# 2021 AFC Champions League

The 2021 AFC Champions League was the 40th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 19th under the current AFC Champions League title.
Al-Hilal won their fourth title by defeating Pohang Steelers 2–0 in the final, becoming the most successful team in the history of the competition. As winners, they automatically qualified for the 2022 AFC Champions League (although they had already qualified through their domestic performance). They also earned the right to play in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
The tournament was the first to involve 40 teams during the group stage, with an increase from the previous 32 teams.
Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the semi-finals by fellow South Korean club Pohang Steelers.

## 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). The slots are allocated by the following criteria according to the Entry Manual:
* The associations are split into two regions (Article 3.1):
** West Region consists of the 25 associations from the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), and the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA).
** East Region consists of the 21 associations from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) and the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF).
** The AFC may reallocate one or more associations to another region if necessary for sporting reasons.
* The top 12 associations in each region are eligible to enter the AFC Champions League.
* In each region, there are five groups in the group stage, including 16 direct slots, with the 4 remaining slots filled through qualifying play-offs (Article 3.2). The slots in each region are distributed as follows:
** The associations ranked 1st and 2nd are each allocated three direct slots and one play-off slot.
** The associations ranked 3rd and 4th are each allocated two direct slots and two play-off slots.
** The associations ranked 5th are each allocated one direct slot and two play-off slots.
** The associations ranked 6th are each allocated one direct slot and one play-off slot.
** The associations ranked 7th to 10th are each allocated one direct slot.
** The associations ranked 11th to 12th are each allocated one play-off slot.
* The AFC Champions League title holders and AFC Cup title holders are each allocated one play-off slot should they not qualify for the tournament through domestic performance (Article 3.6). However, there are no AFC Cup title holders for this season as the 2020 AFC Cup was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following rules are applied:
** If the AFC Champions League title holders or AFC Cup title holders are from associations ranked 1st to 6th, their association is allocated the same number of play-off slots, and they replace the lowest-seeded team from their association. Otherwise, their association is allocated one additional play-off slot, and they do not replace any team from their association (Articles 3.8, 3.9 and 3.10).
** If both the AFC Champions League title holders and AFC Cup title holders are from the same association which is allocated only one play-off slot, their association is allocated one additional play-off slot, and only the lowest-seeded team from their association is replaced as a result (Article 3.11).
** The AFC Champions League title holders and AFC Cup title holders are the lowest-seeded teams in the qualifying play-offs if they do not replace any team from their association (Article 3.12).
* If any association ranked 1st to 6th do not fulfill any one of the AFC Champions League 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 3.13 and 3.14):
** For each association, the maximum number of total slots is four and the maximum number of direct slots is three (Articles 3.4 and 3.5).
** If any association ranked 3rd to 6th is allocated one additional direct slot, one play-off slot is annulled and not redistributed.
** If any association ranked 5th to 6th is allocated two additional direct slots, one play-off slot is annulled and not redistributed.
* If any association ranked 7th to 10th do not fulfill any one of the AFC Champions League criteria, they have their direct slot converted into play-off slot. The direct slot given up is redistributed to the next association ranked 11th or 12th, whose play-off slot is annulled and not redistributed, or if neither are eligible, the highest eligible association by the same criteria as mentioned above (Articles 3.16 and 3.17).
* If any association with only play-off slot(s), including any association ranked 11th to 12th or those mentioned above, do not fulfill the minimum AFC Champions League criteria, the play-off slot(s) are annulled and not redistributed (Articles 3.19 and 3.20).
* 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 3.4). 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 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 these 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 Champions League, the associations are allocated slots according to their association ranking which was published on 29 November 2019, 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 Champions League :
* Participating
* Not participating

#### Notes

* ^ Turkmenistan (TKM): The team from Turkmenistan granted an AFC Champions League license, Köpetdag, withdrew from the competition before the draw.
* ^ Lebanon (LBN): No teams from Lebanon were granted an AFC Champions League license.
* ^ Syria (SYR): No teams from Syria were granted an AFC Champions League license.
* ^ China (CHN): One of the four teams from China which originally entered the AFC Champions League, Jiangsu, withdrew from the competition after the draw.
* ^ Australia (AUS): The three teams from Australia which originally entered the AFC Champions League, Sydney FC, Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar, withdrew from the competition after the draw.
* ^ North Korea (PRK): No teams from North Korea were granted an AFC Champions League license.
* ^ Myanmar (MYA): The team from Myanmar which originally entered the AFC Champions League, Shan United, withdrew from the competition after the draw.

