021 (S, C, E)
Matchday 5 12–14 April 2021 (W, A); 18–19 May 2021 (S, C, E)
Matchday 6 26–28 April 2021 (W, A); 25–26 May 2021 (S, C, E)
Knockout stage Zonal semi-finals 17–19 May 2021 (W, A) 24–26 May 2021 (W, A)
Zonal finals TBD 3–4 August 2021 (C*, S*, E*, A)
28 September 2021 (W)		 10–11 August 2021 (C*, S*, E*, A)
19 October 2021 (W)
Inter-zone play-off semi-finals 24–25 August 2021 14–15 September 2021
Inter-zone play-off final 29 September 2021 20 October 2021
Final 6 November 2021

Qualifying play-offs
Main article: 2021 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs

In the qualifying play-offs, each tie will be played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out will be used to decide the winner if necessary.[1] The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each zone was determined based on each team's association ranking, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match. The four winners of the play-off round (one each from West Asia Zone and South Asia Zone, and two from ASEAN Zone) will advance to the group stage to join the 35 direct entrants.[47]

Preliminary round 1
Team 1  Score  Team 2
South Asia Zone
Nepal Army Club 7 Apr (South Asia 1.1) Sri Lanka Police
Eagles 7 Apr (South Asia 1.2) Thimphu City

Preliminary round 2
Team 1  Score  Team 2
South Asia Zone
Bengaluru 14 Apr (South Asia 2.1) Winners of South Asia 1.1
Abahani Limited Dhaka 14 Apr (South Asia 2.2) Winners of South Asia 1.2
Team 1  Score  Team 2
ASEAN Zone
Lao Toyota 28 Apr (ASEAN 2.1) Kasuka
Visakha 28 Apr (ASEAN 2.2) Lalenok United

Play-off round
Team 1  Score  Team 2
West Asia Zone
Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari 20 Apr (West Asia 3.1) Al-Kuwait
Team 1  Score  Team 2
South Asia Zone
Winners of South Asia 2.1 21 Apr (South Asia 3.1)[†] Winners of South Asia 2.2
Team 1  Score  Team 2
ASEAN Zone
Hanthawady United 19 May (ASEAN 3.1) Winners of ASEAN 2.1
Persipura Jayapura 19 May (ASEAN 3.2) Winners of ASEAN 2.2
  1. † Home team to be decided, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match.

Group stage
Main article: 2021 AFC Cup group stage

The draw for the group stage was held on 27 January 2021, 14:30 MYT (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[48] The 39 teams were drawn into nine groups of four and one group of three (in the Central Asia Zone): three groups each in the West Asia Zone (Groups A–C) and the ASEAN Zone (Groups G–I), two groups in the Central Asia Zone (Groups E–F), and one group each in the South Asia Zone (Group D) and the East Asia Zone (Group J). 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, Central Asia Zone, and ASEAN Zone) could not be drawn into the same group.[47] In the group stage, each group will be played on a single round-robin basis in centralised venues. The following teams will advance to the knockout stage:

  • The winners of each group and the best runners-up in the West Asia Zone and the ASEAN Zone will advance to the Zonal semi-finals.
  • The winners of each group in the Central Asia Zone will advance to the Zonal finals.
  • The winners of each group in the South Asia Zone and the East Asia Zone will advance to the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals.

Group A
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AHE HID WAH NAS
1 Al-Ahed 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal semi-finals —
2 Al-Hidd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal semi-finals if best runner-up —
3 Al-Wahda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
4 Al-Nasr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: AFC

Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SAL MBA ANS MUH
1 Al-Salt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal semi-finals —
2 Markaz Balata 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal semi-finals if best runner-up —
3 Al-Ansar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
4 Al-Muharraq 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: AFC

Group C
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification TIS SEE FAI C4
1 Tishreen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal semi-finals —
2 Al-Seeb 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal semi-finals if best runner-up —
3 Al-Faisaly 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
4 Winners of Play-off West Asia 3.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: AFC

Group D
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification MOH BAS MAZ D4
1 ATK Mohun Bagan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Inter-zone play-off semi-finals —
2 Bashundhara Kings 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
3 Maziya 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
4 Winner of Play-off South Asia 3.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: AFC

Group E
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification RAV DOR AHA
1 Ravshan Kulob 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal finals —
2 Dordoi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
3 Ahal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: AFC

Group F
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AGM ALT KHU ALA
1 AGMK[lower-alpha 1] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal finals —
2 Altyn Asyr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
3 Khujand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
4 Alay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: AFC
Notes:
  1. If AGMK reach the 2021 AFC Champions League group stage, they will be replaced in the 2021 AFC Cup group stage by Nasaf.

