AFC Champions League 2023-24 Group-Stage draw: Participating teams, pots and all you need to know

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League 2023-24 group-stage draw is all set to take place at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on August 24, 2023. In the AFC Champions League 2023-24, the spotlight will shine on a few exceptional players, thanks to the impressive signings by Saudi Arabian clubs in the past nine months. 

The Riyadh-based team, Al-Nassr, will especially catch attention, mainly because of their captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who played a significant role in the qualifiers. The Portuguese superstar led Al-Nassr to a 4-2 victory over Dubai's Shabab Al-Ahli, earning them a spot in the main event of the AFC Champions League 2023-24.

Representing India, Mumbai City FC secured their place in the tournament by defeating Jamshedpur FC with a score of 3-1 in a playoff match in April, after previously winning the ISL League Shield earlier this year. 

In the club's second appearance in the tournament, they recently announced that they will play their home matches in Pune. This decision was made because the Mumbai Football Arena isn't allowed to host AFC Champions League games.

How will the draw work?

40 teams will be divided into 10 groups of four teams each. Teams in the West Zone will be categorised in Groups A to E and teams in the East Zone will be in Groups F to J. Clubs from the same Member Association (MA) will not be drawn into the same group. 

AFC Champions League 2023-24: Pots for the final draw:

West Zone

Pot 1: Al Ittihad (KSA), Persepolis FC (IRN), Al Sadd SC (QAT), Pakhtakor (UZB), Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Pot 2: Sepahan SC (IRN), Al Duhail SC (QAT), FC Nasaf (UZB), Al Fayha FC (KSA), Nassaji Mazandaran FC (IRN)

Pot 3: Al Faisaly (JOR), FC Istiklol (TJK), Air Force Club (IRQ), Ahal FC (TKM), Mumbai City FC (IND)

Pot 4: Al Ain FC (UAE), Al Nassr (KSA), Sharjah FC (UAE), AGMK FC (UZB), Navbahor (UZB)

East Zone

Pot 1: Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR), Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN), Wuhan Three Towns FC (CHN), Buriram United (THA), Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR)

Pot 2: Ventforet Kofu (JPN), Shandong Taishan FC (CHN), Bangkok United (THA), Pohang Steelers (KOR), Kawasaki Frontale (JPN)

Pot 3: Hanoi FC (VIE), Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI), Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS), Melbourne City FC (AUS), Lion City Sailors (SGP)

Pot 4: Kitchee SC (HKG), Incheon United FC (KOR), Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN), Zhejiang FC (CHN), BG Pathum United (THA)

When and where will the AFC Champions League group-stage draw take place?

The AFC Champions League 2023-24 group-stage draw will take place at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on August 24, 2023, at 1:30 PM IST.

Where can you watch the AFC Champions League group-stage draw?

The AFC Champions League group-stage draw can be live-streamed on the AFC Hub YouTube channel from 1:30 PM IST onwards in India. There’s no live telecast of the draw in India.