## Teams

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.
West Region :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Al-Duhail | 2019–20 Qatar Stars League champions | 10th (2020) |
| Al-Sadd | 2020 Emir of Qatar Cup winners 2019–20 Qatar Stars League third place | 16th (2020) |
| Al-Rayyan | 2019–20 Qatar Stars League runners-up | 11th (2020) |
| Al-Hilal | 2019–20 Saudi Professional League champions and 2019–20 King Cup winners | 17th (2020) |
| Al-Nassr | 2019–20 Saudi Professional League runners-up | 6th (2020) |
| Al-Ahli | 2019–20 Saudi Professional League third place | 13th (2020) |
| Persepolis | 2019–20 Persian Gulf Pro League champions and 2020 Iranian Super Cup winners | 10th (2020) |
| Tractor | 2019–20 Hazfi Cup winners | 6th (2018) |
| Esteghlal | 2019–20 Persian Gulf Pro League runners-up | 11th (2020) |
| Sharjah | 2018–19 UAE Pro League champions | 4th (2020) |
| Shabab Al-Ahli | 2018–19 UAE President's Cup winners 2018–19 UAE Pro League runners-up | 9th (2020) |
| Al-Shorta | 2018–19 Iraqi Premier League champions | 5th (2020) |
| Pakhtakor | 2020 Uzbekistan Super League champions and 2020 Uzbekistan Cup winners | 17th (2020) |
| Al-Wehdat | 2020 Jordanian Pro League champions | 6th (2019) |
| Goa | 2019–20 Indian Super League regular season premiers | 1st |
| Istiklol | 2020 Tajikistan Higher League champions | 3rd (2020) |
Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in play-off round :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Al-Gharafa | 2019–20 Qatar Stars League fourth place | 11th (2019) |
| Al-Wehda | 2019–20 Saudi Professional League fourth place | 1st |
| Foolad | 2019–20 Persian Gulf Pro League third place | 4th (2015) |
| Al-Wahda | 2018–19 UAE Pro League third place | 12th (2020) |
| Al-Ain | 2018–19 UAE Pro League fourth place | 16th (2020) |
| Al-Zawraa | 2018–19 Iraq FA Cup winners | 6th (2020) |
| Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | 2018–19 Iraqi Premier League runners-up | 5th (2019) |
| AGMK | 2020 Uzbekistan Super League third place | 2nd (2019) |
Withdrawn teams :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Köpetdag | 2020 Ýokary Liga fourth place | 1st |
East Region :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Guangzhou | 2020 Chinese Super League runners-up | 10th (2020) |
| Beijing Guoan | 2020 Chinese Super League third place | 10th (2020) |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 2020 J1 League champions and 2020 Emperor's Cup winners | 8th (2019) |
| Gamba Osaka | 2020 J1 League runners-up | 10th (2017) |
| Nagoya Grampus | 2020 J1 League third place | 4th (2012) |
| Cerezo Osaka | 2020 J1 League fourth place | 4th (2018) |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2020 K League 1 champions and 2020 Korean FA Cup winners | 14th (2020) |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 2020 K League 1 runners-up | 9th (2020) |
| Pohang Steelers | 2020 K League 1 third place | 8th (2016) |
| Daegu FC | 2020 K League 1 fifth place | 2nd (2019) |
| BG Pathum United | 2020–21 Thai League 1 first place after first half of season | 2nd (2015) |
| Port | 2020–21 Thai League 1 second place after first half of season | 2nd (2020) |
| Chiangrai United | 2020–21 Thai League 1 third place after first half of season | 4th (2020) |
| Ratchaburi Mitr Phol | 2020–21 Thai League 1 fourth place after first half of season | 1st |
| United City | 2020 Philippines Football League champions | 4th (2020) |
| Viettel | 2020 V.League 1 champions | 1st |
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | 2020 Malaysia Super League champions | 7th (2020) |
| Tampines Rovers | 2020 Singapore Premier League runners-up | 6th (2020) |
| Kitchee | 2019–20 Hong Kong Premier League champions | 6th (2019) |
Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in play-off round :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Shanghai Port | 2020 Chinese Super League fourth place | 6th (2020) |
| Kaya–Iloilo | 2020 Philippines Football League runners-up | 1st |
Withdrawn teams :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Jiangsu | 2020 Chinese Super League champions | 4th (2017) |
| Sydney FC | 2019–20 A-League regular season premiers and 2020 A-League Grand Final winners | 7th (2020) |
| Melbourne City | 2019–20 A-League regular season runners-up | 1st |
| Brisbane Roar | 2019–20 A-League regular season fourth place | 6th (2018) |
| Shan United | 2020 Myanmar National League champions | 3rd (2020) |

