2019

DRAW MECHANISM Preliminary Stage, Playoff Stage, Group Stage and Round of 16

ACL2019 Draw Mechanism Page 1 of 15

Draw Mechanism: Preliminary Stage and Playoff Stage

1. Entries WEST - Slot Allocation MA Ranking Preliminary Stage / Member Association Group Stage 15 Dec 2017 Playoff Stage 1 3 1 2 3 1 3 2 2 4 Islamic Republic of 2 2 5 Uzbekistan 1 2 6 Iraq 1 1 7 Tajikistan 1

8 India 1

9 Syria 1

10 Jordan 1

11 1

12 Bahrain 1

WEST - Club Entries MA Ranking Clubs in Preliminary / Playoff Stage United Arab Emirates 1 AL NASR (UAE) Saudi Arabia 2 AL NASSR (KSA) 3.1 AL RAYYAN SC (QAT) Qatar 3.2 AL GHARAFA SC (QAT) 4.1 ZOBAHAN FC (IRN) Islamic Republic of Iran 4.2 SAIPA FC (IRN)* 5.1 AGMK FC (UZB) Uzbekistan 5.2 PAKHTAKOR (UZB) Iraq 6 AIR FORCE CLUB (IRQ) Tajikistan 7 FC ISTIKLOL (TJK) India 8 MINERVA PUNJAB (IND) Syria 9 (Not eligible - failed in being granted Club License) Jordan 10 AL WEHDAT (JOR) Kuwait 11 KUWAIT SC (KUW) Bahrain 12 (Not eligible - failed in being granted Club License) * The club license is under review

ACL2019 Draw Mechanism Page 2 of 15

EAST - Slot Allocation MA Ranking Preliminary Stage / Member Association Group Stage 15 Dec 2017 Playoff Stage 1 Korea Republic 3 1 2 China PR 3 1 3 Japan 2 2 4 Australia** 2 1 5 1 2 6 Malaysia 1 1 7 Hong Kong 1

8 1

9 Philippines 1

10 Singapore 1

11 Indonesia 1

12 Myanmar 1

** Article 5.4 of the Entry Manual applied.

EAST - Club Entries MA Ranking Clubs in Preliminary / Playoff Stage Korea Republic 1 KOREA 4TH CLUB China PR 2 CHINA PR 4TH CLUB 3.1 JAPAN 3RD CLUB Japan 3.2 JAPAN 4TH CLUB Australia 4 NEWCASTLE JETS (AUS) 5.1 CHIANGRAI UNITED (THA) Thailand 5.2 BANGKOK UNITED (THA) Malaysia 6 PERAK (MAS)* Hong Kong 7 KITCHEE SC (HKG) Vietnam 8 FC (VIE) Philippines 9 CERES NEGROS FC (PHI) Singapore 10 HOME UNITED FC (SIN)* Indonesia 11 INDONESIA 1ST CLUB Myanmar 12 YANGON UNITED (MYA) * PERAK (MAS) & HOME UNITED FC (SIN) entered into AFC Champions League 2019 Preliminary / Playoff Stage based on Article 12.5 of the Entry Manual.

ACL2019 Draw Mechanism Page 3 of 15

2. Principles

• Country Protection.

• A club from a higher ranked Member Association (MA) plays at a later stage of the AFC Champions League (ACL) Preliminary / Playoff Stage.

• Clubs who win all their matches in the Preliminary Stage shall qualify to the Playoff Stage, with victory guaranteeing a place in the Group Stage.

• Losing clubs from MAs with an ACL Group Stage slot will not participate in the AFC Cup group stage, which is reserved only for losing clubs from MAs with an ACL Preliminary / Playoff slot.

• If a club from the MA with ACL Preliminary / Playoff slot qualifies for the ACL Group Stage, then the next eligible club (standby club) will take its place in the AFC Cup Group Stage.

• In the ACL Preliminary Stage and Playoff Stage, a club from the highest ranked MA will play and host the match against a club from the lowest ranked MA.

