2023–24 AFC Cup#Preliminary round 1

The 47 AFC member associations are ranked based on their club's performance over the last four years in AFC competitions (their national team's FIFA World Rankings are no longer considered).{{cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PDFFiles/afc-club-competitions-ranking-mechanics|title=AFC Club Competitions Ranking Mechanics|website=the-afc.com|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|access-date=2021-11-08|archive-date=2019-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421024129/http://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PdfFiles/afc-club-competitions-ranking-mechanics|url-status=live}} The slots are allocated by the following criteria according to the Entry Manual:{{cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/documents/entry-manual-for-afc-club-competitions-2021-edition|title=Entry Manual for AFC Club Competitions (2021 Edition)|website=the-afc.com|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|access-date=2021-11-08|archive-date=2020-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101034325/https://www.the-afc.com/documents/entry-manual-for-afc-club-competitions-2021-edition|url-status=live}}

• The associations are split into five zones (Article 5.1):
• West Asia Zone consists of the 12 associations from the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF).
• South Asia Zone consists of the 7 associations from the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).
• Central Asia Zone consists of the 6 associations from Central Asian Football Association (CAFA).
• ASEAN Zone consists of the 12 associations from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF).
• East Asia Zone consists of the 10 associations from the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF).
• The AFC may reallocate one or more associations to another zone if necessary for sporting reasons

Reallocation of Regions

• Excluding the top five associations in each region for AFC Champions League slot allocation, all other associations are eligible to enter the AFC Cup.
• The teams from associations ranked 6th, 11th and 12th which are eliminated in the AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs enter the AFC Cup group stage (Article 3.2). The following rules are applied:
• The associations ranked 6th in both the West Region and the East Region, while allocated one direct slot in the AFC Cup group stage without taking away any direct slot from other associations, are not ranked in each zone for AFC Cup slot allocation (Article 5.3).{{cite web|url=https://www.pfl.uz/uz/news/detail/12218|title=2021-2022 йилги ОЧЛ ва ОФК кубоги мусобақалари учун йўлланмалар тақсимоти эълон қилинди|publisher=Uzbekistan Professional Football League|date=29 July 2020|access-date=8 November 2021|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027181308/https://www.pfl.uz/uz/news/detail/12218|url-status=live}}
• If they advance to the AFC Champions League group stage, the AFC Cup group stage slot is filled by the standby team from their association if such team are available (Article 5.12).
• The rules above do not apply to the AFC Champions League title holders and AFC Cup title holders which are allocated AFC Champions League play-off slots should they not qualify for the tournament through domestic performance.
• In the West Asia Zone and the ASEAN Zone, there are three groups in the group stage, including 9 direct slots, with the 3 remaining slots filled through qualifying play-offs (Article 5.2). The slots in each zone are distributed as follows:
• The associations ranked 1st to 3rd are each allocated two direct slots.
• The associations ranked 4th to 6th are each allocated one direct slot and one play-off slot.
• The associations ranked 7th or below are each allocated one play-off slot.
• If any zone has an association ranked 6th for AFC Champions League slot allocation, which is allocated one direct slot in the AFC Cup group stage, there are 10 direct slots, with the 2 remaining slots filled through qualifying play-offs.
• In the South Asia Zone, the Central Asia Zone, and the East Asia Zone, there is one group in the group stage, including 3 direct slots, with the 1 remaining slot filled through qualifying play-offs (Article 5.2). The slots in each zone are distributed as follows:{{cite web|url=http://fft.tj/ofitsialno-chempion-tadzhikistana-2020-vystupit-v-gruppovom-etape-ligi-chempionov-afk-2021/|title=ОФИЦИАЛЬНО: ЧЕМПИОН ТАДЖИКИСТАНА-2020 ВЫСТУПИТ В ГРУППОВОМ ЭТАПЕ ЛИГИ ЧЕМПИОНОВ АФК-2021!|publisher=Tajikistan Football Federation|date=9 December 2019|access-date=8 November 2021|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027042344/http://fft.tj/ofitsialno-chempion-tadzhikistana-2020-vystupit-v-gruppovom-etape-ligi-chempionov-afk-2021/|url-status=live}}
• The associations ranked 1st to 3rd are each allocated one direct slot and one play-off slot.
• The associations ranked 4th or below are each allocated one play-off slot.
• If any zone has an association ranked 6th for AFC Champions League slot allocation, which is allocated one direct slot in the AFC Cup group stage, there are 4 direct slots, and to ensure equal opportunity in each zone, another group is added to this zone in the group stage, with the 4 remaining slots filled through qualifying play-offs (Article 5.4.1).
• If any zone has at least 7 play-off slots, to ensure equal opportunity in each zone, another group is added to this zone in the group stage, with the 5 remaining slots filled through qualifying play-offs (Article 5.4.2).
• If any association with direct slots do not fulfill any one of the AFC Cup criteria, they have all their direct slots converted into play-off slots. The direct slots given up are redistributed to the highest eligible association by the following criteria (Articles 5.7 and 5.8):
• For each association, the maximum number of total slots is two (Articles 3.4 and 3.5).
• If any association is allocated one additional direct slot, one play-off slot is annulled and not redistributed.
• If any association with only play-off slot(s), including those mentioned above, do not fulfill the minimum AFC Cup criteria, the play-off slot(s) are annulled and not redistributed (Articles 5.10 and 5.11).
• For each association, the maximum number of total slots is one-third of the total number of eligible teams (excluding foreign teams) in the top division (Article 5.6). If this rule is applied, any direct slots given up are redistributed by the same criteria as mentioned above, and play-off slots are annulled and not redistributed (Article 9.10).
• All participating teams must be granted an AFC Champions League or AFC Cup license, and, apart from cup winners, finish in the top half of their top division (Articles 7.1 and 9.5). If any association does not have enough teams which satisfy these criteria, any direct slots given up are redistributed by the same criteria as mentioned above, and play-off slots are annulled and not redistributed (Article 9.9).
• If any team granted a license refuses to participate, their slot, either direct or play-off, is annulled and not redistributed (Article 9.11).

