The Asian Football Confederation revealed the draw system for the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League 2024, which witnesses the participation of 5 Arab clubs out of 8 in the Western Yellow Continent.
The top five groups from the West, namely Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ain of the Emirates, and Nasaf, qualify for the round of 16, in addition to the three best teams that occupied second place, which are Al-Fayhaa, Nafbahor of Uzbekistan, and Sepahan of Iran.
According to the AFC, the teams will be divided into two classifications before the draw, with the first classification including Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Al-Ain, while Al-Fayhaa, Nassaf, Navbakhor and Sepahan come in the second classification.
It is prohibited for two teams from the same group to meet in the round of 16, which means that there will be a 100% Saudi confrontation between Al-Fayhaa and one of the other trio, with the matches being played in a home-and-away system.
The AFC has not yet determined whether the first-ranked teams will play the return match at their home stadium, or whether the location of the matches will be determined through the draw as well.
At the same time, the draw for the round of 16 will be comprehensive until the end of the tournament, after which the quarter-final matches will also be determined, and consequently the semi-final confrontation for the West as well as the East.
The good news for the Arab clubs is that the AFC decided to hold the second leg of the final (which brings together the East champion and the West champion) at the West team’s stadium, after it had been held for many years at the East team’s stadium, as was the case in the last edition between Al Hilal Saudi Arabia and Urawa Reds of Japan.
It remains to be noted that the draw for the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League will be held on December 28 in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.
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