3. Preliminary Stage and Playoff Stage Match Schedule

Match Match Region Stage Match Date No. AIR FORCE CLUB PS 1.1 vs. Bye (IRQ)

FC ISTIKLOL PS 1.2 vs. Bye Tue, 5 (TJK) WEST Feb 2019 MINERVA PUNJAB Stage 1 PS 1.3 vs. Bye

Preliminary (IND) AL WEHDAT KUWAIT SC PS 1.4 vs. (JOR) (KUW) Match Match Region Stage Match Date No. PAKHTAKOR AIR FORCE CLUB PS 2.1 vs. (UZB) (IRQ)

AGMK FC FC ISTIKLOL PS 2.2 vs. Tue, 12 (UZB) (TJK) WEST Feb 2019 SAIPA FC MINERVA PUNJAB Stage 2 PS 2.3 vs.

Preliminary (IRN) (IND) ZOBAHAN FC PS 2.4 vs. Winner of PS 1.4 (IRN)

ACL2019 Draw Mechanism Page 4 of 15

Match Match Region Stage Match Date No.

PO 1 AL NASR (UAE) vs. Winner of PS 2.1

PO 2 AL NASSR (KSA) vs. Winner of PS 2.2 Playoff Tue, 19 WEST Stage Feb 2019 AL RAYYAN SC PO 3 vs. Winner of PS 2.3 (QAT) AL GHARAFA SC PO 4 vs. Winner of PS 2.4 (QAT)

Match Match Region Stage Match Date No. KITCHEE SC PS 1.1 vs. Bye (HKG) HANOI FC PS 1.2 vs. Bye Tue, 5 (VIE) EAST Feb 2019 CERES NEGROS FC YANGON UNITED PS 1.3 vs. (PHI) (MYA) HOME UNITED INDONESIA Preliminary Stage 1 PS 1.4 vs. FC (SIN) 1ST CLUB Match Match Region Stage Match Date No. PERAK KITCHEE SC

PS 2.1 vs. (MAS) (HKG) BANGKOK PS 2.2 vs. HANOI FC (VIE) UNITED (THA) Tue, 12 EAST Feb 2019 CHIANGRAI PS 2.3 UNITED vs. Winner of PS 1.3 (THA)

Preliminary Stage 2 NEWCASTLE JETS PS 2.4 vs. Winner of PS 1.4 (AUS) Match Match Region Stage Match Date No.

PO 1 KOREA 4TH CLUB vs. Winner of PS 2.1

PO 2 CHINA PR 4TH CLUB vs. Winner of PS 2.2 Playoff Tue, 19 EAST Stage Feb 2019 PO 3 JAPAN 3RD CLUB vs. Winner of PS 2.3

PO 4 JAPAN 4TH CLUB vs. Winner of PS 2.4

ACL2019 Draw Mechanism Page 5 of 15

Draw Mechanism: Group Stage

1. Entries

Region MA 1st Club 2nd Club 3rd Club United Arab AL WAHDA FSCC FC (UAE) AL WASL FC (UAE) Emirates (UAE) AL HILAL SFC AL ITTIHAD AL AHLI SAUDI FC Saudi Arabia (KSA) (KSA) (KSA) AL DUHAIL SC AL SADD SC Qatar - (QAT)* (QAT) Islamic Republic PERSEPOLIS FC ESTEGHLAL FC - of Iran (IRN)* (IRN)* PFC LOKOMOTIV WEST Uzbekistan - - (UZB) AL ZAWRAA CLUB Iraq - - (IRQ) Winner of Playoff 1 (West) Winner of Playoff 2 (West) Winner of Playoff 3 (West) Winner of Playoff 4 (West) * The club license is under review

Region MA 1st Club 2nd Club 3rd Club JEONBUK HYUNDAI Korea Republic KOREA 2ND CLUB KOREA 3RD CLUB MOTORS FC (KOR) SHANGHAI SIPG GUANGZHOU China PR CHINA 2ND CLUB (CHN) EVERGRANDE FC (CHN) KAWASAKI Japan JAPAN 2ND CLUB - FRONTALE (JPN) MELBOURNE Australia SYDNEY FC (AUS) - VICTORY (AUS) BURIRAM UNITED EAST Thailand - - (THA) JOHOR DARUL Malaysia - - TA'ZIM (MAS) Winner of Playoff 1 (East) Winner of Playoff 2 (East) Winner of Playoff 3 (East) Winner of Playoff 4 (East)

ACL2019 Draw Mechanism Page 6 of 15

2. Draw Principles

- Group A, B, C, D (West) - Group E, F, G, H (East)

