AFC Champions League Two

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Redirect-distinguish Template:Short descriptionScript error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

The AFC Champions League Two (abbreviated as the ACL Two or ACL2) is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation. It is the second-tier competition of Asian club football, ranked below the AFC Champions League Elite and above the AFC Challenge League.

The competition was founded in 2004 as the AFC Cup, it was played primarily among clubs from nations that did not receive direct qualifying slots to the top-tier AFC Champions League. The competition rebranded to its current name in 2024.[1] In a bid to increase competitivenes, its format was also changed to include clubs from higher ranked AFC member associations. The prize money was also increased.

Clubs qualify for the competition based on their performance in national leagues and cup competitions. Participation in the competition is open to clubs from the top 12 nations in the East and the West region based on the AFC club competitions ranking. The participant from each nation ranked 1–6 in each region is the highest-placed club in that nation that did not qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite. The nations ranked 7–12 in each region enter their top club(s) directly to the AFC Champions League Two.

The winner of the AFC Champions League Two will be allocated an indirect preliminary stage slot for the next AFC Champions League Elite season, if they have not already qualified through domestic competition. The current champions of the competition is Central Coast Mariners, who defeated Al-Ahed in the 2024 final. Al-Kuwait and Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya are the most successful clubs in the competition's history, having won three titles each. Clubs from Kuwait have won four titles, making them the most successful nation in the competition.

History

Winners[2]
Season Winners
AFC Cup
2004 Template:Fbaicon Al-Jaish
2005 Template:Fbaicon Al-Faisaly
2006 Template:Fbaicon Al-Faisaly (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2007 Template:Fbaicon Shabab Al-Ordon
2008 Template:Fbaicon Al-Muharraq
2009 Template:Fbaicon Kuwait SC
2010 Template:Fbaicon Al-Ittihad Aleppo
2011 Template:Fbaicon Nasaf Qarshi
2012 Template:Fbaicon Kuwait SC (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2013 Template:Fbaicon Kuwait SC (3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2014 Template:Fbaicon Qadsia
2015 Template:Fbaicon Johor Darul Ta'zim
2016 Template:Fbaicon Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
2017 Template:Fbaicon Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2018 Template:Fbaicon Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2019 Template:Fbaicon Al-Ahed
2020 CancelledTemplate:Efn
2021 Template:Fbaicon Al-Muharraq (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2022 Template:Fbaicon Al-Seeb
2023–24 Template:Fbaicon Central Coast Mariners
AFC Champions League Two
2024–25 Template:Fbaicon Sharjah

The AFC Cup began in 2004 as a second-tier competition to relate back to the AFC Champions League, as 14 countries that had developing status competed in the first competition, with 18 teams being nominated. The winners and three runners-up would then head to the knock-out stage. Al-Jaish took the first AFC Cup after they defeated fellow Syrian opponents Al-Wahda on away goals.

In 2005, 18 teams competed from nine nations with the nations still being allowed to choose from one or two teams entering. After Syrian teams left the AFC Cup to try at the AFC Champions League for four years, Al-Faisaly defeated Nejmeh in the final. With it, Jordanian teams would win the next two AFC Cup seasons with Bahrain joining the league while Bangladesh was relegated to the AFC President's Cup until the tournament's abolition in 2014.

Al-Muharraq would break the trend in 2008 as they won the last two-legged final before it headed back into a one-leg system, a rule that was never changed until now.

On 23 December 2022, it was announced that the AFC competition structure would change from the established formats from the 2024–25 season. A new second-tier tournament called the AFC Champions League Two would be introduced.[3] Meanwhile, a new third-tier competition was also launched under the name AFC Challenge League.[4][5][6]

On 24 May 2024, AFC announced that the records and statistics of the preceding AFC club competitions will be recognised and integrated within the revamped club competitions, with the data from the AFC Cup transferring to the AFC Champions League Two.[7]

Format

File:AFC members AFC Cup group stage.png
Map of AFC countries whose teams reached the group stage of the AFC Cup/ACL Two <templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />
  AFC member country that has been represented in the group stage
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />
  AFC member country that has not been represented in the group stage

Some changes were applied in terms of teams and format for the 2017 AFC Cup. A total of 36 teams participated in the group stage (12 each from West Asia and ASEAN, and 4 each from East Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia). The final is played as a one-off match.

Allocation

The allocation of group stage teams by member country was listed below; asterisks represent occasions where at least one team was eliminated in qualification for the group stage. Those who had not reached the group stage but had only played in qualification are not bolded.

