KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17: The draw for the 2024/2025 AFC Champions League 2, held at the Asian Football Confederation's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, placed Kuwait Club in Group D, alongside Shabab Al-Ahli of the UAE, Nasaf of Uzbekistan, and Al-Hussein Irbid of Jordan from the Western Region.

Group A features Al-Wakrah, Tractor, Mohun Bagan, and Rafshan, while Group B includes Al-Taawoun, Air Force, Al-Khaldiya, and Al-Tin Asyr. Group C consists of Sepahan Isfahan, Sharjah, Esteghlal, and Al-Wehdat. Group E comprises Sanfrecce, Sydney, Kaya FC, and Eastern. Group F is made up of Zhejiang, Port FC, Lion City Sailor, and Persib Bandung. Group G has Bangkok United, Nam Dinh, Leeand Man, Tampines Rovers. Group H teams include Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Selangor, Muangthong United and Dynamic Herb Cebu.

Kuwait Club secured its spot in the group stage after defeating Bahrain's Al-Ahli 1-0 in a play-off match last Wednesday. This edition of the tournament follows recent changes introduced by the Asian Football Confederation, including the creation of new competitions such as the AFC Champions League for Elite, AFC Champions League 2, and the Asian Challenge Cup.

The AFC Champions League 2, a second-tier competition, features 32 clubs divided into eight groups—four in the West and four in the East—each comprising four teams. The group stage will run from September 17 to December 5 in a double round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will advance to the round of 16 in February, with the quarter-finals in March, the semifinals in April, and the final match scheduled for May 17, 2025.

Hassan Musa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff