ACL Two 2024/25: Group Stage Kicks Off with 32 Teams Battling for Glory

The AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two) is set to kick off its 2024/25 season next week, with 32 teams from 23 member associations gearing up for action. This revamped competition, formerly known as the AFC Cup, features a larger pool of teams than any other AFC club tournament and will see 14 clubs make their debut. The group stage, which is divided into West and East regions, runs from September 17 to December 5 in a home-and-away round-robin format.

In the West region, the opening match will take place in Amman, Jordan, where Al Wehdat will face Iran’s Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan SC. Al Wehdat, three-time AFC Cup semi-finalists, are making their 13th appearance in continental competition, while Sepahan are set for their first ACL Two experience. The next match of note sees FC Istiklol of Tajikistan take on Sharjah FC from the United Arab Emirates. Istiklol, two-time AFC Cup runners-up, will hope to capitalize on their home advantage at the Republican Central Stadium in Dushanbe.

The action continues on September 18 with matches across three groups in the West. India’s Mohun Bagan Super Giant will host Tajikistan’s FC Ravshan in Group A. Mohun Bagan, fresh off their first Indian league shield victory, will aim for a strong start at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium. Meanwhile, Al Wakrah SC of Qatar will make their first appearance in the competition as they face Iran’s Tractor FC at the Al Janoub Stadium. In Bahrain, Al Khaldiya SC, the reigning domestic champions, will square off against Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun FC, who previously reached the AFC Champions League Round of 16.

A particularly exciting clash will occur in Baghdad, where Iraqi powerhouse Air Force SC, three-time AFC Cup winners, will meet Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr FC in a rematch of the 2018 AFC Cup final. Air Force SC is targeting a fourth title, while Altyn Asyr, the first Turkmen side to reach an AFC final, will aim for another deep run. Kuwait SC, another three-time AFC Cup champion, will host Uzbekistan’s PFC Nasaf in Group D, while Shabab Al Ahli from the UAE, finalists in the 2015 AFC Champions League, will welcome Jordan’s Al Hussein in Dubai.

Over in the East region, Hong Kong’s Lee Man will kick off their campaign on September 18 with a home match against Vietnam’s Nam Dinh FC at the Mong Kok Stadium. Lee Man, fresh off an unbeaten domestic season, will be looking to continue their strong form on the continental stage. Thai FA Cup winners Bangkok United will host Singapore’s Tampines Rovers FC, who are the most experienced side in this year’s competition with 14 appearances.

The following day, Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima, three-time J1 League champions, will make their ACL Two debut against Kaya FC-Iloilo from the Philippines at the Hiroshima Soccer Stadium. Sydney FC, record five-time A-League Men champions from Australia, will also make their debut in this competition, facing Eastern of Hong Kong at the Jubilee Stadium.

Further exciting matchups include Thailand’s Muangthong United taking on Malaysia’s Selangor FC, and the Philippines’ Dynamic Herb Cebu FC facing two-time ACL champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC of Korea. Indonesia’s Persib Bandung will also be in action, hosting Thailand’s Port FC, while Singapore’s Lion City Sailors will meet Zhejiang FC of China.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16, which will be held in February 2025. The tournament will then progress through the quarterfinals in March, semifinals in April, and culminate in a single-leg final on May 17, 2025. As the group stage unfolds, teams from across the continent will look to make their mark on this highly competitive tournament, with a place in the final at stake.