AFC Champions League: The most important tournament in the yellow continent
The AFC Champions League is the most important tournament at the club level in Asia, and is considered the counterpart of the European Champions League in the old continent. The tournament is supervised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and brings together the strongest Asian clubs in a fierce competition to obtain the continental title and qualify for the Club World Cup.
History of the tournament
The tournament was launched for the first time in 1967 under the name of the Asian Club Championship, and was held in a gathering system in one country. In 2003, the tournament system was modified to become its current form under the name of the AFC Champions League, where the group stage was introduced and the number of participating teams was increased.
Tournament system
The tournament witnesses the participation of prominent teams from East Asia and West Asia, where the teams are divided based on geographical regions until the semi-finals. The local champions and the best teams qualify according to the AFC classification, and the competition begins from the group stage, passing through the knockout stages until reaching the final.
Current tournament system:
Group stage: includes 40 teams divided into 10 groups.
Round of 16: Group winners qualify with the best second-placed teams.
Knockout rounds: Knockout matches until the final.
Final: Home and away between the East Asian champion and the West Asian champion.
Most crowned clubs
Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia is the most crowned club in the AFC Champions League, having won the tournament 4 times (1991, 2000, 2019, 2021). It is followed by clubs such as Pohang Steelers of South Korea (3 titles) and Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan (3 titles).
Importance of the tournament
The tournament grants its champion a direct seat in the Club World Cup.
It provides huge financial prizes to the clubs, which enhances their financial and sporting status.
It is a competitive arena for major clubs such as Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, Al Sadd, Al Ain, Kashima Antlers, and Urawa Reds.
It helps develop Asian football by raising the level of competition between teams.
Last Edition
In the last edition of the tournament, Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds were crowned champions after defeating Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in the final on aggregate.
The Future of the AFC Champions League
The AFC is planning to make changes to the tournament starting in 2024, with a new format that could include increasing the number of teams, raising the prize money, and improving the qualification system for the Club World Cup.
Conclusion
The AFC Champions League remains the most important club tournament on the continent, witnessing intense competition between clubs aspiring to continental glory and qualifying for the world. With continued development, the popularity of the tournament is expected to increase even more in the coming years.
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