Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced changes to the structure and format of the Asian club football competition. with a new level of competition From the original 2 tiers (AFC Champions League, AFC Cup) have been changed to 3 tiers in the season 2024/25 for increase efficiency and quality competition.
for the format of the Asian Club Football Championship To start the new format for the 2024/25 season, there are three levels of adjustments:
- Tier 1 24 teams (ELITE Club Championship)
In the Tier 1 competition, representatives will be divided into the West Zone 12 teams and the East Zone 12 teams, each team participating in the competition. A total of 8 matches will be played, which will be in the form of different teams. And has been a home team for 4 matches and a home team for 4 matches and will select the teams with the best performance of the top 8 of both groups, including 16 teams, through to the final 16 teams that will compete in a home-away style. While the quarter-finals to the finals will be a one-match match. using the center field to compete
- Tier 2, 32 teams
The Tier 2 tournament will have a total of 32 teams participating. And will be divided into 8 groups, 4 teams per group, competing in a meeting in the group (home-away) lead the group champion team and group runner-up Qualified for the knockout round of 16 teams, quarterfinals and semi-finals There will be a total of 2 home and away matches. While the finals will compete in a single match.
- Tier 3 20 teams
Tier 3 competitions will have 20 teams participating and will be divided into 5 groups of 4 teams each playing a single round robin. no home-away using the center field to compete And will bring 3 western group champions, 2nd place, the best of the west group, 1 team, 2 eastern group champions, 2 eastern group runners-up, a total of 8 teams through to the quarterfinals whereby the quarterfinals and semi-finals will compete in a home-away style before deciding in the finals one-shot finish
*However, teams eliminated from the Tier 1 Qualifiers will have a chance to play in Tier 2, while teams eliminated from the Tier 2 Qualifiers will have a chance to play in Tier 3.
And from the announcement of the AFC Club Competition Ranking for the 2022 season, Malaysia got a total score of 29.951 points, moving up to 13th place in Asia. and also ranks 6th in East Asia
for scoring in this round Points will be tallied from the 2014 season until 2022, taking into account both domestic league scores and AFC results.
with the right to participate in the competition of the Liga Super Malaysia which was ranked No. 4 in East Asia will have the right to participate in the 1+1 team competition as follows
- League Stage quota for Tier 1 competition, 1 team
- Group Stage quota for Tier 2 competition, 1 team
Credit Photo : Victor Fraile / Power Sport Images for FMA
