2022 AFC Cup group stage

The 2022 AFC Cup group stage was played from 18 May to 30 June 2022.[1] A total of 39 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 12 places in the knockout stage of the 2022 AFC Cup.[2]

Draw

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The draw for the group stage was held on 17 January 2022 at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 39 teams were drawn into nine groups of four and one group of three (in the Central Asia Zone): three groups each in the West Asia Zone (Groups A–C) and the ASEAN Zone (Groups G–I), two groups in the Central Asia Zone (Groups E–F), and one group each in the South Asia Zone (Group D) and the East Asia Zone (Group J). For each zone, teams were seeded into four pots and drawn into the relevant positions within each group, based on their association ranking and their seeding within their association, in consideration of technical balance between groups. Teams from the same association in zones with more than one group (West Asia Zone, Central Asia Zone, and ASEAN Zone) could not be drawn into the same group.

Zone Groups Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
West Asia Zone A–C   Al-Ansar   Al-Seeb   Jableh   Hilal Al-Quds
  Tishreen   Shabab Al-Khalil   East Riffa   Al-Arabi
  Al-Riffa   Nejmeh   Dhofar   Al-Kuwait
South Asia Zone D   Gokulam Kerala   Bashundhara Kings   Maziya   ATK Mohun Bagan
(Winners of South Asia Play-off)
Central Asia Zone E–F   Sogdiana Jizzakh (Nasaf Qarshi)[note 1]   Altyn Asyr   CSKA Pamir Dushanbe   Neftchi
  Khujand   Dordoi   Köpetdag
ASEAN Zone G–I   Kaya F.C.–Iloilo   Hougang United   Phnom Penh Crown   Young Elephants
(  Hantharwady United)[note 2]
  Viettel   Shan United[note 2]   Kedah Darul Aman   PSM Makassar
  Kuala Lumpur City   Bali United   Tampines Rovers   Visakha FC
(Winners of ASEAN Play-off)[note 2]
East Asia Zone J   Eastern   MUST CPK[note 3]   Tainan City   Lee Man
(Winners of East Asia Play-off)
Standby teams[note 1]

Format

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In the group stage, each group is played on a single round-robin basis in centralised venues. The following teams will advance to the knockout stage:

  • The winners of each group and the best runners-up in the West Asia Zone and the ASEAN Zone advance to the Zonal semi-finals.
  • The winners of each group in the Central Asia Zone advance to the Zonal finals.
  • The winners of each group in the South Asia Zone and the East Asia Zone advance to the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals.

Tiebreakers

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The teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers were applied in the following order (Regulations Article 8.3):[2]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. Away goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams (Not applicable since matches will be played in centralised venues);
  5. If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  6. Goal difference in all group matches;
  7. Goals scored in all group matches;
  8. Penalty shoot-out if only two teams playing each other in the last round of the group are tied;
  9. Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
  10. Association ranking;
  11. Drawing of lots.

Schedule

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The schedule of each matchday was as follows.[1]

Matchday Dates Matches
West South Central ASEAN East Four-team groups Three-team group
Matchday 1 18 May 2022 24 June 2022 1 v 4, 2 v 3 3 v 1
Matchday 2 21 May 2022 27 June 2022 4 v 2, 3 v 1 2 v 3
Matchday 3 24 May 2022 30 June 2022 1 v 2, 3 v 4 1 v 2

Centralised venues

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On 24 February 2022, AFC confirmed hosts for the group stage.[6][7] on 25 April 2022, the Chinese Taipei Football Association withdrew from hosting the Group J matches.[8] Later, on 5 May, Buriram were declared as the centralised venue to host the Group J matches.[9]

Groups

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Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SEB KSC JAB ANS
1   Al-Seeb (H) 3 2 0 1 6 2 +4 6 Zonal semi-finals 1–0
2   Al-Kuwait 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1 5 2–1
3   Jableh 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4 0–0 1–0
4   Al-Ansar 3 0 1 2 1 6 −5 1 0–4 1–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Al-Seeb  1–0  Jableh
Al-Farsi   45+1' Report
Attendance: 2,700
Referee: Mohamed Javiz (Maldives)
Al-Ansar  1–1  Al-Kuwait
Siaj   75' Report Khenissi   27'
Attendance: 77
Referee: Abdulla Al-Marri (Qatar)

Al-Kuwait  2–1  Al-Seeb
Report Al-Ghassani   45+5'
Attendance: 2,843
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Jableh  1–0  Al-Ansar
Jwayed   90+3' Report
Attendance: 135
Referee: Payam Heidari (Iran)

Al-Ansar  0–4  Al-Seeb
Report
Attendance: 1,225
Jableh  0–0  Al-Kuwait
Report
Attendance: 135
Referee: Sadullo Gulmurodi (Tajikistan)

