The race to book a place in the Group Stage of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 will kick off on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, when 21 teams from the East and West Zones of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) begin their Preliminary and Playoff Stage journeys. The 2023/24 edition of the AFC Champions League™ will mark the first instance of Asia’s premier club competition shifting from its erstwhile Spring-Autumn calendar to that of an Autumn-Spring season. In the East Zone, action in the Preliminary Stage will commence when Hong Kong Rangers take on Vietnamese giants Haiphong FC on August 15 at 7.30pm at the Mongkok Stadium, whose winners will face off against Incheon United FC from the Korea Republic in the Playoff Stage on August 22 at 7.30pm at the Incheon Football Stadium. Meanwhile, Lee Man, also from Hong Kong, China, will open their Preliminary Stage campaign at 8pm at the Hong Kong Stadium against Indonesia’s Bali United FC, the victors of which will square off against defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan in the Playoff Stage, which is scheduled to take place on August 22 as well, for a spot in the Group Stage. This will kick off at 7.30pm at the Saitama Stadium 2002 in Tokyo. Also taking place on August 22 are the remaining two matches in the Playoff Stage in this Zone which will see China PR’s Zhejiang FC and Shanghai Port FC battle Thailand’s Port FC and BG Pathum United, respectively. The matches begin at 7.30pm at the Huzhou Olympic Sports Center and Shanghai’s SAIC Motor Pudong Arena respectively. Over in the West, the Preliminary Stage will ensue on August 15 when eight-time UAE Pro League champions Shabab Al Ahli cross paths with Jordanian heavyweights Al Wehdat at 7.35pm at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai; awaiting the winner of the enticing clash will be Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr in the Playoff Stage on August 22 at 8.20pm at the Alawwal Park in Riyadh. The other two Preliminary Stage matches also kick off on August 15. First, Sharjah FC from the United Arab Emirates will lock horns with Bangladesh’s Bashundhara Kings at 7.35pm at the Sharjah Stadium, with the victorious side pitted against the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Tractor FC in the Playoff Stage at 7.30pm at the Yadegar Imam Stadium in Tabriz on August 22. The second will see Uzbekistan’s AGMK FC weathering the challenge of AFC Cup™ 2022 winners Al Seeb Club from Oman at the AMMC Sports Complex in Olmaliq, before they are faced with the task of taking on Qatari club Al Arabi SC at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha at 8.30pm on August 22. Finally, the Playoff Stage in the West Zone will conclude with two-time Qatar Stars League champions Al Wakrah SC tussling with 2022 Uzbekistan Super League runners-up Navbahor on August 22 at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, with kick-off at 6.30pm, for a coveted place in the AFC Champions League™ Group Stage.
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