May 7 – Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds have made history as the first team to win three AFC Champions League titles, with a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in the second leg of the final in Saitama on Sunday.
By Paul Nicholson
December 28 – The Asian Football Confederation is undertaking a major revision of its men’s club competitions as it injects a more competitive foundation into its flagship Champions League and AFC Cup, both likely to be renamed as part of the new three-tier structure.
August 21 – The AFC Champions League 2022 (East) quarter-finalist draw has pitched Japan’s Vissel Kobe against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of the Korea Republic. while Urawa Red Diamonds, also from Japan, will meet BG Pathum United of Thailand.
August 19 – Japan’s Vissel Kobe and Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors qualified for the quarter finals of the AFC Champions League in Saitama, both winning hard fought ties against rivals from their domestic leagues.
May 6 – While UEFA and Concacaf are concluding their Champions League seasons, in Asia the AFC’s Champions League is now only reaching the knock out rounds.
April 5 – beIN Media Group is rebuilding its broadcast relationship with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) piece-by-piece with an agreement to extend it rights to cover the 2022 AFC Champions League and AFC Cup.
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.
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.
January 13 – The surge of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and the “unique circumstances” around the Qatar 2022 World Cup dates have forced the Asian Football Confederation to push back its Champions League (ACL) 2022 schedule with the final now moving from October 2022 into February 2023.
January 7 – Top Iranian sides Iran sides Persepolis and Esteghlal have been kicked out of the Asian Champions League after having their licenses withdrawn by the Asian Football Confederation.
November 24 – Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal have been crowned Asian champions after the fastest goal ever scored in the final of the continent’s Champions League set the club on the road to a 2-0 victory against South Korea’s Pohang Steelers and a record-breaking fourth title.
October 21 – South Korea’s Pohang Steelers will face Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in the final of the Asian Champions League after beating current ACL holders Ulsan Hyundai on penalties.
September 16 – Iranian giants Persepolis, runners up in the 2020 AFC Champions League final, will play the 2019 champions Al Hilal SFC from Saudi Arabia in the quarter finals of this year’s competition.
September 15 – Defending 2020 Asian Champions League winners Ulsan Hyundai squeezed into the quarter-finals of the 2021 competition last night thanks to goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo who secured them a 3-2 penalty shoot-out win over Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale.
July 5 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has switched the format of the Asian Champions League knockout phase to single leg ties because of the coronavirus pandemic.