# 2023–24 AFC Cup

The 2023–24 AFC Cup was the 20th edition of the AFC Cup, Asia's secondary club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the final edition under the AFC Cup title, as the competition was revamped under the name AFC Champions League Two starting in 2024–25. This was the first AFC Cup season to have a two-year (autumn-to-spring) schedule, unlike the previous all-year-round (spring-to-autumn) schedule.
As the title holders, Al-Seeb qualified for the 2023–24 AFC Champions League playoff stage. So they were unable to defend their title.
Central Coast Mariners won the competition for the first time, defeating Al Ahed 1–0 in the final. Central Coast Mariners' victory meant that Australia became the first nation to have had clubs winning both the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup, following Western Sydney Wanderers' victory in the 2014 AFC Champions League.

## Association team allocation

The 47 AFC member associations are ranked based on their club's performance over the last four years in AFC competitions (their national team's FIFA World Rankings are no longer considered). The slots are allocated by the following criteria according to the Entry Manual:
* The associations are split into five zones (Article 5.1):
** West Asia Zone consists of the 12 associations from the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF).
** South Asia Zone consists of the 7 associations from the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).
** Central Asia Zone consists of the 6 associations from Central Asian Football Association (CAFA).
** ASEAN Zone consists of the 12 associations from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF).
** East Asia Zone consists of the 10 associations from the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF).
** The AFC may reallocate one or more associations to another zone if necessary for sporting reasons
Reallocation of Regions
* 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).
** 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 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:
** 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 does 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 2023–24 AFC Cup, the associations are allocated slots according to the November 2021 AFC club competitions ranking, which takes into account their performance in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup during the period between 2018 and 2021.
Participation for 2023–24 AFC Cup :
* Participating
* Not participating

#### Notes

* ^ Competition in 2020: The 2020 season is not included in the overall ranking due to the cancellation of the remaining matches in the 2020 AFC Cup caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
* ^ AFC Licensing (AFC): Association did not have a licensed club.
* ^ Jordan (JOR): Jordan 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.
* ^ Vietnam (VIE): Vietnam 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.

