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Changes to the AFC champions league for this season and next
Here’s what you need to know.
Next season, three Isuzu UTE A-League teams will play in AFC competitions: one in the AFC Champions League and two in the AFC Cup.
This season, these slots have been impacted by a change in the AFC calendar, which will see these competitions run during the club season as opposed to starting at the latter end of the A-League Men season and running into the off-season.
It’s worth noting that this season’s editions – which started in 2022 with Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City and Sydney FC all competing in some capacity – is still being completed, with a two-legged final set for late April or early May.
So, which teams will represent Australia in Asia in 2023-24?
Macarthur FC will take part in the AFC Cup, having earned a ticket with their Australia Cup triumph back in October.
Meanwhile, the Australian Professional Leagues (publisher of KEEPUP) has devised a criteria to allocate the other two representatives, based on performance.
Australia’s sole representative in the AFC Champions League will be the club who accrues the most points across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League seasons. As things stand, only Melbourne City and Adelaide United can qualify.
The other slot in the AFC Cup will go to the winner of this season’s Isuzu UTE A-League Premiership. However, should Melbourne City (41 points) retain the mantle, which they also claimed last term, this spot would go to the team who finishes second on the table.
Currently, that is Adelaide United (37 points), however, the stage is set for a dramatic race to secure this spot, with Western Sydney Wanderers (34) and Central Coast Mariners (31) all conceivably within striking distance with five matches to play.
At the moment, City are on track to wrap up the ACL spot due to having a combined 90 points from the two seasons, while Adelaide are still in contention – 10 points further back on 80.
Central Coast Mariners were still in the hunt up until the end of the last round, where they fell to a 2-0 loss to Victory.
However, should City win this weekend against Newcastle Jets and Adelaide lose to the Wanderers, Rado Vidosic’s side will lock in a place in next season’s AFC Champions League.
The second AFC Cup slot is also still in play, adding an intriguing new incentive in the race to the end of the regular season.
If City don’t win the Premiership, this season’s Premiers will take the second AFC Cup spot alongside Macarthur.
But if City do win a third consecutive Premiership – then it will be awarded to this season’s second place side – meaning a host of A-Leagues sides can still snare a place in Asia.
keepup.com.au
A big AFC change has sparked a new A-Leagues table scramble: This is how it works
It is not just the Premier’s Plate up for grabs in the final weeks of this Isuzu UTE A-League season, with a one-off change to the allocation of Australia’s slots in continental competitions, due to a change in the timing of the AFC’s competitions, meaning that the team who finishes second could also earn a ticket to represent the A-Leagues in Asia.Here’s what you need to know.
Next season, three Isuzu UTE A-League teams will play in AFC competitions: one in the AFC Champions League and two in the AFC Cup.
This season, these slots have been impacted by a change in the AFC calendar, which will see these competitions run during the club season as opposed to starting at the latter end of the A-League Men season and running into the off-season.
It’s worth noting that this season’s editions – which started in 2022 with Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City and Sydney FC all competing in some capacity – is still being completed, with a two-legged final set for late April or early May.
So, which teams will represent Australia in Asia in 2023-24?
Macarthur FC will take part in the AFC Cup, having earned a ticket with their Australia Cup triumph back in October.
Meanwhile, the Australian Professional Leagues (publisher of KEEPUP) has devised a criteria to allocate the other two representatives, based on performance.
Australia’s sole representative in the AFC Champions League will be the club who accrues the most points across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League seasons. As things stand, only Melbourne City and Adelaide United can qualify.
The other slot in the AFC Cup will go to the winner of this season’s Isuzu UTE A-League Premiership. However, should Melbourne City (41 points) retain the mantle, which they also claimed last term, this spot would go to the team who finishes second on the table.
Currently, that is Adelaide United (37 points), however, the stage is set for a dramatic race to secure this spot, with Western Sydney Wanderers (34) and Central Coast Mariners (31) all conceivably within striking distance with five matches to play.
- Slot 1 (Champions League Slot Allocation)
- Determined by the A-League Men Premiers for the 21/22 Season & 22/23 Season: the club which accrues the most combined points over both seasons
- First placed Melbourne City FC and second placed Adelaide United remain in contention to qualify for ACL via Slot 1 mechanism
- Slot 2 (AFC Cup Slot Allocation)
- Macarthur FC have qualified for AFC Cup by virtue of being crowned the 2022 Australia Cup Winners on 1 October 2022
- Slot 3 (AFC Cup Slot Allocation)
- Determined by either:
- A-League Men’s Premiers for the 21/22 Season or 22/23 Season.
- Or, if it is the same Premiers in both seasons, for example, if Melbourne City retain the Premiers Plate: the club which finishes second in the A-League Men in the 22/23 Premiership table.
- Determined by either:
At the moment, City are on track to wrap up the ACL spot due to having a combined 90 points from the two seasons, while Adelaide are still in contention – 10 points further back on 80.
Central Coast Mariners were still in the hunt up until the end of the last round, where they fell to a 2-0 loss to Victory.
However, should City win this weekend against Newcastle Jets and Adelaide lose to the Wanderers, Rado Vidosic’s side will lock in a place in next season’s AFC Champions League.
The second AFC Cup slot is also still in play, adding an intriguing new incentive in the race to the end of the regular season.
If City don’t win the Premiership, this season’s Premiers will take the second AFC Cup spot alongside Macarthur.
But if City do win a third consecutive Premiership – then it will be awarded to this season’s second place side – meaning a host of A-Leagues sides can still snare a place in Asia.
The Equation: City look to wrap up two pieces of silverware this weekend - Here's how
KEEPUP provides a rundown on what's on the line in the final three weeks of the Isuzu UTE A-League season.
keepup.com.au
