AFC Champions League
FIFA Region
AFC
Season
2021
Location
Asia/Australia
Abbreviation
AFCCL

Summary

The 2021 AFC Champions League (AFCCL) is Asia's premier club football tournament where 52 top premier league/1st division club teams from 23 eligible AFC F/As (football associations) are represented. The 2021 winner will play in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup.

The 20221 AFCCL Team Allocation table details club team slots earned by each F/A for the 2022 AFCCL. Overall F/A rankings are based on the AFC F/A Rankings published on 29 November 2019.

Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR1) is the defending AFCCL champion.

More Info...

2021 AFCCL Team Allocation
 AFCAFCCL Stage
F/ARankGroupPlayoffPrelim
China PR1310
Qatar2400
Japan3310
Saudi Arabia4310
Korea Republic5220
Iran6200
United Arab Emirates7220
Thailand8220
Iraq9110
Uzbekistan10110
Australia11111
Jordan12100
Philippines13101
India15100
Vietnam16100
Tajikistan17100
Malaysia18100
Singapore19100
Turkmenistan20100
Syria22010
Hong Kong23100
Myanmar27001
Indonesia28200

Competition Structure

Stage# TeamsNew Teams Entering This RoundTeams From Previous RoundFormat
Preliminary Round42 teams each from Australia, 1 team each from Myanmar and the Philipines 2 Knockout matches, most goals advance
Playoff162 teams each from Iraq, Korea Republic, Thailand, and UAE; 1 team each from Australia, China PR, Iran, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan1 winner from Preliminary Round8 Knockout matches, most goals advance
Group403 teams each from Iran, Japan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand; 2 teams each from China PR and UAE; 1 team each from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Iraq, Jordan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Tajikstan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam8 winners from Playoff stage10 groups of 4 with Home/Away matches (played at centralized venues) against each team in group, top team in each group and the three best 2nd place teams from the East and West Regions advance
Round of 1616None8 group winners, 8 group runners-up8 sets of Home/Away matches, highest aggregate goals advances
Quarterfinals8None8 winners from Round of 164 sets of Home/Away matches, highest aggregate goals advances
Semifinals4None4 winners from Quarterfinals2 sets of Home/Away matches, highest aggregate goals advances
Final2None2 winners from Semifinals1 match played at a neutral site

Final

DateHome Status RoadVenue
Tue - 23 Nov 2021
 Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) (KSA1) 20 Pohang Steelers (KOR1)King Fahd International Stadium

Semifinals

DateHome Status RoadVenue
AggregateAl-Nassr FC (KSA1) 23 Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) (KSA1) 
19.10.21Al-Nassr FC 12 Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh)King Saud University Stadium
20.10.21Ulsan Hyundai FC 11 Pohang SteelersJeonju World Cup Stadium
 Pohang Steelers advances on PKs (5-4). 

Quarterfinals

DateHome Status RoadVenue
AggregateAl-Wahda FC (UAE1) 45 Al-Nassr FC (KSA1) 
16.10.21Al-Wahda FC 15 Al-Nassr FCKing Saud University Stadium
16.10.21Persepolis FC 03 Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh)Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium
17.10.21Pohang Steelers 30 Nagoya Grampus EightJeonju World Cup Stadium
17.10.21Jeonbuk Motors 23 Ulsan Hyundai FCJeonju World Cup Stadium

Round of 16

DateHome Status RoadVenue
AggregateEsteghlal FC (IRN1) 26 Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) (KSA1) 
13.09.21Esteghlal FC 02 Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh)Za'abeel Stadium
14.09.21Nagoya Grampus Eight 42 Daegu FCToyota Stadium (Toyota)
14.09.21Ulsan Hyundai FC 00 Kawasaki FrontaleUlsan Munsu Football Stadium
14.09.21FK Istiqlol 01 Persepolis FCPamir Stadium
14.09.21Al-Nassr FC 10 Tractor Sazi Tabriz FCKhalifa International Stadium
14.09.21Sharjah FC 11 Al-Wahda FCSharjah Stadium
 Al-Wahda FC advances on PKs (5-4). 
15.09.21Jeonbuk Motors 11 BG Pathum UnitedJeonju World Cup Stadium
15.09.21Cerezo Osaka 01 Pohang SteelersNagai Stadium