## Teams

West Asia Zone Group stage direct entrants :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Al-Wehdat | 2022 Jordan FA Cup winners 2022 Jordanian Pro League runners-up | 12th (2019) |
| Al-Zawraa | 2022–23 Iraqi Premier League third place | 5th (2018) |
| Al-Kahrabaa | 2022–23 Iraqi Premier League fifth place | 1st |
| Al-Ahed | 2022–23 Lebanese Premier League champions | 12th (2021) |
| Nejmeh | 2022–23 Lebanese Premier League runners-up | 11th (2022) |
| Al-Kuwait | 2021–22 Kuwaiti Premier League champions and 2022–23 Kuwaiti Premier League champions | 12th (2022) |
| Al-Arabi | 2022–23 Kuwaiti Premier League runners-up | 3rd (2022) |
| Al-Riffa | 2021–22 Bahraini Premier League champions | 7th (2022) |
| Al-Fotuwa | 2022–23 Syrian Premier League champions | 1st |
| Jabal Al-Mukaber | 2022–23 West Bank Premier League champions | 1st |
Qualifying play-off participants :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Al-Khaldiya | 2021–22 Bahraini King's Cup champions | 1st |
| Al-Ittihad | 2021–22 Syrian Cup champions | 5th (2019) |
| Shabab Al-Khalil | 2022–23 West Bank Premier League third place | 3rd (2022) |
| Al-Nahda | 2022–23 Oman Professional League champions | 4th (2015) |
South Asia Zone Group stage direct entrants :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Odisha | Winners of additional playoff between 2021–22 I-League champions and 2023 Super Cup champions | 1st |
| Bashundhara Kings | 2021–22 Bangladesh Premier League champions | 4th (2022) |
| Maziya | 2022 Dhivehi Premier League champions 2022 Maldives FA Cup winners | 9th (2022) |
Qualifying play-off participants :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Mohun Bagan SG | Winners of additional playoff between 2021–22 and 2022–23 Indian Super League playoffs winners | 7th (2022) |
| Dhaka Abahani | 2021–22 Bangladesh Premier League runners-up | 6th (2022) |
| Club Eagles | 2022 Dhivehi Premier League runners-up | 2nd (2021) |
| Machhindra | 2023 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League runners-up | 2nd (2022) |
| Paro | 2022 Bhutan Premier League champions | 3rd (2022) |
Central Asia Zone Group stage direct entrants :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Ravshan Kulob | 2022 Tajikistan Higher League runners-up | 4th (2021) |
| Altyn Asyr | 2022 Ýokary Liga runners-up | 9th (2022) |
| Abdysh-Ata Kant | 2022 Kyrgyz Premier League champions and 2022 Kyrgyzstan Cup winners | 1st |
Qualifying play-off participants :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Khujand | 2022 Tajikistan Higher League third place | 7th (2022) |
| Merw Mary | 2022 Ýokary Liga third place | 2nd (2006) |
| Alay Osh | 2022 Kyrgyz Premier League runners-up | 7th (2021) |
ASEAN Zone (including Australia) Group stage direct entrants :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Haiphong | 2022 V.League 1 runners-up | 1st |
| DH Cebu | 2022–23 Philippines Football League runners-up | 1st |
| Stallion Laguna | 2022–23 Philippines Football League third place | 1st |
| Terengganu | 2022 Malaysia Super League runners-up | 3rd (2021) |
| Sabah | 2022 Malaysia Super League third place | 1st |
| Macarthur FC | 2022 Australia Cup winners | 1st |
| Central Coast Mariners | 2022–23 A-League Men runners-up | 1st |
| Hougang United | 2022 Singapore Cup winners | 3rd (2022) |
| Bali United | Winner of additional playoff between 2021–22 and 2022–23 Liga 1 champion | 5th (2022) |
| Shan United | 2022 Myanmar National League champions | 4th (2020) |
Qualifying play-off participants :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Tampines Rovers | 2022 Singapore Premier League third place | 14th (2022) |
| PSM Makassar | Loser of additional playoff between 2021–22 and 2022–23 Liga 1 champion | 4th (2022) |
| Yangon United | 2022 Myanmar National League runners-up | 8th (2020) |
| Phnom Penh Crown | 2022 Cambodian Premier League champions | 3rd (2022) |
| Young Elephants | 2022 Lao League 1 champions | 2nd (2022) |
| DPMM | 2022 Brunei FA Cup winners | 1st |
East Asia Zone Group stage direct entrants :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Chao Pak Kei | 2022 Liga de Elite champions and 2022 Taça de Macau winners | 2nd (2020) |
| Taiwan Steel | 2022 Taiwan Premier League champions | 3rd (2022) |
| FC Ulaanbaatar | 2022–23 Mongolian National Premier League champions | 1st |
Qualifying play-off participants :
| Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| Monte Carlo | 2022 Liga de Elite runners-up | 1st |
| Taichung Futuro | 2022 Taiwan Premier League runners-up | 1st |

### Notes

* ^ Iraq (IRQ): The 2022–23 Iraqi Premier League champions Al-Shorta were not granted an AFC license, therefore league runners-up and 2022–23 Iraq FA Cup winners Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya will participate in the AFC Champions League group stage. The only other licensed Iraqi clubs, Al-Zawraa and Al-Kahrabaa, will therefore participate in the AFC Cup.
* ^ Syria (SYR): Al-Fotuwa, the 2022–23 Syrian Premier League champion, won 1–0 against Tishreen, the 2021–22 Syrian Premier League champion, in an additional playoff match.
* ^ Myanmar (MYA): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar, the 2022 General Aung San Shield was not held. Instead, the runners-up of the 2022 Myanmar National League will participate in the AFC Cup play-off round.
* ^ Nepal (NEP): Church Boys United, the 2023 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League champions, failed to obtain an AFC license. Instead, the runners-up, Machhindra will participate in the AFC Cup preliminary stage.
* ^ Palestine (PLE): Hilal Al-Quds, the 2022–23 West Bank Premier League runner-up, failed to obtain an AFC license. Instead, the third place, Shabab Al-Khalil will participate in the AFC Cup play-off stage.

