The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced the pot positions for the Asian Champions League 2 (ACL 2) draw, scheduled for August 16 in Kuala Lumpur. Mohun Bagan Super Giant, having secured automatic qualification into ACL 2 after winning the Indian Super League (ISL) Shield, finds itself in Pot 3 alongside Al Hussein (Jordan), FC Istiklol (Tajikistan), and Al Khaldiya SC (Bahrain).
Meanwhile, East Bengal, having qualified for the ACL 2 preliminary play-off after winning the Kalinga Super Cup 2024, will face Altyn Asyr FC from Tajikistan on August 14 for a chance to secure a spot in the group stages. Their qualification for the preliminary stages came through their victory in the Kalinga Super Cup 2024.
The AFC has introduced a new structure for continental competitions, replacing the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup with the AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League 2, starting from the 2024-25 season. This second-tier men’s tournament will comprise eight groups – four West, four East – of four teams each for the Group Stage, played in a home-and-away round-robin format from September 17 to December 5.
India’s previous participation in the ACL with a dedicated slot for the ISL Shield winner has been affected due to a poor coefficient ranking, resulting in a reduction of slots for Indian teams in continental competitions. Consequently, instead of one spot each in ACL and AFC Cup, India now holds two slots in ACL 2, with one confirmed and the other contingent on the outcome of the preliminary play-off.
Here are the pot positions for clubs in Asian Champions League 2 West Asia:
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Pot 1:
Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan SC (IRN), Winner of Al Gharafa SC (QAT) vs Shabab Al Ahli (UAE), Al Taawoun FC (KSA), Al Wakrah SC (QAT)*
Pot 2:
Tractor FC (IRN), Sharjah FC (UAE), PFC Nasaf (UZB), Air Force SC (IRQ)*
Pot 3:
Al Hussein (JOR), FC Istiklol (TJK), Mohun Bagan Super Giant (IND), Al Khaldiya SC (BHR)*
Pot 4:
Al Wehdat (JOR), FC Ravshan (TJK), Winner of East Bengal FC (IND) vs Altyn Asyr FC (TKM), Winner of Al Ahli (BHR) vs Kuwait SC (KUW)East Asia
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Pot 1:
Winner of Shandong Taishan FC (CHN) vs Bangkok United (THA), Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN), Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR), Zhejiang FC (CHN)*
Pot 2:
Port FC (THA), Sydney FC (AUS), Selangor FC (MAS), Nam Dinh FC (VIE)*
Pot 3:
Lee Man (HKG), Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI), Lion City Sailors FC (SGP), Muangthong United (THA)*
