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.

Not to be confused with AFC Asian Cup.
AFC Cup
Organising bodyAFC
Founded2004 (2004)
Abolished2024 (2024)
RegionAsia
Number of teams36–48 (group stage)
59 (total)
Related competitionsAFC Champions League (1st tier)
Last championsAustralia Central Coast Mariners (1st title)
Most successful club(s)Iraq Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Kuwait Al-Kuwait
(3 titles each)
Websitethe-afc.com/cup

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.[1] Meanwhile, a new third-tier competition was also launched under the name AFC Challenge League.[2][3]

Format
Map of AFC countries whose teams reached the group stage of the AFC Cup
  AFC member country that has been represented in the group stage
  AFC member country that has not been represented in the group stage

Some changes were applied in terms of teams and format for the 2017 AFC Cup. A total of 36 teams participate in the group stage (12 each from West Asia and ASEAN, and 4 each from East Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia). The final will be played as a one-off match.

Allocation
Further information: AFC Club Competitions Ranking

Teams from 34 AFC countries had reached the group stage of the AFC Cup. The allocation of those teams by member country was listed below; asterisks represent occasions where at least one team was eliminated in qualification for the group stage. 41 AFC countries had had teams that participated in qualification (including Brunei and Timor-Leste who made their debuts in 2020), those who had not reached the group stage but had only played in qualification are not bolded.

Associations Spots
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023–24
East
China China 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 1 1 1* 1 1 2*
Guam Guam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0 0 0
Hong Kong Hong Kong 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 2 1 2 2 0
Japan Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Macau Macau 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 1 0 1 0 0 1*
Mongolia Mongolia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 1 0* 0* 0* 1 0* 1
North Korea North Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 1* 0 0 0 0
South Korea South Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 4 3 4
ASEAN
Australia Australia Part of OFC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Brunei Brunei 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0* 0 0*
Cambodia Cambodia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1* 1 1 1 2 2 1*
Indonesia Indonesia 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2*
Laos Laos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0* 0* 1 1* 0* 1 0*
Malaysia Malaysia 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0 0 2 2 2
Myanmar Myanmar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 1*
Philippines Philippines 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1* 2 2 2 2 2 0 1 2
Singapore Singapore 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1*
Thailand Thailand 0 0 0± 1 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
East Timor Timor-Leste 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 1 0 0
Vietnam Vietnam 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 1 1
Total 4 4 4 6 4 8 8 7 10 10 10 10 9 11 12 12 12 11 11 12
South
Bangladesh Bangladesh 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 1 1* 1* 1 1* 1* 1* 1*
Bhutan Bhutan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0*
India India 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1* 2 2 2*
Maldives Maldives 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1* 2 2 2 2 1* 1* 0 2 1* 1* 1*
Nepal Nepal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 0* 0 1 0 0* 0* 0*
Pakistan Pakistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 0* 0* 0* 0* 0
Total 5 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Central
Afghanistan Afghanistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0 0 0
Iran Iran 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0* 0* 2 1* 1* 2 2 2 1*
Tajikistan Tajikistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1* 1* 1* 1* 2 2 2 2 1*
Turkmenistan Turkmenistan 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1* 1* 1* 2 1* 2 2 2 2*
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0
Total 2 2 2 2 0 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 7 7 7 4
West
Bahrain Bahrain 0 0 1 1 2 2 1 0 0 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1*
Iraq Iraq 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 2
Jordan Jordan 0 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 1
Kuwait Kuwait 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 3 3 2 2 2 0 0 0 2 2 1 2 2
Lebanon Lebanon 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Oman Oman 1 0 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1* 2 2 2 1* 1* 0 2 1*
State of Palestine Palestine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 1* 2 0* 0* 1 1 2 2 1*
Qatar Qatar 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Syria Syria 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 3 2 1* 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2*
United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Yemen Yemen 1 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0* 0* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 6 4 6 10 10 17 16 17 16 14 14 14 14 12 12 12 12 11 12 12
Total
Finals 18 18 20 24 20 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 34 36 36 39 37 37 36
Qualifying 18 18 20 24 20 32 31 32 33 33 34 41 40 50 44 43 48 43 43 49

Prize money

The prize money for the 2023–24 AFC Cup:[4]

Phase Purse (USD) Travel subsidy
(per match)
Preliminary stage N/A $40,000
Play-offs N/A $40,000
Group stage N/A $40,000
Knockout stage Zonal champions: $100,000 $40,000
Final Champions: $1.5 million
Runners-up: $750,000		 $40,000

Marketing

Sponsorship

Like the AFC Champions League, the AFC Cup was sponsored by a group of multinational corporations, in contrast to the single main sponsor typically found in national top-flight leagues.