### Notes

* ^ Title holders (TH): Ulsan Hyundai were the title holders.
* ^ Australia (AUS): Wellington Phoenix, the 2019–20 A-League regular season third place, were a team from New Zealand and thus ineligible to represent Australia in AFC club competitions. As a result, Brisbane Roar, the regular season fourth place, qualify for the 2021 AFC Champions League as Australia 3.
* ^ China (CHN): On 8 February 2021, the AFC announced that Shandong Taishan, the 2020 Chinese FA Cup winners, had not satisfied the mandatory Criterion F.04 of the AFC Club Licensing Regulations (Edition 2016) concerning overdue payables, and their licence was withdrawn by the AFC's independent Entry Control Body, and thus were declared ineligible to participate in the 2021 AFC Champions League. As a result, Shanghai Port qualified for the 2021 AFC Champions League, and Beijing Guoan entered the group stage instead of the qualifying play-offs. On 28 February 2021, league champions Jiangsu announced its dissolution.
* ^ Iraq (IRQ): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq, the 2019–20 Iraqi Premier League and the 2019–20 Iraq FA Cup were cancelled and declared null and void by the Iraq Football Association. Originally a play-off was to be held to determine the teams from Iraq playing in the 2021 AFC Champions League. However, it was later decided that the results of the previous domestic season (2018–19 Iraqi Premier League and 2018–19 Iraq FA Cup) would be used.
* ^ South Korea (KOR): Sangju Sangmu, the 2020 K League 1 fourth place, are a military team and have confirmed that the team would move its franchise city in the 2021 season and would be relegated to K League 2 regardless of their final position in the 2020 season. As a result, Daegu FC, the 2020 K League 1 fifth place, qualified for the 2021 AFC Champions League.
* ^ 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 Champions League were determined only by the results of the 2020 Philippines Football League.
* ^ Replacement 1 (RE1): Pohang Steelers and Ratchaburi Mitr Phol entered the group stage instead of the qualifying play-offs after Jiangsu ceased operation.
* ^ Replacement 2 (RE2): Australian teams Sydney FC, Melbourne City, and Brisbane Roar withdrew from the competition after the draw. Chiangrai United, Daegu FC, and Cerezo Osaka entered the group stage instead of the qualifying play-offs and Kaya–Iloilo entered the qualifying play-offs instead of the preliminary round.
* ^ Singapore (SGP): Albirex Niigata (S), the 2020 Singapore Premier League champions, are a team from Japan and thus ineligible to represent Singapore in AFC club competitions. As a result, Tampines Rovers, the 2020 Singapore Premier League runners-up, qualified for the 2021 AFC Champions League.
* ^ Thailand (THA): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, the Football Association of Thailand extended both the 2020 Thai League 1 and 2020 Thai FA Cup to be completed in 2021. The teams from Thailand playing in the 2021 AFC Champions League were determined by the results of the 2020–21 Thai League 1 after the first half of the season (Round 15).
* ^ Turkmenistan (TKM): Altyn Asyr, the 2020 Ýokary Liga champions, were not granted an AFC Champions League license. As a result, Köpetdag, the league fourth place and the best team granted an AFC Champions League license, qualify for the 2021 AFC Champions League as Turkmenistan 1.
* ^ United Arab Emirates (UAE): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, the 2019–20 UAE Pro League and the 2019–20 UAE President's Cup were cancelled and declared null and void by the United Arab Emirates Football Association. The teams from the United Arab Emirates playing in the 2021 AFC Champions League were determined by the results of the previous domestic season (2018–19 UAE Pro League and 2018–19 UAE President's Cup).
* ^ Uzbekistan (UZB): Nasaf, the 2020 Uzbekistan Super League runners-up, were not granted an AFC Champions League license. As a result, AGMK, the second best team granted an AFC Champions League license (2020 Uzbekistan Super League third place), qualified for the 2021 AFC Champions League.

