The2024–25 AFC Champions League Two was the 21st edition of the Asia's second-tier clubfootball tournament, organized by theAsian Football Confederation (AFC) and the first since it was rebranded as the AFC Champions League Two.Central Coast Mariners were the reigning champions, but they were unable to defend their title as they had participated in the2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite instead.[1]
This was the first season to feature a revised format, which included a 32-team group stage and increased prize money. Because the competition's final is rotated annually between the West and East regions of Asia, thefinal was held on 18 May 2025 atBishan Stadium inSingapore.[2][3][4]
BothLion City Sailors andSharjah entered the final as first-time finalists, ensuring a maiden title for whichever side emerged victorious. The winner was set to qualify for the2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite. While this would have been a significant path to qualification for the Lion City Sailors, Sharjah had already secured their spot in the tournament by finishing second in the2024–25 UAE Pro League season.
The associations were allocated slots according to theirclub competitions ranking,[5] which was published after the 2022 competitions were completed.[6]
Participation for 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two
India (IND): On 7 October 2024, AFC announced that Mohun Bagan SG were considered to have withdrawn from the competition after they failed to appear for their fixture againstTractor inTabriz due to safety concerns arising from theOctober 2024 Iranian strikes against Israel. Their single match was expunged.
Iran (IRN): As2023–24 Hazfi Cup winnersSepahan qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, the spot reserved for the Hazfi Cup winners was transferred to the fourth-placed team in the2023–24 Persian Gulf Pro League.
Iraq (IRQ): As2023–24 Iraq FA Cup winnersAl-Shorta qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, the spot reserved for the Iraq FA Cup winners was transferred to the runners-up of the2023–24 Iraq Stars League.
Qatar (QAT): As2024 Emir of Qatar Cup winnersAl-Sadd qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, the spot reserved for the Emir of Qatar Cup winners was transferred to the fourth-placed team in the2023-24 Qatar Stars League.
Saudi Arabia (KSA): As2023–24 King Cup winnersAl Hilal qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, the spot reserved for the King Cup winners was transferred to the fourth-placed team in the2023–24 Saudi Pro League.[8]
Singapore (SGP): As2023 Singapore Premier League winnersAlbirex Niigata (S) are a Japanese team and therefore ineligible to represent Singapore in AFC club competitions, and league runners-upLion City Sailors qualified for the Champions League Two as2023 Singapore Cup winners, the spot reserved for the Singapore Premier League winners was transferred to the third-placed team in the league.
South Korea (KOR): As2023 Korean FA Cup winnersPohang Steelers qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, the spot reserved for the Korean FA Cup winners was transferred to the fourth-placed team in the2023 K League 1.
Tajikistan (TJK): As 2023 Tajikistan Cup winnersIstiklol qualified for the Champions League Two via their league position, the spot reserved for the Tajikistan Cup winners was transferred to the runners-up of the2023 Tajikistan Higher League.
Thailand (THA): As2023–24 Thai League 1 runners-upBangkok United qualified for the Champions League Elite as2023–24 Thai FA Cup winners, the spot reserved for the Thai League 1 runners-up was transferred to the third-placed team in the league. Fifth-placedMuangthong United qualified for the Group stage asThanh Hóa withdrew from the competition and fourth-placedBG Pathum United declined to participate due to logistical issues.[9]
Turkmenistan (TKM):Arkadag, winners of the2023 Ýokary Liga and 2023 Turkmenistan Cup would have qualified for the qualifying play-off, but were only awarded a AFC Challenge League license. As a result, the berth was given toAltyn Asyr, the runners-up of the2023 Ýokary Liga.[7]
United Arab Emirates (UAE): As2023–24 UAE President's Cup winnersAl-Wasl qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, and third-placed team of the2023–24 UAE Pro League teamAl Ain qualified for the Champions League Elite as2023–24 AFC Champions League winners, the spot reserved for the UAE President's Cup winners was transferred to the fourth-placed team in the league.
The schedule of the competition is as follows.[10] All matches are being played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, apart from the final which takes place on Sunday.
The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each region was determined based on each team'sassociation ranking and their seeding within their association, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match. Teams from the same association could not be placed into the same tie. The two winners of the play-off round (two from West Region) advanced to thegroup stage to join the 30 direct entrants, while losers of the qualifying play-offs entered the group stage of the2024–25 AFC Challenge League.
The draw for the group stage took place on 16 August at theInterContinentalKuala Lumpur,Malaysia.[11] The 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four: four groups each in the West Region (Groups A–D) and the East Region (Groups E–H).[12] For each region, teams were seeded into four pots and drawn into the relevant positions within each group, based on theirassociation ranking and their seeding within their association. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group.
Location of the2024–25 AFC Champions League Two group stage teams Brown: Group A; Cyan: Group B; Orange: Group C; Yellow: Group D; Pink: Group E; Green: Group F; Blue: Group G; Red: Group H
^On 7 October 2024, AFC announced that Mohun Bagan SG were considered to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League Two after they failed to appear for their fixture againstTractor inTabriz due to safety concerns. Their single match was expunged.[13]
In the knockout stage, the 16 teams played asingle-elimination tournament. Each tie was played on a home-and-awaytwo-legged basis, except the final which was played as a single match.Extra time andpenalty shoot-out would be used to decide the winners if necessary (Regulations Article 10). The order of matches (home vs away) would be determined at the draw, except for the final. The final venue was pre-determined on a rotation basis, with the match hosted by the team from the East Region. The draw for the knockout stage was held on 12 December 2024.
^Lion City Sailors were awarded a 0–3 victory by forfeit, after Sanfrecce Hiroshima fielded an ineligible player. The score on the field was originally a 6–1 win by Sanfrecce Hiroshima.[14][15]
^"AFC Club Competitions Ranking".the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 24 November 2021.Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved24 November 2021.
Sharjah (1st title)
Lion City Sailors
Sardar Azmoun (9 goals)
Altyn Asyr
Al-Kuwait
Brown: Group A;
Cyan: Group B;
Orange: Group C;
Yellow: Group D;
Pink: Group E;
Green: Group F;
Blue: Group G;
Red: Group H
Al-Wakrah
Ravshan Kulob
Al-Taawoun
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Al-Wehdat
Nasaf Qarshi
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Sydney FC
Kaya–Iloilo
Eastern
Port
Zhejiang
Persib
Nam Định
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Selangor
Patryk Klimala
Muhsen Al-Ghassani
Musa Barrow
Gelson Dala
Ousseynou Gueye
Luanzinho
Anas Ouahim
Maxime Lestienne
