March 3 – Saudi Arabia will host all five of the centralised groups for the west zone of the AFC Champions League 2022. The decision to go to Saudi follows the successful hosting last November of the 2021 AFC Champions League final in Riyadh.
Two groups will be played in Riyadh while the others will be hosted in Jeddah, Buraidah and Dammam. Matches will be played April 7 to 27.
This is the first time the AFC Champions League will follow the new AFC calendar that moves away from a calendar year season to following the European model. The single round Knockout Stage matches will be held from February 3 to 10, 2023. The final will be played over two legs on February 19 and 26, 2023.
Current champions Al Hilal will open their defence of the title they have won four times in Riyadh and will face Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol, Qatar’s Al Rayyan SC as well as the winners of the Playoff Stage match between Sharjah from the United Arab Emirates and Iraqi side Al Zawraa Club, in group A.
Riyadh will also Group B, featuring debutants Mumbai City from India, UAE’s Al Jazira, Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab and three-time AFC Cup winners Air Force Club of Iraq.
Group C in Jeddah will host Foolad Khouzestan FC and 2015 finalists Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, Qatar’s Al Gharafa and Ahal FC of Turkmenistan.
Buraidah will host Group D, which includes Iran’s Sepahan FC, who reached the final of the 2007 edition, Qatar’s Al Duhail SC, two-time Semi-finalists Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan and the winners of the Playoff Stage tie between Al Taawoun FC from Saudi Arabia and Syrian side Al Jaish.
Group E in Dammam will see 2011 champions Al Sadd from Qatar face Saudi Arabia’s Al Faisaly FC, Jordan’s Al Wehdat and the winners of the Playoff Stage match between Baniyas of the UAE and FC Nasaf of Uzbekistan.
East zone
In the East of the AFC region the confederation has already announced Thailand will host three 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.
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