Group Stage

 Group ALeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
1Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) (KSA1)63 -1-210-119231 -1-1455032 -0-16642
2FK Istiqlol (TJK1)63 -1-210-108231 -1-1453232 -0-16550
3Shabab Al Ahli Club (UAE1)62 -1-37-66031 -0-2334-131 -1-14321
4FK AGMK (UZB1)62 -1-37-913-431 -0-2347-331 -1-1456-1
Round of 16
Possible Round of 16
DateHome Status RoadVenue
15.04.21FK Istiqlol 00 Shabab Al Ahli ClubKing Fahd International Stadium
 Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) 22 FK AGMKPrince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium
18.04.21Shabab Al Ahli Club 02 Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh)Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium
 FK AGMK 23 FK IstiqlolKing Fahd International Stadium
21.04.21Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) 31 FK IstiqlolPrince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium
 FK AGMK 21 Shabab Al Ahli ClubKing Fahd International Stadium
24.04.21FK Istiqlol 41 Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh)Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium
 Shabab Al Ahli Club 31 FK AGMKKing Fahd International Stadium
27.04.21Shabab Al Ahli Club 01 FK IstiqlolKing Fahd International Stadium
 FK AGMK 03 Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh)Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium
30.04.21Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) 02 Shabab Al Ahli ClubPrince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium
 FK Istiqlol 12 FK AGMKKing Fahd International Stadium
 Group BLeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
1Sharjah FC (UAE1)63 -2-111-96332 -0-1653231 -2-05431
2Tractor Sazi Tabriz FC (IRN1)62 -4-010-63331 -2-0510131 -2-05532
3Pakhtakor Tashkent FK (UZB1)61 -4-17-68-231 -2-0554130 -2-1214-3
4Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (IRQ1)60 -2-42-26-430 -2-1223-130 -0-3003-3
Round of 16
Possible Round of 16
DateHome Status RoadVenue
 Sharjah FC 10 Al-Quwa Al-JawiyaSharjah Stadium
17.04.21Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 00 Pakhtakor Tashkent FKSharjah Stadium
 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 23 Sharjah FCSharjah Stadium
29.04.21Pakhtakor Tashkent FK 10 Al-Quwa Al-JawiyaSharjah Stadium
 Group CLeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
1Esteghlal FC (IRN1)63 -2-111-148632 -1-0784431 -1-14642
2Al-Duhail SC (QAT1)62 -3-19-119232 -1-0774330 -2-1245-1
3Al-Ahli Saudi SFC (KSA1)62 -3-19-98131 -2-0532131 -1-14660
4Al-Shorta SC (IRQ1)61 -0-53-312-931 -0-2327-530 -0-3015-4
Round of 16
Possible Round of 16
DateHome Status RoadVenue
15.04.21Al-Duhail SC 20 Al-Shorta SCKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Jeddah)
 Esteghlal FC 52 Al-Ahli Saudi SFCKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Jeddah)
18.04.21Al-Ahli Saudi SFC 11 Al-Duhail SCKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Jeddah)
 Al-Shorta SC 03 Esteghlal FCKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Jeddah)
21.04.21Al-Duhail SC 43 Esteghlal FCKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Jeddah)
 Al-Shorta SC 03 Al-Ahli Saudi SFCKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Jeddah)
24.04.21Al-Ahli Saudi SFC 21 Al-Shorta SCKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Jeddah)
 Esteghlal FC 22 Al-Duhail SCKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Jeddah)
27.04.21Al-Shorta SC 21 Al-Duhail SCKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Jeddah)
 Al-Ahli Saudi SFC 00 Esteghlal FCKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Jeddah)
30.04.21Esteghlal FC 10 Al-Shorta SCKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Jeddah)
 Al-Duhail SC 11 Al-Ahli Saudi SFCKing Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Jeddah)
 Group DLeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
1Al-Nassr FC (KSA1)63 -2-111-95432 -0-1663331 -2-05321
2Al-Sadd SC (QAT1)63 -1-210-97231 -1-1454132 -0-16431