The tournament's main sponsors were:[5]

Media

Results and statistics

Finals
List of AFC Cup finals
Year Nation Home team Score Away team Nation Venue Attendance
2004  Syria Al-Wahda 2–3 Al-Jaish  Syria Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus, Syria
 Syria Al-Jaish 0–1 Al-Wahda  Syria Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus, Syria
Aggregate 3–3, Al-Jaish won on away goals
2005  Jordan Al-Faisaly 1–0 Nejmeh  Lebanon Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan
 Lebanon Nejmeh 2–3 Al-Faisaly  Jordan Rafic El-Hariri Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon
Al-Faisaly won 4–2 on aggregate
2006  Jordan Al-Faisaly 3–0 Al-Muharraq  Bahrain Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan 7,000
 Bahrain Al-Muharraq 4–2 Al-Faisaly  Jordan Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain 3,000
Al-Faisaly won 5–4 on aggregate
2007  Jordan Al-Faisaly 0–1 Shabab Al-Ordon  Jordan Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan 5,500
 Jordan Shabab Al-Ordon 1–1 Al-Faisaly  Jordan Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan 7,500
Shabab Al-Ordon won 2–1 on aggregate
2008  Bahrain Al-Muharraq 5–1 Safa  Lebanon Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain 6,000
 Lebanon Safa 4–5 Al-Muharraq  Bahrain Sports City Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon 2,000
Al-Muharraq won 10–5 on aggregate
2009  Kuwait Al-Kuwait 2–1 Al-Karamah  Syria Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait 17,400
2010  Syria Al-Ittihad 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)		 Al-Qadsia  Kuwait Jaber International Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait 58,604
2011  Uzbekistan FC Nasaf 2–1 Al-Kuwait  Kuwait Markaziy Stadium, Qarshi, Uzbekistan 15,753
2012  Kuwait Al-Kuwait 4–0 Erbil  Iraq Franso Hariri Stadium, Erbil, Iraq 30,000
2013  Kuwait Al-Kuwait 2–0 Al-Qadsia  Kuwait Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait 10,000
2014  Kuwait Al-Qadsia 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)		 Erbil  Iraq Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai, UAE 5,240
2015  Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim 1–0 Istiklol  Tajikistan Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe, Tajikistan 18,000
2016  Iraq Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 1–0 Bengaluru  India Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar 5,806
2017  Iraq Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 1–0 Istiklol  Tajikistan Tajikistan Hisor Central Stadium, Hisor, Tajikistan 20,000
2018  Iraq Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 2–0 Altyn Asyr  Turkmenistan Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq 24,665
2019  Lebanon Al-Ahed 1–0 April 25  North Korea Kuala Lumpur Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 500
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia.[6]
2021  Bahrain Al-Muharraq 3–0 Nasaf  Uzbekistan Al-Muharraq Stadium, Arad, Bahrain 9,060
2022  Oman Al-Seeb 3–0 Kuala Lumpur City  Malaysia Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 27,722
2023–24  Australia Central Coast Mariners 1–0 Al-Ahed  Lebanon Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman 1,930

Performance by clubs
Club		 Winners Runners-up Years won Years runners-up
Kuwait Al-Kuwait 3 1 2009, 2012, 2013 2011
Iraq Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 3 0 2016, 2017, 2018
Jordan Al-Faisaly 2 1 2005, 2006 2007
Bahrain Al-Muharraq 2 1 2008, 2021 2006
Kuwait Al-Qadsia 1 2 2014 2010, 2013
Uzbekistan Nasaf Qarshi 1 1 2011 2021
Lebanon Al-Ahed 1 1 2019 2023–24
Syria Al-Jaish 1 0 2004
Jordan Shabab Al-Ordon 1 0 2007
Syria Al-Ittihad 1 0 2010
Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim 1 0 2015
Oman Al-Seeb 1 0 2022
Australia Central Coast Mariners 1 0 2023–24
Iraq Erbil 0 2 2012, 2014
Tajikistan Istiklol 0 2 2015, 2017
Syria Al-Wahda 0 1 2004
Lebanon Nejmeh 0 1 2005
Lebanon Safa 0 1 2008
Syria Al-Karamah 0 1 2009
India Bengaluru 0 1 2016
Turkmenistan Altyn Asyr 0 1 2018
North Korea April 25 0 1 2019
Malaysia Kuala Lumpur City 0 1 2022

Performance by nations
Nation Titles Runners-up Total
 Kuwait 4 3 7
 Iraq 3 2 5
 Jordan 3 1 4
 Syria 2 2 4
 Bahrain 2 1 3
 Lebanon 1 3 4
 Uzbekistan 1 1 2
 Malaysia 1 1 2
 Oman 1 0 1
 Australia 1 0 1
 Tajikistan 0 2 2
 India 0 1 1
 Turkmenistan 0 1 1
 North Korea 0 1 1

See also

References
  1. "History beckons for AFC Cup 2023/24 contenders as final edition of popular competition kicks off". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  2. "AFC Competitions Committee recommends strategic reforms to elevate Asian club football". theAFC.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  3. "AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women's Champions League". AFC. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  4. AFC Cup 2023–24 Competition Regulations. Asian Football Confederation. pp. 57–58. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  5. "AFC Cup League". Archived from the original on 27 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  6. "AFC Executive Committee announces updates to 2020 competitions calendar". AFC. 10 September 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  7. "AFC Cup: Marañón leads all-time top scorers". the-afc.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
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