## Schedule

The schedule of the competition is as follows.
| Stage | Round | Draw date | First leg | Second leg |
| Preliminary stage | Preliminary round 1 | No draw | 8 August 2023 | 8 August 2023 |
| Preliminary stage | Preliminary round 2 | No draw | 15–16 August 2023 | 15–16 August 2023 |
| Play-off stage | Play-off round | No draw | 22–23 August 2023 | 22–23 August 2023 |
| Group stage | Matchday 1 | 24 August 2023 | 18–21 September 2023 | 18–21 September 2023 |
| Group stage | Matchday 2 | 24 August 2023 | 2–5 October 2023 | 2–5 October 2023 |
| Group stage | Matchday 3 | 24 August 2023 | 23–26 October 2023 | 23–26 October 2023 |
| Group stage | Matchday 4 | 24 August 2023 | 6–9 November 2023 | 6–9 November 2023 |
| Group stage | Matchday 5 | 24 August 2023 | 27–30 November 2023 | 27–30 November 2023 |
| Group stage | Matchday 6 | 24 August 2023 | 11–14 December 2023 | 11–14 December 2023 |
| Knockout stage | Zonal semi-finals | 28 December 2023 | 12–13 February 2024 (A) | 12–13 February 2024 (A) |
| Knockout stage | Zonal semi-finals | 28 December 2023 | 12–13 February 2024 (W) | 19–20 February 2024 (W) |
| Knockout stage | Zonal finals | 28 December 2023 | 22 February 2024 (A) | 22 February 2024 (A) |
| Knockout stage | Zonal finals | 28 December 2023 | 16 April 2024 (W) | 23 April 2024 (W) |
| Knockout stage | Inter-zone play-off semi-finals | 28 December 2023 | 6–7 March 2024 | 13–14 March 2024 |
| Knockout stage | Inter-zone play-off final | 28 December 2023 | 17 April 2024 | 24 April 2024 |
| Knockout stage | Final | 28 December 2023 | 5 May 2024 at Sultan Qaboos Stadium, Muscat | 5 May 2024 at Sultan Qaboos Stadium, Muscat |

### Notes

* A = ASEAN
* C = Central Asia
* E = East Asia
* S = South Asia
* W = West Asia

## Qualifying play-offs
### Preliminary round 1

A total of two teams played in the preliminary round 1.
South Asia Zone :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |

### Preliminary round 2

South Asia Zone :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
Central Asia Zone :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
ASEAN Zone :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |

### Play-off round

West Asia Zone :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
South Asia Zone :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
Central Asia Zone :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
ASEAN Zone :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
East Asia Zone :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |

## Group stage

The draw for the group stage was held on 24 August 2023 at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 36 teams were drawn into nine groups of four teams: three groups each in the West Asia Zone (Groups A–C) and the ASEAN Zone (Groups F–H), one group in the Central Asia Zone (Groups E), and one group each in the South Asia Zone (Group D) and the East Asia Zone (Group I). 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 and ASEAN Zone) could not be drawn into the same group.

### Group A

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ALN | AHD | FUT | JAB |
| 1 | Al-Nahda | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 9 | Zonal semi-finals | — | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 |
| 2 | Al-Ahed | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | Zonal semi-finals | 2–1 | — | 2–1 | 23 Oct |
| 3 | Al-Fotuwa | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 3 | | 0–1 | 1–0 | — | 27 Nov |
| 4 | Jabal Al-Mukaber | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrew | 12 Dec | 6 Nov | 1–0 | — |
* ↑ On 26 November 2023, Jabal Al-Mukaber announced their withdrawal from the competition.

