The 2023–24 AFC Champions League knockout stage is scheduled to be played from 12 February 2024 to 18 May 2024.[1] A total of 16 teams will compete in the knockout stage to decide the champions of the 2023–24 AFC Champions League.
Qualified teams
The group winners and three best runners-up in the group stage from each region advanced to the round of 16, with both West Region (Groups A–E) and East Region (Groups F–J) having eight qualified teams.
Region | Group | Winners | Runners-up (best three from each region) |
---|---|---|---|
West Region | A | Al-Ain | Al-Fayha |
B | Nasaf | — | |
C | Al-Ittihad | Sepahan | |
D | Al-Hilal | Navbahor | |
E | Al-Nassr | — | |
East Region | F | Bangkok United | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
G | Yokohama F. Marinos | Shandong Taishan | |
H | Ventforet Kofu | — | |
I | Kawasaki Frontale | Ulsan Hyundai | |
J | Pohang Steelers | — |
Format
In the knockout stage, the 16 teams will play a single-elimination tournament, with the teams split into the two regions until the final. Each tie is played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. The extra time and penalty shoot-out are used to decide the winner if necessary (note that the away goals rule is abolished) (Regulations Article 10.1).[2] The order of matches (home vs away) will be determined at the draw, except for the final. The final is pre-determined on a rotation basis, with the first leg to be hosted by the team from the East region. The match-ups will be determined at a single draw event, scheduled for 28 December 2023.
Schedule
The schedule of the competition is as follows.[1]
Stage | Round | Draw date | First leg | Second leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Knockout stage | Round of 16 | 28 December 2023 | 12–14 February 2024 | 19–21 February 2024 |
Quarter-finals | 4–6 March 2024 | 11–13 March 2024 | ||
Semi-finals | 16–17 April 2024 | 23–24 April 2024 | ||
Final | 11 May 2024 | 18 May 2024 |
Bracket
The bracket of the knockout stage was determined as follows:
Round | Matchups | ||
---|---|---|---|
Round of 16 | (Matchups and order of legs decided by draw, involving 16 qualified teams) | ||
Quarter-finals | (Winners R16-1, R16-3, R16-5 and R16-7 host first leg, Winners R16-2, R16-4, R16-6 and R16-8 host second leg)
| ||
Semi-finals | (Winners QF1 and QF3 host first leg, Winners QF2 and QF4 host second leg)
| ||
Final | (Winner SF2 host first leg, Winner SF1 host second leg, as reversed from previous season's final)
|
The bracket was decided after the draw for the knockout stage, which was held on 28 December 2023, 16:00 MYT (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Round of 16
Format
Teams will play two-legged home and away ties. Sepahan S.C. will be unable to use their home stadium.[lower-alpha 1]
Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nasaf | Al Ain | 12–14 Feb '24 | 19–21 Feb '24 | |
Al-Fayha | Al Nassr | 12–14 Feb '24 | 19–21 Feb '24 | |
Sepahan | Al-Hilal | 12–14 Feb '24 | 19–21 Feb '24 | |
Navbahor | Al-Ittihad | 12–14 Feb '24 | 19–21 Feb '24 | |
West Region
East Region
Quarter-finals
Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
4-6 Mar '24 | 11-13 Mar '24 | |||
4-6 Mar '24 | 11-13 Mar '24 | |||
Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
4-6 Mar '24 | 11-13 Mar' 24 | |||
4-6 Mar '24 | 11-13 Mar '24 | |||
Semi-finals
Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
16-17 Apr '24 | 23-24 Apr '24 | |||
Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
16-17 Apr '24 | 23-24 Apr '24 | |||
Final
Notes
- ↑ After an investigation about displaying a sculpture of Qassem Soleimani during the home match against Ittihad FC, Sepahan was banned from playing 3 home matches of this competition at Naghsh-e-Jahan Stadium. This ban will include the home leg in the Round of 16.[3]
References
- 1 2 "Asian Football Calendar (Aug 2023 – Jul 2024)". The AFC. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ↑ "Competition Regulations - AFC Champions League 2023/24" (PDF). the AFC. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
- ↑ "Sepahan handed fine, stadium ban after Al-Ittihad cancellation". Reuters. 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2023-10-03.