Group G
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HAN BAL BOE G4
1 Hanoi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal semi-finals —
2 Bali United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal semi-finals if best runner-up —
3 Boeung Ket 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
4 Winners of ASEAN 3.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: AFC

Group H
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification KED LIO SGN H4
1 Kedah Darul Aman 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal semi-finals —
2 Lion City Sailors 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal semi-finals if best runner-up —
3 Saigon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
4 Winners of ASEAN 3.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: AFC

Group I
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification KAY SHA TER GEY
1 Kaya–Iloilo[lower-alpha 1] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal semi-finals —
2 Shan United[lower-alpha 2] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal semi-finals if best runner-up —
3 Terengganu 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
4 Geylang International 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: AFC
Notes:
  1. If Kaya–Iloilo reach the 2021 AFC Champions League group stage, they will not play in the 2021 AFC Cup group stage.
  2. If Shan United reach the 2021 AFC Champions League group stage, they will be replaced in the 2021 AFC Cup group stage by Ayeyawady United.

Group J
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification EAS TNC ATH LEE
1 Eastern 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Inter-zone play-off semi-finals —
2 Tainan City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
3 Athletic 220 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
4 Lee Man 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: AFC

West Asia Zone
Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A A2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal semi-finals
2 B B2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 C C2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Disciplinary points; 5) Drawing of lots.

ASEAN Zone
Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 G G2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zonal semi-finals
2 H H2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 I I2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Disciplinary points; 5) Drawing of lots.

Knockout stage

Zonal semi-finals

The West Asia Zonal semi-finals will be played over two legs, while the ASEAN Zonal semi-finals will be played over one leg, with the order of legs (West Asia Zone) or home team (ASEAN Zone) determined by the following tables based on which group runners-up qualify. If a group winner plays a group runner-up, the group winner hosts the second leg (West Asia Zone) or the match (ASEAN Zone). If two group winners play each other, the group winner marked with * (whose group runner-up qualify) hosts the second leg (West Asia Zone) or the match (ASEAN Zone).[47]

Zonal finals

The West Asia and Central Asia Zonal finals will be played over two legs, while the ASEAN Zonal final will be played over one leg, with the order of legs (West Asia Zone and Central Asia Zone) or home team (ASEAN Zone) decided by draw.

Inter-zone play-off semi-finals

The Inter-zone play-off semi-finals will be played over two legs, with the matchups and order of legs decided by draw.

Teams to be drawn
  • Winners of South Asia Zone (Group D)
  • Winners of Central Asia Zonal final
  • Winners of ASEAN Zonal final
  • Winners of East Asia Zone (Group J)

Inter-zone play-off final

The Inter-zone play-off final will be played over two legs, with the order of legs determined by the Inter-zone play-off semi-final draw.

  • Winners of Inter-zone play-off semi-final 1 (first leg home team) vs Winners of Inter-zone play-off semi-final 2 (second leg home team)

Final

The final will be played over one leg, between the winners of the West Asia Zonal final and the winners of the Inter-zone play-off final. The home team is determined on a rotation basis, with the match hosted by the winners of the Inter-zone play-off final, as in the case of odd-numbered years (Regulations 9.1.2).[1]

  • Winners of Inter-zone play-off final (home team) vs Winners of West Asia Zonal final

See also

References
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  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. "AFC Executive Committee announces updates to 2020 competitions calendar". AFC. 10 September 2020.
  4. "AFC Club Competitions Ranking Mechanics". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
  5. "Entry Manual for AFC Club Competitions (2021 Edition)". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
  6. "2021-2022 йилги ОЧЛ ва ОФК кубоги мусобақалари учун йўлланмалар тақсимоти эълон қилинди". Uzbekistan Professional Football League. 29 July 2020.
  7. "ОФИЦИАЛЬНО: ЧЕМПИОН ТАДЖИКИСТАНА-2020 ВЫСТУПИТ В ГРУППОВОМ ЭТАПЕ ЛИГИ ЧЕМПИОНОВ АФК-2021!". Tajikistan Football Federation. 9 December 2019.
  8. "AFC Club Competitions Ranking". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
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