## Schedule

The schedule of the competition is as follows.
On 25 January 2021, the AFC published the schedule of the competition. The group stage is played as centralized double round-robin tournament, and the round of 16 and quarter-finals are played as a single match.
Notes:
* W: West Region
* E: East Region
| Stage | Round | Draw date | Match date |
| Preliminary stage | Preliminary round | No draw | 20 June 2021 (E) |
| Play-off stage | Play-off round | No draw | 7–10 April 2021 (W), 23 June 2021 (E) |
| Group stage | Matchday 1 | 27 January 2021 | 14–15 April 2021 (W), 22–26 June 2021 (E) |
| Group stage | Matchday 2 | 27 January 2021 | 17–18 April 2021 (W), 25–29 June 2021 (E) |
| Group stage | Matchday 3 | 27 January 2021 | 20–21 April 2021 (W), 28 June – 2 July 2021 (E) |
| Group stage | Matchday 4 | 27 January 2021 | 23–24 April 2021 (W), 1–5 July 2021 (E) |
| Group stage | Matchday 5 | 27 January 2021 | 26–27 April 2021 (W), 4–8 July 2021 (E) |
| Group stage | Matchday 6 | 27 January 2021 | 29–30 April 2021 (W), 7–11 July 2021 (E) |
| Knockout stage | Round of 16 | 27 January 2021 | 13–15 September 2021 |
| Knockout stage | Quarter-finals | 17 September 2021 | 16–17 October 2021 |
| Knockout stage | Semi-finals | 17 September 2021 | 19–20 October 2021 |
| Knockout stage | Final | 17 September 2021 | 23 November 2021 at King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh | 23 November 2021 at King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh |
The original schedule of the competition, as planned before the pandemic, was as follows.
Original schedule for 2021 AFC Champions League :
| Stage | Round | Draw date | First leg | Second leg |
| Preliminary stage | Preliminary round | No draw | 26 January 2021 | 26 January 2021 |
| Play-off stage | Play-off round | No draw | 2 February 2021 | 2 February 2021 |
| Group stage | Matchday 1 | TBD | 15–16 February 2021 (W), 23–24 February 2021 (E) | 15–16 February 2021 (W), 23–24 February 2021 (E) |
| Group stage | Matchday 2 | TBD | 22–23 February 2021 (W), 2–3 March 2021 (E) | 22–23 February 2021 (W), 2–3 March 2021 (E) |
| Group stage | Matchday 3 | TBD | 8–9 March 2021 (W), 16–17 March 2021 (E) | 8–9 March 2021 (W), 16–17 March 2021 (E) |
| Group stage | Matchday 4 | TBD | 5–7 April 2021 | 5–7 April 2021 |
| Group stage | Matchday 5 | TBD | 19–21 April 2021 | 19–21 April 2021 |
| Group stage | Matchday 6 | TBD | 3–5 May 2021 | 3–5 May 2021 |
| Knockout stage | Round of 16 | TBD | 17–19 May 2021 | 24–26 May 2021 |
| Knockout stage | Quarter-finals | TBD | 23–25 August 2021 | 13–15 September 2021 |
| Knockout stage | Semi-finals | TBD | 28–29 September 2021 | 19–20 October 2021 |
| Knockout stage | Final | TBD | 21 November 2021 | 27 November 2021 |

## Qualifying play-offs

In the qualifying play-offs, each tie was played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary. The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each region was determined based on each team's association ranking and their seeding within their association, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match in the West Region. 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 32 direct entrants.