• Country Protection shall apply. • Wherever possible, highest ranked MAs with the same number of slots will be drawn:

o West – draw is not possible due to country protection (all available slots utilised by respective MAs with direct slots);

o East – draw is possible. • “NEW” - Clubs from MAs ranked 1-4 in each Geographical Ranking will be allocated into respective MA pots and then drawn into reserved slots.

o The winners of Playoffs will be identified with different coloured balls then drawn, wherever possible, or placed into reserved slots for country protection.

o Clubs from MAs ranked 5-6 in each Geographical Ranking will be placed into next available slots accordingly. • Implementation of Double Match Date System (Mon/Tue for West, Tue/Wed for East) to secure maximum coverage to the matches for spectators and TV. • Each club will play three matches on Mon/Tue for West and Tue/Wed for East. • Clubs which share the stadium will not play its home matches on the same day. • Avoid more than two (2) matches playing in same day in the same country/city, wherever possible.

3. Draw Mechanism – West

a) Draw Pots: Four (4) Club Pots for Clubs from MAs ranked 1-4 in the Geographical Ranking b) Procedure: (MAs in accordance to the AFC Club Competitions Ranking) • United Arab Emirates (3 clubs) – AL AIN FC (UAE), AL WAHDA FSCC (UAE), AL WASL FC (UAE) + Winner of Playoff 1 (West) as country protection • Saudi Arabia (3 clubs) – AL HILAL SFC (KSA), AL ITTIHAD (KSA), AL AHLI SAUDI FC (KSA) + Winner of Playoff 2 (West) as country protection • Qatar (2 clubs) – AL DUHAIL SC (QAT)*, AL SADD SC (QAT) + Winner of Playoff 3 (West) & Winner of Playoff 4 (West) as country protection • Islamic Republic of Iran (2 clubs) – PERSEPOLIS FC (IRN)* and ESTEGHLAL FC (IRN)* ACL2019 Draw Mechanism Page 7 of 15

Club Pots (in accordance to the AFC Club Competitions Ranking):

KSA3 KSA2 KSA1 IRN2 UAE2 UAE1 UAE3 IRN1 W PO4 QAT2 W PO3 QAT1 W PO2 W PO1

c) Club Labels: Two (2) labels from MAs ranked 5-6 in the Geographical Ranking

• Uzbekistan (1 club) – PFC LOKOMOTIV (UZB)

• Iraq (1 club) – AL ZAWRAA CLUB (IRQ)

Simulation – West

Pos. Group A Group B Group C Group D 1 1 – UAE 5 – KSA 9 – QAT 13 – IRN 2 16 – IRQ 2 – UAE 6 – KSA 10 – QAT 11 - (PO3 or 4) 3 QAT/IRN/IND or 15 – UZB 3 – UAE 7 – KSA QAT/IRN/JOR/KUW 12 - (PO3 or 4) 8 - (PO2) 4 - (PO1) 4 QAT/IRN/JOR/KUW 14 – IRN KSA/UZB/TJK UAE/UZB/IRQ or QAT/IRN/IND

d) Order of Draw

i) 1st drawn club from POT1 (UAE) will go to position A1, 2nd and 3rd drawn clubs will go to position B2 and C3 while the winner of Playoffs 1 will be placed into position D4 respectively.

A B C D 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4

ACL2019 Draw Mechanism Page 8 of 15

ii) 1st drawn club from POT2 (KSA) will go to position B1, 2nd and 3rd drawn clubs will go to position C2 and D3 while the winner of Playoffs 2 will be placed into position A4 respectively.

A B C D 1 1 5 2 2 6 3 3 7 4 8 4 iii) 1st drawn club from POT3 (QAT) will go to position C1, 2nd drawn in D2 while the winner of Playoffs 3 and 4 will be drawn into position A3 and B4.

A B C D 1 1 5 9 2 2 6 10 3 11 3 7 4 8 12 4 iv) 1st drawn club from POT4 (IRN) will go to position D1 while 2nd drawn clubs will go to position C4 respectively.

A B C D 1 1 5 9 13 2 2 6 10 3 11 3 7 4 8 12 14 4 v) Based on draw principles, Uzbekistan league champion will go to the remaining available position in B3 while Iraq league champion will go to position A2 accordingly.