For the 2023–24 AFC Cup, the associations are allocated slots according to the November 2021 AFC club competitions ranking,{{cite web |title=Slot allocation for AFC Champions League and AFC Cup 2023 confirmed |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/cfed/news/slot_allocation_for_afc_champions_league_and_afc_cup_2023_confirmed.html |website=AFC |access-date=2022-03-22 |archive-date=2021-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230152919/https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/cfed/news/slot_allocation_for_afc_champions_league_and_afc_cup_2023_confirmed.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_ranking.html|title=AFC Club Competitions Ranking|website=the-afc.com|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|access-date=2021-12-10|archive-date=2022-01-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107182849/https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_ranking.html/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://footyrankings.com/crank2021/|title=AFC Country Ranking 2021|publisher=FootyRankings|date=24 November 2021|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=2 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902060747/https://footyrankings.com/crank2021/|url-status=live}} which takes into account their performance in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup during the period between 2018 and 2021.{{Cref2|2020}}

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;Notes

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{{Cnote2|2020|Competition in 2020: The 2020 season is not included in the overall ranking due to the cancellation of the remaining matches in the 2020 AFC Cup caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.}}

{{Cnote2|AFC|AFC Licensing (AFC): Association did not have a licensed club.{{cite web|url=https://assets.the-afc.com/downloads/club-licensing/List-of-Licensed-Clubs-for-the-AFC-Cup-2023-24.pdf|title=List of Licensed Clubs for the 2023/24 AFC Cup|website=the-afc.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation}}}}

{{Cnote2|JOR|Jordan (JOR): Jordan are ranked 6th in the West Region for AFC Champions League allocation, and thus are allocated one direct slot in the AFC Cup group stage without taking away any direct slot from other associations.}}

{{Cnote2|VIE|Vietnam (VIE): Vietnam are ranked 6th in the East Region for AFC Champions League allocation, and thus are allocated one direct slot in the AFC Cup group stage without taking away any direct slot from other associations.}}

{{Cnote2 End}}

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;Notes

{{Cnote2 Begin|liststyle=disc}}

{{Cnote2|Note IRQ|Iraq (IRQ): The 2022–23 Iraqi Premier League champions Al-Shorta were not granted an AFC license, therefore league runners-up and 2022–23 Iraq FA Cup winners Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya will participate in the AFC Champions League group stage. The only other licensed Iraqi clubs, Al-Zawraa and Al-Kahrabaa, will therefore participate in the AFC Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/iraqfa/posts/pfbid0SSBGYowK9EvbQTqkvbK854opAYZ3WUKWkgLy86QQFaBjugmQfCf94RFgrAkQAaZ1l|script-title=ar:أندية (الزوراء ، القوة الجوية ، الكهرباء) تحصل على الرخصة الآسيوية للموسم 2023/ 2024، تمهيداً للمشاركة في بطولات الاندية على مستوى القارة|publisher=Iraq Football Association|date=16 May 2023|lang=ar}}}}

{{Cnote2|Note SYR|Syria (SYR): Al-Fotuwa, the 2022–23 Syrian Premier League champion, won 1–0 against Tishreen, the 2021–22 Syrian Premier League champion, in an additional playoff match.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=1250276|script-title=ar:الفتوة يتأهل لكأس الاتحاد الآسيوي بالفوز على تشرين|date=25 June 2023|website=Kooora|language=ar}}}}

{{Cnote2|Note MYA|Myanmar (MYA): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar, the 2022 General Aung San Shield was not held. Instead, the runners-up of the 2022 Myanmar National League will participate in the AFC Cup play-off round.}}

{{Cnote2|Note NEP|Nepal (NEP): Church Boys United, the 2023 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League champions, failed to obtain an AFC license. Instead, the runners-up, Machhindra will participate in the AFC Cup preliminary stage.}}

{{Cnote2|Note PLE|Palestine (PLE): Hilal Al-Quds, the 2022–23 West Bank Premier League runner-up, failed to obtain an AFC license. Instead, the third place, Shabab Al-Khalil will participate in the AFC Cup play-off stage.}}