### Preliminary round

East Region :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |

### Play-off round

West Region :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
East Region :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |

## Group stage

The draw for the group stage was held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 27 January 2021. The 40 teams were drawn into ten groups of four: five groups each in the West Region (Groups A–E) and the East Region (Groups F–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 could not be drawn into the same group.
In the group stage, each group was played on a double round-robin basis in centralised venues. The winners of each group and three best runners-up from each region advanced to the round of 16 of the knockout stage.
* Tiebreakers
* The teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers were applied in the following order (Regulations Article 8.3):
* Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
* Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
* Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
* Away goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams; (not applicable since the matches were played in centralised venue)
* If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
* Goal difference in all group matches;
* Goals scored in all group matches;
* Penalty shoot-out if only two teams playing each other in the last round of the group are tied;
* Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
* Association ranking.

### Group A

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | IST | HIL | SAH | AGK |
| 1 | Istiklol | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 10 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 4–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 |
| 2 | Al-Hilal (H) | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 10 | Advance to Round of 16 | 3–1 | — | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| 3 | Shabab Al-Ahli | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 | | 0–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–1 |
| 4 | AGMK | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 13 | −4 | 7 | | 2–3 | 0–3 | 2–1 | — |
* 1 2 Head-to-head goal difference: Istiklol 1, Al Hilal −1.
* 1 2 Head-to-head goal difference: Shabab Al-Ahli 1, AGMK −1.

### Group B

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | SHA | TRA | PAK | QWJ |
| 1 | Sharjah (H) | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 11 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Tractor | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 10 | Advance to Round of 16 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 1–0 |
| 3 | Pakhtakor | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 7 | | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–0 |
| 4 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 2 | | 2–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — |

### Group C

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | EST | DUH | AHL | SHO |
| 1 | Esteghlal | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 11 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 2–2 | 5–2 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Al-Duhail | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 9 | | 4–3 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| 3 | Al-Ahli (H) | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 9 | | 0–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–1 |
| 4 | Al-Shorta | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 12 | −9 | 3 | | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | — |

### Group D

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | NAS | SAD | WEH | FOO |
| 1 | Al-Nassr (H) | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 11 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 |
| 2 | Al-Sadd | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 10 | | 1–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| 3 | Al-Wehdat | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 7 | | 0–0 | 0–2 | — | 1–0 |
| 4 | Foolad | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 5 | | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | — |

### Group E

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | PER | WAH | GOA | RAY |
| 1 | Persepolis | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 5 | +9 | 15 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 1–0 | 2–1 | 4–2 |
| 2 | Al-Wahda | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 13 | Advance to Round of 16 | 1–0 | — | 0–0 | 3–2 |
| 3 | Goa (H) | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | −7 | 3 | | 0–4 | 0–2 | — | 0–0 |
| 4 | Al-Rayyan | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 12 | −6 | 2 | | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | — |

### Group F

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ULS | PAT | VIE | KAY |
| 1 | Ulsan Hyundai | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | +12 | 18 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 |
| 2 | BG Pathum United (H) | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 12 | Advance to Round of 16 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 4–1 |
| 3 | Viettel | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 6 | | 0–1 | 1–3 | — | 1–0 |
| 4 | Kaya–Iloilo | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 16 | −14 | 0 | | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0–5 | — |

### Group G

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | NAG | POH | JOH | RAT |
| 1 | Nagoya Grampus | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 2 | +12 | 16 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 |
| 2 | Pohang Steelers | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 11 | Advance to Round of 16 | 1–1 | — | 4–1 | 2–0 |
| 3 | Johor Darul Ta'zim | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 9 | −6 | 4 | | 0–1 | 0–2 | — | 0–0 |
| 4 | Ratchaburi Mitr Phol (H) | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 10 | −10 | 2 | | 0–4 | 0–0 | 0–1 | — |

### Group H

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | JEO | GAM | CHI | TAM |
| 1 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 5 | +17 | 16 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 2–1 | 2–1 | 9–0 |
| 2 | Gamba Osaka | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 9 | | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 8–1 |
| 3 | Chiangrai United | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 8 | | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 |
| 4 | Tampines Rovers | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 27 | −26 | 0 | | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–3 | — |

