Results
| Date | R | Home vs Away | - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05/05 16:00 | 1 |
[2] Al Ahed vs Central Coast Mariners
[1] 
|
0-1 |
| 04/24 09:00 | 673 |
Central Coast Mariners vs FC Abdish-Ata Kant
|
3-0 |
| 04/23 16:00 | 677 |
[1] Al-Nahda vs Al Ahed
[2]
|
2-2 |
| 04/17 12:00 | 673 |
FC Abdish-Ata Kant vs Central Coast Mariners
|
1-1 |
| 04/16 16:00 | 677 |
[2] Al Ahed vs Al-Nahda
[1]
|
1-0 |
| 03/14 10:00 | 675 |
Odisha FC vs Central Coast Mariners
|
0-0 |
| 03/13 08:00 | 675 |
Taichung Futuro vs FC Abdish-Ata Kant
|
1-3 |
| 03/07 08:00 | 675 |
Central Coast Mariners vs Odisha FC
|
4-0 |
| 03/06 12:00 | 675 |
FC Abdish-Ata Kant vs Taichung Futuro
|
5-0 |
| 02/22 08:00 | 677 |
Macarthur FC vs Central Coast Mariners
|
2-3 |
| 02/20 16:00 | 671 |
[1] Al Kahrabaa vs Al Ahed
[2]
|
2-5 |
| 02/19 16:00 | 671 |
Al-Nahda vs Al-Riffa
|
3-1 |
Teams
Bengaluru
Al Ahed
Al-Jaish Damascus
Al-Wehdat
Johor Darul Takzim
Tampines Rovers FC
Al-Suwaiq
Al Quwa Al Jawiya
Al-Riffa
Kitchee
PSM Makassar
South China AA
Al-Muharraq
Global FC
Al-Faisaly Amman
Kaya FC
Mohun Bagan
Boeung Ket FC
Persija Jakarta
Central Coast Mariners
Balestier Khalsa FC
Malkiya
Persipura Jayapura
Al Arabi SC
Binh Duong
Fanja
Manama
Selangor
Than Quang Ninh
Persib Bandung
Naga World FC
Aizawl FC
Taraji Wadi Al-Nes
Song Lam Nghe An
Hai Phong
Shabab Al Khaleel
Al-Najma Manama
Ahli Al Khalil
Shabab Al Ordon
Felda United FC
Terengganu
Saham
Colombo FC
Thanh Hoa
East Bengal Club
Kedah
East Riffa
Kelantan FC
Blue Star
Al-Nasr Salalah
Wikipedia - AFC Cup
The AFC Cup was an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The competition was played primarily among clubs from nations that did not receive direct qualifying slots to the top-tier AFC Champions League, based on the AFC Club Competitions Ranking.
Al-Kuwait SC and Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya were the most successful clubs in the competition's history, having won three titles each. Clubs from Kuwait won four titles, making them the most successful nation in the competition. The tournament was dominated by clubs from West Asia, with the only winners from outside that region being Uzbek side FC Nasaf in 2011, Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta'zim in 2015 and Australian side Central Coast Mariners in 2024.
Central Coast Mariners were the last champions, having defeated Al-Ahed in the 2024 final. From the 2021 season, the team winning the AFC Cup was granted qualification to the following season's AFC Champions League qualifying playoffs, had they not qualified through their domestic performance.
The AFC Cup was discontinued at the end of the 2023–24 season, with the AFC Champions League 2 and AFC Challenge League being introduced as Asia's new second and third-tier competitions.
History
The AFC Cup began in 2004 as a second-tier competition to relate back to the AFC Champions League as 14 countries that had developing status competed in the first competition with 18 teams being nominated. Group A, B, C had West and Central Asian teams while the other two groups had east and South East Asia. The winners and three runners-up would then head to the knock-out stage where it was a random draw in who was going to play. Al-Jaish took the first AFC Cup after they defeated fellow Syrian opponents Al-Wahda on away goals.
In 2005, 18 teams competed from nine nations with the nations still being allowed to choose from one or two teams entering. After Syrian teams left the AFC Cup to try at the AFC Champions League for four years, Al-Faisaly defeated Nejmeh in the final. With it, Jordanian teams would win the next two AFC Cup seasons with Bahrain joining the league while Bangladesh was relegated to the AFC President's Cup until the tournament's abolition in 2014.
Al-Muharraq would break the trend in 2008 as they competed in the last two-legged final before it headed back into a one-leg system, a rule that was never changed till the termination of this tournament.
On 23 December 2022, it was announced that the AFC competition structure would change from the established formats from the 2024–25 season. Under the new plans, the AFC Cup was discontinued, and a new second-tier tournament called the AFC Champions League 2 was introduced. Meanwhile, a new third-tier competition was also launched under the name AFC Challenge League.
The tournament features clubs from across Asia, representing their respective national leagues. Teams from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and many others compete in the AFC Cup.
The AFC Cup provides a platform for clubs to showcase their talent and compete at an international level. It offers an opportunity for emerging football nations to gain exposure and experience against more established teams.
The tournament follows a format that includes a group stage, knockout rounds, and a final. The group stage consists of teams divided into groups, where they play home and away matches against each other. The top teams from each group advance to the knockout rounds, leading up to the final match.
The AFC Cup is known for its high-quality football, intense competition, and passionate fan support. It attracts a wide range of spectators, from local fans to football enthusiasts from around the world. The matches are played in various stadiums across Asia, creating a vibrant and electric atmosphere.
Winning the AFC Cup not only brings glory to the club but also provides an opportunity to qualify for the following year's AFC Champions League. This adds an extra level of motivation for teams to perform at their best and strive for success in the tournament.
Overall, the AFC Cup is a prestigious and highly anticipated soccer tournament in Asia. It showcases the diversity and talent of Asian football and provides a platform for clubs to compete at an international level.