On Thursday, the AFC Cup 2023-24 Group Stage draw was completed. Kuwait SC, the joint-record three-time champions, lead a cast of 36 clubs drawn into nine groups throughout the five AFC zones. The West Zone teams will compete in Groups A, B, and C. The three group winners and best runners-up qualify to the Zonal semi-finals. Odisha FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giants of India have already been assigned to group D for the AFC Cup 2023-24.
AFC Cup 2023-24 Draw Groups:
West
- Group A: Al Ahed FC (LBN), Al Futuwa (SYR), Jabal Al Mukaber Club (PLE), Al Nahda (OMA)
- Group B: Al Wehdat (JOR), Kuwait SC (KUW), Al Kahrbaa SC (IRQ), Al Ittihad Al-Ahli of Aleppo (SYR)
- Group C: Al Zawraa (IRQ), Al Riffa (BHR), Nejmeh SC (LBN), Al Arabi (KUW)
South
- Group D: Odisha FC (IND), Bashundhara Kings (BAN), Maziya Sports & Recreation Club (MDV), Mohun Bagan Super Giant (IND)
Central
- Group E: FC Ravshan (TJK), Altyn Asyr FC (TKM), FC Abdysh-Ata (KGZ), FC Merw (TKM)
ASEAN
- Group F: Dynamic Herb Cebu FC (PHI), Macarthur FC (AUS), Shan United (MYA), Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM)
- Group G: Terengganu FC (MAS), Bali United (IDN), Stallion Laguna FC (PHI), Central Coast Mariners (AUS)
- Group H: Haiphong FC (VIE), Hougang United (SGP), Sabah FC (MAS), PSM Makassar (IDN)
East
- Group I: CPK (MAC), Tainan City FC (TPE), FC Ulaanbaatar (MNG), Taichung Futuro FC (TPE)
Al Ahed FC of Lebanon, Syria’s Al Futuwa, Palestine’s Jabal Al Mukaber Club, and Oman’s Al Nahda will compete in Group A. Jordan’s Al Wehdat, Kuwait SC, Iraq’s Al Kahrbaa SC, and Syria’s Al Ittihad Al-Ahli of Aleppo will compete in Group B. Group C included Iraq’s Al Zawraa, Bahrain’s Al Riffa, Lebanon’s Nejmeh SC, and Kuwait’s Al Arabi.
The ASEAN Zone will likewise be divided into three groups: F, G, and H. The group winners and best runners-up advance to the Zonal semi-finals.
Dynamic Herb Cebu FC of the Philippines, Macarthur FC of Australia, Myanmar’s Shan United FC, and Phnom Penh Crown FC of Cambodia will compete to move from Group F. Terengganu FC of Malaysia, Bali United of Indonesia, Stallion Laguna FC of the Philippines, and Central Coast Mariners of Australia make up Group G. In Group H, Vietnam’s Haiphong FC, Singapore’s Hougang United, Malaysia’s Sabah FC, and Indonesia’s PSM Makassar will compete for the automatic ASEAN Zonal semi-final position.
Group D will involve India’s Odisha FC, Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh, Maldives’ Maziya Sports & Recreation Club and second Indian side Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
The Central Zone’s Group E will see FC Ravshan of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr FC, FC Abdysh-Ata of Kyrgyz Republic. Second Turkmenistan side FC Merw vying for the sole spot available in the Inter-Zone semi-finals.
Group I will be featuring clubs from the East Zone. Macau’s CPK, Tainan City FC of Chinese Taipei, Mongolia’s FC Ulaanbaatar and Taichung Futuro FC, also from Chinese Taipei.
