PSM Makassar and Persija Jakarta Invited to 2024/2025 ASEAN Club Championship: Potential Opponents and Format Details

ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) has extended invitations to Indonesian clubs PSM Makassar and Persija Jakarta to participate in the upcoming 2024/2025 ASEAN Club Championship (ACC). PSM and Persija are among the teams that have qualified directly for the group stage of the tournament.

Joining them in the group stage are clubs from Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur City and Terengganu, as well as Belestier Khalsa from Singapore. However, the remaining five slots for the group stage are yet to be determined, with two clubs from Thailand, two from Vietnam, and one from the Philippines still vying for qualification.

In addition, four teams including Master 7 from Laos and Kasuka from Brunei will compete for the remaining two tickets to the group stage. There is also representation from Cambodia and Myanmar in the playoffs.

While PSM Makassar has yet to confirm their participation in the ACC, the club’s Media Officer Sulaiman Abdul Karim stated that they are still in discussions regarding the invitation from AFF. PSM earned their spot in the tournament after clinching the League 1 title for the 2022/2023 season, with Persija finishing as runners-up.

The ASEAN Club Championship, organized by AFF, aims to bring together champion clubs from member countries. Initially launched in 2003 as a biennial event to determine the region’s top clubs, the tournament went on hiatus until its revival in 2005.

The tournament lineup includes a mix of club champions and runners-up from various leagues across Southeast Asia. The participating clubs range from recent league champions and cup semifinalists to fourth-place finishers in their respective leagues.

As the anticipation builds for the 2024/2025 ACC, fans eagerly await the final confirmation of PSM Makassar’s participation in the prestigious tournament. Stay tuned for more updates on the ASEAN Club Championship as the competition approaches.