3Al -Wehdat SC (JOR1)62 -1-37-47-331 -1-1412-131 -0-2335-2
4Foolad Khuzestan FC (IRN1)61 -2-35-36-331 -1-1422030 -1-2114-3
Round of 16
Possible Round of 16
DateHome Status RoadVenue
14.04.21Al -Wehdat SC 00 Al-Nassr FCKing Saud University Stadium
 Al-Sadd SC 11 Foolad Khuzestan FCKing Fahd International Stadium
17.04.21Al-Nassr FC 31 Al-Sadd SCKing Saud University Stadium
 Foolad Khuzestan FC 10 Al -Wehdat SCKing Fahd International Stadium
20.04.21Al-Sadd SC 31 Al -Wehdat SCKing Fahd International Stadium
 Foolad Khuzestan FC 11 Al-Nassr FCKing Saud University Stadium
23.04.21Al -Wehdat SC 02 Al-Sadd SCPrince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium
 Al-Nassr FC 20 Foolad Khuzestan FCKing Saud University Stadium
26.04.21Al-Nassr FC 12 Al -Wehdat SCKing Saud University Stadium
 Foolad Khuzestan FC 01 Al-Sadd SCPrince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium
29.04.21Al-Sadd SC 12 Al-Nassr FCKing Saud University Stadium
 Al -Wehdat SC 10 Foolad Khuzestan FCPrince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium
 Group ELeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
1Persepolis FC (IRN1)65 -0-115-145933 -0-0973432 -0-16725
2Al-Wahda FC (UAE1)64 -1-113-73432 -1-0742232 -0-16312
3FC Goa (IND1)60 -3-33-29-730 -1-2106-630 -2-1223-1
4Al-Rayyan SC (QAT1)60 -2-42-612-630 -1-2125-330 -1-2147-3
Round of 16
Possible Round of 16
DateHome Status RoadVenue
14.04.21Persepolis FC 10 Al-Wahda FCFatadora Stadium
 FC Goa 00 Al-Rayyan SCFatadora Stadium
17.04.21Al-Wahda FC 00 FC GoaFatadora Stadium
 Al-Rayyan SC 13 Persepolis FCFatadora Stadium
20.04.21Al-Wahda FC 32 Al-Rayyan SCFatadora Stadium
 Persepolis FC 21 FC GoaFatadora Stadium
23.04.21Al-Rayyan SC 01 Al-Wahda FCFatadora Stadium
 FC Goa 04 Persepolis FCFatadora Stadium
26.04.21Al-Wahda FC 10 Persepolis FCFatadora Stadium
 Al-Rayyan SC 11 FC GoaFatadora Stadium
29.04.21Persepolis FC 42 Al-Rayyan SCFatadora Stadium
 FC Goa 02 Al-Wahda FCFatadora Stadium
 Group FLeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
1Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR1)66 -0-018-1311233 -0-0971633 -0-09606
2BG Pathum United (THA1)64 -0-212-106432 -0-1663332 -0-16431
3Viettel FC (VIE1)62 -0-46-79-231 -0-2324-231 -0-23550
4Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI1)60 -0-60-216-1430 -0-3009-930 -0-3027-5
Round of 16
Possible Round of 16
DateHome Status RoadVenue
26.06.21BG Pathum United 41 Kaya FC-IloiloLEO Stadium
29.06.21Ulsan Hyundai FC 20 BG Pathum UnitedLEO Stadium
02.07.21Kaya FC-Iloilo 03 Ulsan Hyundai FCLEO Stadium
05.07.21Ulsan Hyundai FC 21 Kaya FC-IloiloLEO Stadium
08.07.21Kaya FC-Iloilo 01 BG Pathum UnitedLEO Stadium
11.07.21Viettel FC 10 Kaya FC-IloiloLEO Stadium
 Group GLeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
1Nagoya Grampus Eight (JPN1)65 -1-016-1421233 -0-0981732 -1-07615
2Pohang Steelers (KOR1)63 -2-111-95432 -1-0772531 -1-1423-1
3Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS1)61 -1-44-39-630 -1-2103-331 -0-2336-3
4Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC (THA1)60 -2-42-010-1030 -1-2105-530 -1-2105-5
Round of 16
Possible Round of 16
DateHome Status RoadVenue
22.06.21Pohang Steelers 20 Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FCRajamangala National Stadium
 Johor Darul Ta'zim 01 Nagoya Grampus EightRajamangala National Stadium
25.06.21Nagoya Grampus Eight 30 Pohang SteelersRajamangala National Stadium
 Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC 01 Johor Darul Ta'zimRajamangala National Stadium
28.06.21Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC 04 Nagoya Grampus EightRajamangala National Stadium
 Pohang Steelers 41 Johor Darul Ta'zimRajamangala National Stadium
01.07.21Johor Darul Ta'zim 02 Pohang SteelersRajamangala National Stadium
 Nagoya Grampus Eight 30 Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FCRajamangala National Stadium
04.07.21Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC 00 Pohang SteelersRajamangala National Stadium