Associations Spots
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023–24 2024–25
EAFF
Template:Flagicon China 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Template:Flagicon Chinese Taipei 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 1 1 1* 1 1 2* 0
Template:Flagicon Guam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Template:Flagicon Hong Kong 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 2 1 2 2 0 2
Template:Flagicon Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Template:Flagicon Macau 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 1 0 1 0 0 1* 0
Template:Flagicon Mongolia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 1 0* 0* 0* 1 0* 1 0
Template:Flagicon North Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 1* 0 0 0 0 0
Template:Flagicon South Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Total 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 5
AFF
Template:Flagicon Australia Part of OFCScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1
Template:Flagicon Brunei 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0* 0 0* 0
Template:Flagicon Cambodia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1* 1 1 1 2 2 1* 0
Template:Flagicon Indonesia 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2* 1
Template:Flagicon Laos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0* 0* 1 1* 0* 1 0* 0
Template:Flagicon Malaysia 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0 0 2 2 2 1
Template:Flagicon Myanmar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 1* 0
Template:Flagicon Philippines 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1* 2 2 2 2 2 0 1 2 2
Template:Flagicon Singapore 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1* 2
Template:Flagicon Thailand 0 0 0± 1 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3*
Template:Flagicon Timor-Leste 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 1 0 0 0
Template:Flagicon Vietnam 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1
Total 4 4 4 6 4 8 8 7 10 10 10 10 9 11 12 12 12 11 11 12 11
SAFF
Template:Flagicon Bangladesh 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 1 1* 1* 1 1* 1* 1* 1* 0
Template:Flagicon Bhutan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0
Template:Flagicon India 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1* 2 2 2* 1*
Template:Flagicon Maldives 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1* 2 2 2 2 1* 1* 0 2 1* 1* 1* 0
Template:Flagicon Nepal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 0* 0 1 0 0* 0* 0* 0
Template:Flagicon Pakistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Template:Flagicon Sri Lanka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 0* 0* 0* 0* 0 0
Total 5 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 1
CAFA
Template:Flagicon Afghanistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Template:Flagicon Iran 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2*
Template:Flagicon Kyrgyzstan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0* 0* 2 1* 1* 2 2 2 1* 0
Template:Flagicon Tajikistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1* 1* 1* 1* 2 2 2 2 1* 2
Template:Flagicon Turkmenistan 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1* 1* 1* 2 1* 2 2 2 2* 1*
Template:Flagicon Uzbekistan 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1
Total 2 2 2 2 0 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 7 7 7 4 6
WAFF
Template:Flagicon Bahrain 0 0 1 1 2 2 1 0 0 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1* 1*
Template:Flagicon Iraq 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 1
Template:Flagicon Jordan 0 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 1 2
Template:Flagicon Kuwait 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 3 3 2 2 2 0 0 0 2 2 1 2 2 1*
Template:Flagicon Lebanon 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0
Template:Flagicon Oman 1 0 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1* 2 2 2 1* 1* 0 2 1* 0
Template:Flagicon Palestine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 1* 2 0* 0* 1 1 2 2 1* 0
Template:Flagicon Qatar 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Template:Flagicon Saudi Arabia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Template:Flagicon Syria 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 3 2 1* 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2* 0
Template:Flagicon United Arab Emirates 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2*
Template:Flagicon Yemen 1 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0* 0* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 6 4 6 10 10 17 16 17 16 14 14 14 14 12 12 12 12 11 12 12 9
Total
Finals 18 18 20 24 20 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 34 36 36 39 37 37 36 32
Qualifying 18 18 20 24 20 32 31 32 33 33 34 41 40 50 44 43 48 43 43 49 36

Prize money

The prize money as of the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two are as follows, in United States dollar (USD):[8]

Round Teams Amount
Per team Total
Final (Champions) 1 $2.5 million
Final (Runners-up) 1 $1 million
Semi-finals 4 $240,000 $960,000
Quarter-finals 8 $160,000 $1,280,000
Round of 16 16 $80,000 $1,280,000
Group stage 32 $300,000 $9,600,000
Total 32 $16,620,000

Marketing

Sponsorship

The tournament has been sponsored by a group of multinational corporations, in contrast to the single main sponsor typically found in national top-flight leagues.

Official Global Partners

Official Global Supporters

Records and statistics

Results

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". {{#section:List of AFC Cup and AFC Champions League Two finals|ACLTwo_finals bracket}}

Performance by clubs

Template:AFC Cup performance by club

Performance by nations

Nation Titles Runners-up Total
Template:Fba 4 3 7
Template:Fba 3 2 5
Template:Fba 3 1 4
Template:Fba 2 2 4
Template:Fba 2 1 3
Template:Fba 1 3 4
Template:Fba 1 1 2
Template:Fba 1 1 2
Template:Fba 1 0 1
Template:Fba 1 0 1
Template:Fba 1 0 1
Template:Fba 0 2 2
Template:Fba 0 1 1
Template:Fba 0 1 1
Template:Fba 0 1 1

1

Template:Fba 0 1 1

<templatestyles src="Col-begin/styles.css"/>

See also

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Template:Portal bar Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:AFC Champions League Two winners Template:AFC men's competitions Template:Asian sport club competitions Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:AFC Champions League Two top scorers

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=AFC_Champions_League_Two&oldid=1740208"