A B C D 1 1 5 9 13 2 16 2 6 10 3 11 15 3 7 4 8 12 14 4

ACL2019 Draw Mechanism Page 9 of 15

4. Draw Mechanism – East

a) Draw Pots: Four (4) Club Pots for Clubs from MAs ranked 1-4 in the Geographical Ranking

b) Procedure: (MAs in accordance to the AFC Club Competitions Ranking)

• Korea Republic (3 clubs) – FC (KOR), KOREA 2ND CLUB, KOREA 3RD CLUB + Winner of Playoff 1 (East) as country protection

• China PR (3 clubs) – SHANGHAI SIPG (CHN), CHINA 2ND CLUB, GUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE FC (CHN) + Winner of Playoff 2 (East) as country protection

• Japan (2 clubs) – KAWASAKI FRONTALE (JPN), JAPAN 2ND CLUB + Winner of Playoff 3 (East) & Winner of Playoff 4 (East) as country protection

• Australia (2 clubs) – SYDNEY FC (AUS) and MELBOURNE VICTORY (AUS)

Country Pot (in alphabetical order):

CHINA PR KOREA REPUBLIC

Club Pots (in accordance to the AFC Club Competitions Ranking):

AUS2 AUS1 E PO4 JPN2 E PO3 JPN1 CHN3 CHN1 CHN2 E PO2 KOR3 KOR1 KOR2 E PO1

c) Club Labels: Two (2) labels each from MAs ranked 5-6 in the Geographical Ranking

• Thailand (1 club) – BURIRAM UNITED (THA)

• Malaysia (1 club) – JOHOR DARUL TA'ZIM (MAS)

ACL2019 Draw Mechanism Page 10 of 15

Simulation – East scenario 1 (if KOR comes first)

Pos. Group E Group F Group G Group H 1 1 – KOR 5 – CHN 9 – JPN 13 – AUS 2 16 – MAS 2 – KOR 6 – CHN 10 – JPN 12 – (PO4) 3 14 – AUS 3 – KOR 7 – CHN JPN/AUS/SIN/IDN 8 – (PO2) 11 – (PO3) 4 – (PO1) 4 15 – THA CHN/THA/VIE JPN/THA/PHI/MYA KOR/MAS/HKG

Simulation – East scenario 2.1 (if CHN comes first and then PO3 in Group E)

Pos. Group E Group F Group G Group H 1 1 – CHN 5 – KOR 9 – JPN 13 – AUS 2 14 – AUS 2 – CHN 6 – KOR 10 – JPN 11 – (PO3 or 4) 3 po3 15 – THA 3 – CHN 7 – KOR JPN/THA/PHI/MYA 12 – (PO3 or 4) 8 – (PO1) 4 – (PO2) 4 po4 16 – MAS KOR/MAS/HKG CHN/THA/VIE JPN/AUS/SIN/IDN

Simulation – East scenario 2.2 (if CHN comes first and then PO4 in Group E)

Pos. Group E Group F Group G Group H 1 1 – CHN 5 – KOR 9 – JPN 13 – AUS 2 15 – THA 2 – CHN 6 – KOR 10 – JPN 11 – (PO3 or 4) PO4 3 14 – AUS 3 – CHN 7 – KOR JPN/AUS/SIN/IDN 8 – (PO1) 12 – (PO3 or 4) PO3 4 – (PO2) 4 16 – MAS KOR/MAS/HKG JPN/THA/PHI/MYA CHN/THA/VIE d) Order of Draw

East scenario 1 (KOR comes first from Country Pot)

i) 1st club drawn from POT1 (KOR) will go to position E1, 2nd and 3rd drawn into F2 and G3 while the winner of Playoffs 1 will be placed into position H4 respectively.

ACL2019 Draw Mechanism Page 11 of 15

E F G H 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 ii) 1st drawn club from POT2 (CHN) will go to position F1, 2nd and 3rd drawn clubs will go to position G2 and H3 while the winner of Playoffs 2 will be placed into position E4 respectively.

E F G H 1 1 5 2 2 6 3 3 7 4 8 4 iii) 1st drawn club from POT3 (JPN) will go to position G1, 2nd club drawn will go to position H2 while the winners of Playoffs 3 and 4 will be placed into position F4 and E3 respectively, based on the draw principles.

E F G H 1 1 5 9 2 2 6 10 3 12 3 7 4 8 11 4 iv) 1st drawn club from POT4 (AUS) will go to position H1 while 2nd drawn into F3 respectively.