 Nagoya Grampus Eight 21 Johor Darul Ta'zimRajamangala National Stadium
07.07.21Pohang Steelers 11 Nagoya Grampus EightRajamangala National Stadium
 Johor Darul Ta'zim 00 Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FCRajamangala National Stadium
 Group HLeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
1Jeonbuk Motors (KOR1)65 -1-016-2251733 -0-091321132 -1-07936
2Gamba Osaka (JPN1)62 -3-19-157831 -2-05114731 -1-14431
3Sydney FC (AUS1)62 -2-28-87131 -1-1434-131 -1-14532
4Tampines Rovers FC (SIN1)60 -0-60-127-2630 -0-3009-930 -0-30118-17
Round of 16
Possible Round of 16
DateHome Status RoadVenue
25.06.21Tampines Rovers FC 02 Gamba OsakaStadion Lokomotiv (Toshkent)
 Jeonbuk Motors 21 Sydney FCMilliy Stadion
28.06.21Sydney FC 10 Tampines Rovers FCMilliy Stadion
 Gamba Osaka 22 Jeonbuk MotorsStadion Lokomotiv (Toshkent)
01.07.21Jeonbuk Motors 90 Tampines Rovers FCStadion Lokomotiv (Toshkent)
 Sydney FC 11 Gamba OsakaMilliy Stadion
04.07.21Tampines Rovers FC 04 Jeonbuk MotorsMilliy Stadion
 Gamba Osaka 11 Sydney FCStadion Lokomotiv (Toshkent)
07.07.21Gamba Osaka 81 Tampines Rovers FCMilliy Stadion
 Sydney FC 13 Jeonbuk MotorsStadion Lokomotiv (Toshkent)
10.07.21Jeonbuk Motors 21 Gamba OsakaMilliy Stadion
 Tampines Rovers FC 03 Sydney FCStadion Lokomotiv (Toshkent)
 Group ILeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
1Kawasaki Frontale (JPN1)66 -0-018-2732433 -0-091521333 -0-0912111
2Daegu FC (KOR1)64 -0-212-2261632 -0-161331032 -0-16936
3United City FC (PHI1)61 -1-44-424-2030 -1-2117-631 -0-23317-14
4Beijing Guoan FC (CHN1)60 -1-51-323-2030 -0-30213-1130 -1-21110-9
Round of 16
Possible Round of 16
DateHome Status RoadVenue
26.06.21United City FC 11 Beijing Guoan FCMilliy Stadion
 Kawasaki Frontale 32 Daegu FCStadion Lokomotiv (Toshkent)
29.06.21Daegu FC 70 United City FCMilliy Stadion
 Beijing Guoan FC 07 Kawasaki FrontaleStadion Lokomotiv (Toshkent)
02.07.21Kawasaki Frontale 80 United City FCStadion Lokomotiv (Toshkent)
 Daegu FC 50 Beijing Guoan FCMilliy Stadion
05.07.21United City FC 02 Kawasaki FrontaleStadion Lokomotiv (Toshkent)
 Beijing Guoan FC 03 Daegu FCMilliy Stadion
08.07.21Beijing Guoan FC 23 United City FCStadion Lokomotiv (Toshkent)
 Daegu FC 13 Kawasaki FrontaleMilliy Stadion
11.07.21Kawasaki Frontale 40 Beijing Guoan FCStadion Lokomotiv (Toshkent)
 United City FC 04 Daegu FCMilliy Stadion
 Group JLeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
1Cerezo Osaka (JPN1)64 -2-014-1321132 -1-0782632 -1-07505
2Kitchee SC (HKG1)63 -2-111-63332 -1-0730331 -1-14330
3Port FC (THA1)62 -2-28-108231 -1-1444031 -1-14642
4Guangzhou FC (CHN2)60 -0-60-117-1630 -0-3018-730 -0-3009-9
Round of 16
Possible Round of 16
DateHome Status RoadVenue
24.06.21Guangzhou FC 02 Cerezo OsakaChang Arena
 Kitchee SC 20 Port FCChang Arena
27.06.21Port FC 30 Guangzhou FCChang Arena
 Cerezo Osaka 21 Kitchee SCChang Arena
30.06.21Cerezo Osaka 11 Port FCChang Arena
 Guangzhou FC 01 Kitchee SCChang Arena
03.07.21Port FC 03 Cerezo OsakaChang Arena
 Kitchee SC 10 Guangzhou FCChang Arena
06.07.21Cerezo Osaka 50 Guangzhou FCChang Arena
 Port FC 11 Kitchee SCChang Arena
09.07.21Kitchee SC 00 Cerezo OsakaChang Arena
 Guangzhou FC 15 Port FCChang Arena

Playoffs

DateHome Status RoadVenue
Wed - 7 Apr 2021
 Al-Gharafa SC (QAT1) 01 FK AGMK (UZB1)Qatar SC Stadium
 Al-Wahda FC (UAE1) 21 Al Zawra'a SC (IRQ1)Al-Nahyan Stadium
 Al-Wehda Club (KSA1) 11 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (IRQ1)King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Jeddah)
 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya advances on PKs (3-2) 
Sat - 10 Apr 2021
 Foolad Khuzestan FC (IRN1) 40 Al-Ain FC (UAE1)Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium
Tue - 13 Apr 2021
 Pohang Steelers (KOR1) CANC Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC (THA1)Pohang Steel Yard
Tue - 22 Jun 2021

Preliminary Round 1

DateHome Status RoadVenue
Tue - 6 Apr 2021
Sat - 19 Jun 2021