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The schedule of the competition is as follows.{{Cite web |date= |title=Asian Football Calendar (Aug 2023 - Jul 2024) |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/football_calendar.html |access-date=4 August 2023 |website=The AFC}}

;Notes:

• A = ASEAN
• C = Central Asia
• E = East Asia
• S = South Asia
• W = West Asia

{{main|2023–24 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs}}

{{#lst:2023–24 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs|Preliminary round 1}}

{{OneLegStart}}

|+South Asia Zone

{{OneLegResult|Mohun Bagan SG|IND|{{nowrap|3–1}}|Machhindra|NEP}}

{{OneLegResult|Dhaka Abahani|BAN|{{nowrap|2–1}}|Club Eagles|MDV}}

|}

{{OneLegStart}}

|+Central Asia Zone

{{OneLegResult|Merw Mary|TKM|{{nowrap|1–0}}|Alay Osh|KGZ}}

|}

{{OneLegStart}}

|+ASEAN Zone

{{OneLegResult|Phnom Penh Crown|CAM|{{nowrap|3–0}}|Young Elephants|LAO}}

{{OneLegResult|Yangon United|MYA|{{nowrap|2–1}}|DPMM|BRU}}

|}

{{OneLegStart}}

|+West Asia Zone

{{OneLegResult|Al-Khaldiya|BHR|{{nowrap|2–3}}|Al-Nahda|OMA}}

{{OneLegResult|Al-Ittihad|SYR|{{nowrap|2–1}}|Shabab Al-Khalil|PLE}}

|}

{{OneLegStart}}

|+South Asia Zone

{{OneLegResult|Mohun Bagan SG|IND|{{nowrap|3–1}}|Dhaka Abahani|BAN}}

|}

{{OneLegStart}}

|+Central Asia Zone

{{OneLegResult|Khujand|TJK|{{nowrap|1–2}}|Merw Mary|TKM}}

|}

{{OneLegStart}}

|+ASEAN Zone

{{OneLegResult|Tampines Rovers|SIN|{{nowrap|2–3}}|Phnom Penh Crown|CAM}}

{{OneLegResult|PSM Makassar|IDN|{{nowrap|4–0}}|Yangon United|MYA}}

|}

{{OneLegStart}}

|+East Asia Zone

{{OneLegResult|Monte Carlo|MAC|1–2|Taichung Futuro|TPE}}

|}

{{main|2023–24 AFC Cup group stage}}

{{#lst:2023-24 AFC Cup group stage|Draw}}

{{Location map+ |AFC |width=900 |float=center |caption=Location of the 2023-24 AFC Cup Group Stage teams
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{{clear}}

{{2023–24 AFC Cup group tables|Group A|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules|teamwidth=240}}

{{2023–24 AFC Cup group tables|Group B|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules|teamwidth=240}}

{{2023–24 AFC Cup group tables|Group C|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules|teamwidth=240}}

{{2023–24 AFC Cup group tables|Group D|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules|teamwidth=240}}

{{2023–24 AFC Cup group tables|Group E|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules|teamwidth=240}}

{{2023–24 AFC Cup group tables|Group F|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules|teamwidth=240}}

{{2023–24 AFC Cup group tables|Group G|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules|teamwidth=240}}

{{2023–24 AFC Cup group tables|Group H|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules|teamwidth=240}}

{{2023–24 AFC Cup group tables|Group I|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules|teamwidth=240}}

{{2023–24 AFC Cup group tables|Group runners-up (West Asia Zone)|teamwidth=200}}

{{2023–24 AFC Cup group tables|Group runners-up (ASEAN Zone)}}

{{Main|2023–24 AFC Cup knockout stage}}

{{#lst:2023-24 AFC Cup knockout stage|Format}}

{{#lst:2023-24 AFC Cup knockout stage|Bracket}}

{{#lst:2023-24 AFC Cup knockout stage|Zonal semi-finals}}

{{#lst:2023-24 AFC Cup knockout stage|Zonal finals}}

{{#lst:2023-24 AFC Cup knockout stage|Inter-zone play-off semi-finals}}

{{#lst:2023-24 AFC Cup knockout stage|Inter-zone play-off final}}

{{main article|2024 AFC Cup final}}

In the final, the winners of the West Asia Zonal final and the winners of the Inter-zone play-off final will play each other, with the host team (winners of the West Zone) alternated from the previous season's final.

{{#lst:2024 AFC Cup final|Final}}

{{smalldiv|{{legend|silver|Team eliminated / inactive for this round.}}}}

{{smalldiv|{{legend|#DDDDDD|Player is not in the team but team still active for this round.}}}}

• 2023–24 AFC Champions League
• 2023 AFC Women's Club Championship
• 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite
• 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two
• 2024–25 AFC Challenge League
• 2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-cup/}}

{{AFC Cup seasons}}

{{2023–24 in Asian football (AFC)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:AFC Cup 2023-24}}

2023–24

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