2023–24 AFC Champions League knockout stage
The 2023–24 AFC Champions League knockout stage is scheduled to be played from 12 February 2024 to 25 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.[a]
| 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
Preview of references
- ^ a b "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.