### Group I

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | KAW | DAE | UNI | BJG |
| 1 | Kawasaki Frontale | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 3 | +24 | 18 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 3–2 | 8–0 | 4–0 |
| 2 | Daegu FC | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 6 | +16 | 12 | Advance to Round of 16 | 1–3 | — | 7–0 | 5–0 |
| 3 | United City | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 24 | −20 | 4 | | 0–2 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 |
| 4 | Beijing Guoan | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 23 | −20 | 1 | | 0–7 | 0–3 | 2–3 | — |

### Group J

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | CER | KIT | POR | GZH |
| 1 | Cerezo Osaka | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 2 | +11 | 14 | Advance to Round of 16 | — | 2–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 |
| 2 | Kitchee | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 11 | | 0–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–0 |
| 3 | Port (H) | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 8 | | 0–3 | 1–1 | — | 3–0 |
| 4 | Guangzhou | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 17 | −16 | 0 | | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–5 | — |

### Ranking of second-placed teams
#### West Region

| Pos | Grp | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | E | Al-Wahda | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 13 | Advance to Round of 16 |
| 2 | B | Tractor | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 10 | Advance to Round of 16 |
| 3 | A | Al-Hilal | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 10 | Advance to Round of 16 |
| 4 | D | Al-Sadd | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 10 | |
| 5 | C | Al-Duhail | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 9 | |

#### East Region

| Pos | Grp | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | I | Daegu FC | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 6 | +16 | 12 | Advance to Round of 16 |
| 2 | F | BG Pathum United | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 12 | Advance to Round of 16 |
| 3 | G | Pohang Steelers | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 11 | Advance to Round of 16 |
| 4 | J | Kitchee | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 11 | |
| 5 | H | Gamba Osaka | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 9 | |

## Knockout stage

In the knockout stage, the 16 teams played a single-elimination tournament, with the teams split into the two regions until the final. All ties were played as a single-leg match (Regulations Article 9.1). Extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winners if necessary (Regulations Article 9.3 and 10.1).