### Group B

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | KAH | WHD | KSC | ITT |
| 1 | Al-Kahrabaa | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 13 | Zonal semi-finals | — | 3–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 |
| 2 | Al-Wehdat | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 10 | | 3–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| 3 | Al-Kuwait | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 7 | | 0–1 | 2–1 | — | 1–1 |
| 4 | Al-Ittihad | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 11 | −8 | 2 | | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — |

### Group C

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | RIF | ZWR | ARA | NEJ |
| 1 | Al-Riffa | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 5 | +10 | 13 | Zonal semi-finals | — | 1–1 | 2–1 | 6–1 |
| 2 | Al-Zawraa | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 11 | | 2–1 | — | 1–2 | 4–1 |
| 3 | Al-Arabi | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 8 | | 0–3 | 1–1 | — | 0–0 |
| 4 | Nejmeh | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 16 | −12 | 1 | | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | — |

### Group D

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ODI | BDK | MBSG | MAZ |
| 1 | Odisha | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 12 | +5 | 12 | Inter-zone play-off semi-finals | — | 1–0 | 0–4 | 6–1 |
| 2 | Bashundhara Kings | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 | | 3–2 | — | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| 3 | Mohun Bagan SG | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 7 | | 2–5 | 2–2 | — | 2–1 |
| 4 | Maziya | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 14 | −5 | 6 | | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–0 | — |

### Group E

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ABD | ALT | MRW | RAV |
| 1 | Abdysh-Ata Kant | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 6 | +12 | 16 | Inter-zone play-off semi-finals | — | 3–0 | 8–3 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Altyn Asyr | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 10 | | 2–4 | — | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| 3 | Merw Mary | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 13 | −7 | 3 | | 1–1 | 1–2 | — | 1–1 |
| 4 | Ravshan Kulob | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 3 | | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | — |

### Group F

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | MAC | CRO | DHC | SHN |
| 1 | Macarthur FC | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 5 | +18 | 15 | Zonal semi-finals | — | 5–0 | 8–2 | 4–0 |
| 2 | Phnom Penh Crown | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 12 | Zonal semi-finals | 3–0 | — | 4–0 | 4–0 |
| 3 | DH Cebu | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 19 | −15 | 4 | | 0–3 | 0–3 | — | 1–0 |
| 4 | Shan United | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 14 | −11 | 4 | | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | — |
* 1 2 Ranked on head-to-head points: DH Cebu 4, Shan United 1.

### Group G

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | CCM | TFC | BUF | STA |
| 1 | Central Coast Mariners | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 7 | +14 | 13 | Zonal semi-finals | — | 1–1 | 6–3 | 9–1 |
| 2 | Terengganu | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 12 | | 1–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| 3 | Bali United | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 7 | | 1–2 | 1–1 | — | 5–2 |
| 4 | Stallion Laguna | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 27 | −18 | 1 | | 0–3 | 2–3 | 2–5 | — |

### Group H

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | SAB | HFC | PSM | HOU |
| 1 | Sabah | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 9 | +10 | 12 | Zonal semi-finals | — | 4–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| 2 | Haiphong | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 9 | +4 | 10 | | 3–2 | — | 3–0 | 4–0 |
| 3 | PSM Makassar | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 12 | −2 | 10 | | 0–5 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 |
| 4 | Hougang United | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 18 | −12 | 3 | | 1–4 | 2–1 | 1–3 | — |
* 1 2 Ranked on head-to-head points: Haiphong 4, PSM Makassar 1.