E F G H 1 1 5 9 13 2 2 6 10 3 12 14 3 7 4 8 11 4 v) Based on draw principles, Thailand league champion will go to the remaining available position in G4 while Malaysia league champion will go E2 accordingly.

E F G H 1 1 5 9 13 2 16 2 6 10 3 12 14 3 7 4 8 11 15 4 ACL2019 Draw Mechanism Page 12 of 15

East scenario 2 (CHN comes first from Country Pot) i) 1st drawn club from POT2 (CHN) will go to position E1, 2nd and 3rd drawn clubs will go to position F2 and G3 while the winner of Playoffs 2 will be placed into position H4 respectively.

E F G H 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 ii) 1st drawn club from POT1 (KOR) will go to position F1, 2nd and 3rd drawn clubs will go to position G2 and H3 while the winner of Playoffs 1 will be placed into position E4 respectively.

E F G H 1 1 5 2 2 6 3 3 7 4 8 4 iii) 1st drawn club from POT3 (JPN) will go to position G1, 2nd drawn clubs will go to position H2 while the winners of Playoffs 3 and 4 will be drawn into position E3 and F4.

E F G H 1 1 5 9 2 2 6 10 3 11 3 7 4 8 12 4

East scenario 2.1 (CHN comes first from Country Pot and then PO3 winner in Group E) iv) 1st club drawn from POT4 (AUS) will go to position H1 while the 2nd drawn will go to position E2.

E F G H 1 1 5 9 13 2 14 2 6 10 3 11 3 7 4 8 12 4

ACL2019 Draw Mechanism Page 13 of 15

v) Based on draw principles, Thailand league champion will go to the remaining available position in F3 while Malaysia league champion will go to position G4 accordingly.

E F G H 1 1 5 9 13 2 14 2 6 10 3 11 15 3 7 4 8 12 16 4

East scenario 2.2 (CHN comes first from Country Pot and then PO4 winner in Group E) vi) 1st drawn club from POT4 (AUS) will go to position H1 while 2nd drawn clubs will go to position F3 respectively.

E F G H 1 1 5 9 13 2 2 6 10 3 11 14 3 7 4 8 12 4 vii) Based on draw principles, Thailand league champion will go to the remaining available position in E2 while Malaysia league champion will go to position G4 accordingly.

E F G H 1 1 5 9 13 2 15 2 6 10 3 11 14 3 7 4 8 12 16 4

ACL2019 Draw Mechanism Page 14 of 15

Knockout Stage: Round of 16

Principles (Home & Away)

• Group runner-up will host the 1st leg and group winners will host the 2nd Leg of respective Round of 16 matches.

• “NEW” - From the 2019 season, clubs from the groups which play Group Stage MD6 on the same day (i.e. Group A & Group B, etc.) will play against each other in the Round of 16 for sporting and fair scheduling reasons.

• If Clubs sharing the same stadium are the winners or runner-ups of the group, the AFC General Secretariat will make a final decision on the date of matches at the later stage.

Match Schedule

Region Date Day Match 17 June 2019 Mon Group A Runner-up vs. Group B Winner

17 June 2019 Mon Group B Runner-up vs. Group A Winner WEST Leg 18 June 2019 Tue Group C Runner-up vs. Group D Winner st 18 June 2019 Tue Group D Runner-up vs. Group C Winner 18 June 2019 Tue Group E Runner-up vs. Group F Winner

ROUND 1 ROUND 18 June 2019 Tue Group F Runner-up vs. Group E Winner EAST 19 June 2019 Wed Group G Runner-up vs. Group H Winner 19 June 2019 Wed Group H Runner-up vs. Group G Winner

Region Date Day Match

24 June 2019 Mon Group B Winner vs. Group A Runner-up Leg

nd 24 June 2019 Mon Group A Winner vs. Group B Runner-up 2

WEST

– 25 June 2019 Tue Group D Winner vs. Group C Runner-up 25 June 2019 Tue Group C Winner vs. Group D Runner-up 25 June 2019 Tue Group F Winner vs. Group E Runner-up 25 June 2019 Tue Group E Winner vs. Group F Runner-up EAST

ROUND ROUND OF 16 26 June 2019 Wed Group H Winner vs. Group G Runner-up 26 June 2019 Wed Group G Winner vs. Group H Runner-up

ACL2019 Draw Mechanism Page 15 of 15