February 16 – The AFC is staying with centralised venues for its Champions League 2022 with the first group hosts in the East Asia region finalised for April 15 kick off.
Thailand will host three of the East Asia groups, while Vietnam and Malaysia will host one each.
The AFC Champions League plays its top tier club competition in two regional sections – East and West – with the winners of each side meeting for the final.
In 2021 the AFC expanded its Champions League from 32 to 40 teams, with the two halves of the region playing five groups of four teams in the first stage.
Groups F, G and J, will be played in Thailand. Buriram will host Group F, which will feature China PR’s Shandong Taishan FC, two-time AFC Champions League winners Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan, Singapore’s Lion City Sailors and the winners of the Playoff Stage match between Korea Republic’s Daegu FC and Thailand’s Buriram United.
Group G will be played in Bangkok with Australia’s Melbourne City making their debut campaign alongside Thailand’s BG Pathum United, Korean FA Cup winners Jeonbuk Dragons and United City FC from the Philippines.
The host city for Group J in Thailand is still to be confirmed. The group will comprise Shanghai Port from China PR, Thailand’s Chiangrai United, Kitchee SC from Hong Kong and either Vissel Kobe from Japan or Australia’s Melbourne Victory.
Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam will host Group H, with two-time winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from Korea Republic, Yokohama F Marinos from Japan, Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai and the winners of the playoffs featuring China PR’s Changchun Yatai and the winners of the Preliminary Stage contest between Kaya-Iloilo FC from the Philippines and Australia’s Sydney FC.
Johor Bahru, Malaysia, will be the venue for Group I, which comprises J1 League winners Kawasaki Frontale, eight-time Chinese Super League and two-time AFC Champions League winners Guangzhou FC as well as Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim and the winners of the playoff tie between former champions Ulsan Hyundai and Thailand’s Port FC.
The AFC said that detail of the centralised venues for the West Group Stage matches will be released in the near future. Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal (pictured) won the AFC Champions League in 2021.
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