### Group I

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | FUT | ULA | TAI | CPK |
| 1 | Taichung Futuro | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 12 | Inter-zone play-off semi-finals | — | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Ulaanbaatar | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 12 | | 0–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–0 |
| 3 | Taiwan Steel | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 12 | +3 | 9 | | 5–1 | 3–0 | — | 4–2 |
| 4 | Chao Pak Kei | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 3 | | 0–1 | 0–1 | 4–1 | — |
* 1 2 Ranked on head-to-head goal difference: Taichung Futuro +1, Ulaanbaatar –1

### Ranking of runner-up teams
#### West Asia Zone

| Pos | Grp | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | A | Al-Ahed | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | Zonal semi-finals |
| 2 | C | Al-Zawraa | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | |
| 3 | B | Al-Wehdat | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 4 | |

#### ASEAN Zone

| Pos | Grp | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | F | Phnom Penh Crown | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 12 | Zonal semi-finals |
| 2 | G | Terengganu | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 12 | |
| 3 | H | Haiphong | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 9 | +4 | 10 | |

## Knockout stage

In the knockout stage, the 11 teams will play a single-elimination tournament. Each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, except the ASEAN Zone's semi-finals, ASEAN Zone's final and the final which will be played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out will be used to decide the winners if necessary (note that the away goals rule is abolished). (Regulations Article 11.3).
The draw for the Zonal finals and the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals was held on 28 December 2023, 14:00 MYT (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

### Bracket

| Zonal semi-finals | Zonal semi-finals | Zonal semi-finals | Zonal semi-finals | Zonal semi-finals | Zonal finals | Zonal finals | Zonal finals | Zonal finals | Zonal finals | Inter-zone play-off semi-finals | Inter-zone play-off semi-finals | Inter-zone play-off semi-finals | Inter-zone play-off semi-finals | Inter-zone play-off semi-finals | Inter-zone play-off finals | Inter-zone play-off finals | Inter-zone play-off finals | Inter-zone play-off finals | Inter-zone play-off finals | Final | Final | Final |
| Macarthur FC | Macarthur FC | Macarthur FC | Macarthur FC | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sabah | Sabah | Sabah | Sabah | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sabah | Sabah | Sabah | Sabah | 0 | Macarthur FC | Macarthur FC | Macarthur FC | Macarthur FC | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| ASEAN Zone | ASEAN Zone | ASEAN Zone | ASEAN Zone | ASEAN Zone | Macarthur FC | Macarthur FC | Macarthur FC | Macarthur FC | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| ASEAN Zone | ASEAN Zone | ASEAN Zone | ASEAN Zone | ASEAN Zone | Central Coast Mariners (a.e.t.) | Central Coast Mariners (a.e.t.) | Central Coast Mariners (a.e.t.) | Central Coast Mariners (a.e.t.) | 3 | Central Coast Mariners | Central Coast Mariners | 4 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | |
| Central Coast Mariners | Central Coast Mariners | Central Coast Mariners | Central Coast Mariners | 4 | Central Coast Mariners (a.e.t.) | Central Coast Mariners (a.e.t.) | Central Coast Mariners (a.e.t.) | Central Coast Mariners (a.e.t.) | 3 | Central Coast Mariners | Central Coast Mariners | 4 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | |
| Central Coast Mariners | Central Coast Mariners | Central Coast Mariners | Central Coast Mariners | 4 | | | | | | Odisha | Odisha | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | |
| Phnom Penh Crown | Phnom Penh Crown | Phnom Penh Crown | Phnom Penh Crown | 0 | | | | | | Odisha | Odisha | 0 | 0 | 0 | Central Coast Mariners | Central Coast Mariners | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Abdysh-Ata Kant | Abdysh-Ata Kant | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Abdysh-Ata Kant | Abdysh-Ata Kant | 5 | 3 | 8 | Abdysh-Ata Kant | Abdysh-Ata Kant | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Taichung Futuro | Taichung Futuro | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Taichung Futuro | Taichung Futuro | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | Central Coast Mariners | Central Coast Mariners | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Al Ahed | Al Ahed | 0 |
| Al-Riffa | Al-Riffa | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Al Ahed | Al Ahed | 0 |
| Al-Nahda | Al-Nahda | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Al-Nahda | Al-Nahda | 1 | 3 | 4 | Al-Nahda | Al-Nahda | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| West Asia Zone | West Asia Zone | West Asia Zone | West Asia Zone | West Asia Zone | Al-Nahda | | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| West Asia Zone | West Asia Zone | West Asia Zone | West Asia Zone | West Asia Zone | Al Ahed | Al Ahed | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Al Ahed (p) | Al Ahed (p) | 0 | 1 | 1 (4) | Al Ahed | | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Al-Kahrabaa | Al-Kahrabaa | 1 | 0 | 1 (2) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Zonal semi-finals

