January 15 – The AFC Champions League kicks off its 2018 competition tomorrow with the first of the Preliminary Stage 1 qualifiers seeing teams chase the highest prize money ever in the history of the competition that has become one of the richest continental club competitions in world football.
The winners of this year’s AFC Champions League will receive $4 million, up from $3 million. The 2018 runners-up will also get an extra $500,000 taking their total purse to $2 million. AFC Cup winners will earn a record $1.5 million this year.
AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John said: “The AFC Champions League continues to set new records and grows in stature each year and we can expect the 2018 season to be better and bigger than ever before.
“The bigger prize purse at every stage in the AFC Champions League this year underlines our commitment to create the ultimate stage for our players and teams to shine, under the AFC’s Vision and Mission.”
Opening matches see Myanmar National League champions Shan United FC host to Ceres Negros FC from the Philippines, while Indonesia’s Liga 1 2017 runners-up Bali United debut in AFC club competitions against Singapore’s Tampines Rovers.
Preliminary Stage 1 winners will join six clubs from the East and ASEAN Zones in the second stage of the qualifiers on January 23, which will feature Eastern SC from Hong Kong, Vietnam’s FLC Thanh Hoa, Thailand’s Muangthong United and Chiangrai United as well as Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim and Brisbane Roar from Australia.
The four winners from the Preliminary Stage 2 phase will then have to battle some of the Continent’s biggest clubs, including two-time AFC Champions League winners Suwon Samsung Bluewings and last year’s semi-finalists Shanghai SIPG FC in the Play-off Stage on January 30, before the Group Stage start on February 12.
Preliminary Stage 1
January 16, 2018
Bali United FC (IDN) vs Tampines Rovers (SIN)
Venue: Capt. I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Bali, Time: 7:30pm
Shan United FC (MYA) vs Ceres Negros (PHI)
Venue: Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Time: 4:00pm
Preliminary Stage 2
January 23, 2018
Brisbane Roar (Aus) vs Shan United FC (MYA) or Ceres Negros (PHI)
Venue: Queensland Sports & Athletics Centre, Brisbane, Time: 7:00pm
Chiangrai United (THA) vs Bali United FC (IDN) or Tampines Rovers (SIN)
Venue: Singha Stadium, Chiang Rai, Time: 7:00pm
Eastern SC (HKG) vs FLC Thanh Hoa (VIE)
Venue: Mongkok Stadium, Hong Kong, Time: 8:00pm
Muangthong United (THA) vs Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS)
Venue: Supachalasai National Stadium, Bangkok, Time: 7:30pm
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1714009837labto1714009837ofdlr1714009837owedi1714009837sni@n1714009837osloh1714009837cin.l1714009837uap1714009837