### Bracket

| Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | Final | Final |
| 14 September – Sharjah | 14 September – Sharjah | | | | | | |
| Sharjah | 1 (4) | | | | | | |
| Sharjah | 1 (4) | 16 October – Riyadh (Mrsool) | 16 October – Riyadh (Mrsool) | | | | | |
| Al Wahda (p) | 1 (5) | 16 October – Riyadh (Mrsool) | 16 October – Riyadh (Mrsool) | | | | |
| Al Wahda (p) | 1 (5) | Al Wahda | 1 | | | | |
| 14 September – Al Rayyan (Qatar) | 14 September – Al Rayyan (Qatar) | | Al Wahda | 1 | | | | |
| 14 September – Al Rayyan (Qatar) | 14 September – Al Rayyan (Qatar) | Al-Nassr | 5 | | | | |
| Al Nassr | 1 | Al-Nassr | 5 | | | | |
| Al Nassr | 1 | | | | 19 October – Riyadh (Mrsool) | 19 October – Riyadh (Mrsool) | | |
| Tractor | 0 | | | | 19 October – Riyadh (Mrsool) | 19 October – Riyadh (Mrsool) | |
| Tractor | 0 | | | | Al-Nassr | 1 | |
| 14 September – Dushanbe | 14 September – Dushanbe | | | | | Al-Nassr | 1 | |
| 14 September – Dushanbe | 14 September – Dushanbe | | | | Al-Hilal | 2 | |
| Istiklol | 0 | | | | Al-Hilal | 2 | |
| Istiklol | 0 | 16 October – Riyadh (Prince) | 16 October – Riyadh (Prince) | | | | | |
| Persepolis | 1 | 16 October – Riyadh (Prince) | 16 October – Riyadh (Prince) | | | | |
| Persepolis | 1 | Persepolis | 0 | | | | |
| 13 September – Dubai (UAE) | 13 September – Dubai (UAE) | | Persepolis | 0 | | | | |
| 13 September – Dubai (UAE) | 13 September – Dubai (UAE) | Al-Hilal | 3 | | | | |
| Esteghlal | 0 | Al-Hilal | 3 | | | | |
| Esteghlal | 0 | | | | | | | 23 November – Riyadh (King) | 23 November – Riyadh (King) |
| Al-Hilal | 2 | | | | | | | 23 November – Riyadh (King) | 23 November – Riyadh (King) |
| Al-Hilal | 2 | | | | | | | Al-Hilal | 2 |
| 15 September – Jeonju | 15 September – Jeonju | | | | | | | | Al-Hilal | 2 |
| 15 September – Jeonju | 15 September – Jeonju | | | | | | | Pohang Steelers | 0 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (p) | 1 (4) | | | | | | | Pohang Steelers | 0 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (p) | 1 (4) | 17 October – Jeonju | 17 October – Jeonju | | | | | | |
| BG Pathum United | 1 (2) | 17 October – Jeonju | 17 October – Jeonju | | | | | | |
| BG Pathum United | 1 (2) | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2 | | | | | | |
| 14 September – Ulsan | 14 September – Ulsan | | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2 | | | | | | |
| 14 September – Ulsan | 14 September – Ulsan | Ulsan Hyundai (a.e.t.) | 3 | | | | | | |
| Ulsan Hyundai (p) | 0 (3) | Ulsan Hyundai (a.e.t.) | 3 | | | | | | |
| Ulsan Hyundai (p) | 0 (3) | | | | 20 October – Jeonju | 20 October – Jeonju | | | | |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 0 (2) | | | | 20 October – Jeonju | 20 October – Jeonju | | | |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 0 (2) | | | | Ulsan Hyundai | 1 (4) | | | |
| 15 September – Osaka | 15 September – Osaka | | | | | Ulsan Hyundai | 1 (4) | | | |
| 15 September – Osaka | 15 September – Osaka | | | | Pohang Steelers (p) | 1 (5) | |
| Cerezo Osaka | 0 | | | | Pohang Steelers (p) | 1 (5) | |
| Cerezo Osaka | 0 | 17 October – Jeonju | 17 October – Jeonju | | | | | |
| Pohang Steelers | 1 | 17 October – Jeonju | 17 October – Jeonju | | | | |
| Pohang Steelers | 1 | Pohang Steelers | 3 | | | | |
| 14 September – Toyota | 14 September – Toyota | | Pohang Steelers | 3 | | | | |
| 14 September – Toyota | 14 September – Toyota | Nagoya Grampus | 0 | | | | |
| Nagoya Grampus | 4 | Nagoya Grampus | 0 | | | | |
| Daegu FC | 2 | | | | | | |

### Round of 16

The round of 16 was played over one leg, with the matchups determined by the combination tables based on which group runners-up qualified.
West Region :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
East Region :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |

### Quarter-finals

The quarter-finals were played over one leg, with the matchups and home team decided by draw held on 17 September at 15:00 (UTC+8) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
West Region :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
East Region :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |

### Semi-finals

The semi-finals were played over one leg.
West Region :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
East Region :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |

### Final

The final was played over a single leg on 23 November. The host was determined on a rotational basis, with the match hosted by team from the West Region in odd-numbered years (Regulations 9.1.2).

## Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Team | MD1 | MD2 | MD3 | MD4 | MD5 | MD6 | R16 | QF | Total |
| 1 | Michael Olunga | Al-Duhail | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | 9 |
| 2 | Gustavo | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 1 | | 4 | 1 | | 1 | 1 | | 8 |
| 3 | Modou Barrow | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | | | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 6 |
| 3 | Edgar | Daegu FC | | 1 | 2 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 6 |
| 3 | Leandro Damião | Kawasaki Frontale | 2 | | 1 | | 3 | | | | | 6 |
| 3 | Bafétimbi Gomis | Al Hilal | | 1 | | 1 | 1 | | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 | Patric | Gamba Osaka | 1 | 2 | | | 2 | 1 | | | | | 6 |
| 8 | Cheick Diabaté | Esteghlal | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 1 | | | 5 |
| 8 | Cesinha | Daegu FC | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | 1 | | | 5 |
| 8 | Abderazak Hamdallah | Al-Nassr | | 1 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 1 | 5 |
Note: Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs and matches voided by AFC are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4).