In the Zonal semi-finals, the four qualified teams from the West Asia Zone (Groups A–C) play in two ties, and the four qualified teams from the ASEAN Zone (Groups F–H) play in two ties, with the matchups and order of legs determined by the group stage draw and the identity of the best runners-up.
West Asia Zone :
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
ASEAN Zone :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |

### Zonal finals

Draw for the Zonal finals was held on 28 December. In the Zonal finals, the two winners of West Asia Zonal semi-finals play each other, with the order of legs decided by draw. The two winners of ASEAN Zonal semi-finals play each other, with the host decided by draw. The winners of the West Asia Zonal final advances to the final, while the winners of the ASEAN Zonal final advance to the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals.
West Asia Zone :
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
ASEAN Zone :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |

### Inter-zone play-off semi-finals

Draw for the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals was held on 28 December. In the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals, the four zonal winners other than the West Asia Zone play in two ties (the winners of the South Asia Zone (Group D), the winners of the Central Asia Zone (Group E), the winners of the East Asia Zone (Group I), and the winners of the ASEAN Zonal final. The matchups and order of legs will be decided by draw.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Abdysh-Ata Kant | 8–1 | Taichung Futuro | 5–0 | 3–1 |
| Central Coast Mariners | 4–0 | Odisha | 4–0 | 0–0 |

### Inter-zone play-off final

In the Inter-zone play-off final, the two winners of the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals will play each other, with the order of legs determined by the Inter-zone play-off semi-final draw. The winners of the Inter-zone play-off final advance to the final.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Abdysh-Ata Kant | 1–4 | Central Coast Mariners | 1–1 | 0–3 |

### Final

In the final, the winners of the West Asia Zonal final and the winners of the Inter-zone play-off final will play each other, with the host team (winners of the West Zone) alternated from the previous season's final.

## Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Team | MD1 | MD2 | MD3 | MD4 | MD5 | MD6 | ZSF1 | ZF1 | ISF1 | ISF2 | IF1 | IF2 | Total |
| 1 | Marco Túlio | Central Coast Mariners | | 3 | 2 | 1 | | 2 | | | | | | | 8 |
| 2 | Shintaro Shimizu | Phnom Penh Crown | 1 | 3 | 2 | | 1 | | | | | | | | 7 |
| 3 | Darren Lok | Sabah | 2 | 2 | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | 6 |
| 3 | Niki Torrão | Chao Pak Kei | | 2 | | | | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 |
| 5 | Ange Kouamé | Taiwan Steel | | 1 | | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 5 | Kayrat Zhyrgalbek uulu | Abdysh-Ata Kant | 1 | 1 | | | | 2 | | | 1 | | | | 5 |
| 7 | Ulises Dávila | Macarthur FC | | 1 | | 1 | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | 4 |
| 7 | Mikael Doka | Central Coast Mariners | | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | | | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | Jed Drew | Macarthur FC | | 1 | | | | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 7 | Mourtada Fall | Odisha | | | 2 | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 7 | Valère Germain | Macarthur FC | 1 | 2 | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 7 | Hashim Sayed Isa | Al-Riffa | | | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 7 | Đorđe Maksimović | Hougang United | | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 7 | Magamed Uzdenov | Abdysh-Ata Kant | 1 | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 4 |