East Bengal, fresh off their victory in the Kalinga Super Cup in January, have earned a spot in the AFC Champions League Two preliminary round. They are set to face Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr FC on August 14, 2024, at Kolkata’s iconic Salt Lake Stadium. The winner of this match will secure a place in the group stages of the AFC Champions League Two.
In addition to the clash between East Bengal and Altyn Asyr, two other teams will compete for a group-stage spot in the West Zone. Bahrain’s Al Ahli will face Kuwait SC in a parallel fixture, with the winners of these matches advancing to the group stage.
East Bengal’s return to continental stage
This marks a significant return to continental competition for East Bengal, who last participated in the 2014-15 season. Historically, East Bengal has been a prominent team in the AFC Cup, achieving their best result in 2013 by reaching the semi-finals, becoming only the second Indian side after Dempo SC to do so.
New AFC club competition structure
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) introduced a new club competition structure in 2023, comprising three tiers: AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, and AFC Challenge League. The AFC Champions League Two, where East Bengal will compete, will feature 32 clubs in its inaugural season, promising a memorable competition.
In this new structure, 27 teams from 21 member associations will directly placed in the group stages of the AFC Champions League Two. This includes 12 teams from the West Zone and 15 from the East Zone. Additionally, three teams eliminated from the AFC Champions League Elite’s preliminary stage will join these 27, bringing the total to 30.