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ARA RIF DHO SAK
1   Al-Arabi (H) 3 2 1 0 5 3 +2 7 Zonal semi-finals 1–0
2   Al-Riffa 3 2 0 1 8 6 +2 6 2–3 3–1
3   Dhofar 3 1 1 1 6 4 +2 4 1–1 2–3
4   Shabab Al-Khalil 3 0 0 3 1 7 −6 0 0–3
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Al-Riffa  2–3  Al-Arabi
Report
Shabab Al-Khalil  0–3  Dhofar
Report
Attendance: 110
Referee: Sayyodjon Zainiddinov (Tajikistan)

Al-Arabi  1–0  Shabab Al-Khalil
Mbengue   34' Report
Dhofar  2–3  Al-Riffa
Report

Dhofar  1–1  Al-Arabi
Al-Nahar   19' Report Mbengue   32'
Al-Riffa  3–1  Shabab Al-Khalil
Report Darwish   76'
Attendance: 65
Referee: Akhrol Riskullaev (Uzbekistan)

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification EAR TIS NEJ HAQ
1   East Riffa (H) 3 1 2 0 5 3 +2 5 Zonal semi-finals 2–0 2–2
2   Tishreen 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4[a] 3–1 0–0
3   Nejmeh 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4[a] 1–1
4   Hilal Al-Quds 3 0 2 1 2 4 −2 2 0–2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Tishreen 3, Nejmeh 0.
Tishreen  0–0  Hilal Al-Quds
Report
Attendance: 118
Referee: Zaid Thamer (Iraq)
Nejmeh  1–1  East Riffa
Alaaeddine   64' (pen.) Report Bodahoom   76'
Attendance: 485
Referee: Chae Sang-hyeop (South Korea)

Hilal Al-Quds  0–2  Nejmeh
Report
East Riffa  2–0  Tishreen
Report

Tishreen  3–1  Nejmeh
Report Ansah   70'
Attendance: 78
Referee: Fu Ming (China)
East Riffa  2–2  Hilal Al-Quds
Report Maraaba   24', 38'
Attendance: 604
Referee: Shukri Al-Hunfush (Saudi Arabia)

Group D

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AMB BSK MAZ GOK
1   ATK Mohun Bagan (H) 3 2 0 1 11 6 +5 6[a] Inter-zone play-off semi-finals 4–0
2   Bashundhara Kings 3 2 0 1 3 5 −2 6[a] 1–0
3   Maziya 3 1 0 2 3 6 −3 3[b] 2–5 1–0
4   Gokulam Kerala 3 1 0 2 5 5 0 3[b] 4–2 1–2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points: ATK Mohun Bagan 3, Bashundhara Kings 0.
  2. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Maziya 3, Gokulam Kerala 0.
Gokulam Kerala  4–2  ATK Mohun Bagan
Report
Attendance: 31,790
Referee: Seyed Vahid Kazemi (Iran)
Bashundhara Kings  1–0  Maziya
Marong   33' Report
Attendance: 259
Referee: Yudi Nurcahya (Indonesia)

ATK Mohun Bagan  4–0  Bashundhara Kings
Report
Attendance: 34,595
Referee: Chen Hsin-chuan (Chinese Taipei)
Maziya  1–0  Gokulam Kerala
Stewart   50' Report
Attendance: 395
Referee: Baraa Aisha (Palestine)

Gokulam Kerala  1–2  Bashundhara Kings
Fletcher   75' Report
Attendance: 497
Referee: Masoud Tufaylieh (Syria)
Maziya  2–5  ATK Mohun Bagan
Tana   45', 73' Report
Attendance: 33,729
Referee: Abdul Hakim Haidi (Brunei)

Group E

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SOG ALT CPD NEF
1   Sogdiana Jizzakh 3 3 0 0 8 3 +5 9 Zonal finals 3–1 2–0
2   Altyn Asyr 3 1 1 1 3 4 −1 4 1–1
3   CSKA Pamir Dushanbe (H) 3 0 2 1 3 4 −1 2 2–3 0–0
4   Neftchi 3 0 1 2 0 3 −3 1 0–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Sogdiana Jizzakh  2–0  Neftchi
Report
Attendance: 840
Altyn Asyr  1–1  CSKA Pamir Dushanbe
Report
Attendance: 5,720

Neftchi  0–1  Altyn Asyr
Report
Attendance: 801
Referee: Ngô Duy Lân (Vietnam)
CSKA Pamir Dushanbe  2–3  Sogdiana Jizzakh
Report
Attendance: 6,300
Referee: Khaled Al-Shaqsi (Oman)

Sogdiana Jizzakh  3–1  Altyn Asyr
Report
Attendance: 850
CSKA Pamir Dushanbe  0–0  Neftchi
Report
Attendance: 5,750
Referee: Bold Khash-Erdene (Mongolia)

Group F

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification KHU KPD DOR
1   Khujand 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4 Zonal finals 0–0
2   Köpetdag 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 3 1–3
3   Dordoi (H) 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1 1 0–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Köpetdag  1–3  Khujand
Report

Dordoi  0–1  Köpetdag
Report
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: Nivon Robesh Gamini (Sri Lanka)

Khujand  0–0  Dordoi
Report

Group G

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification KED VIS BAL KAY
1   Kedah Darul Aman 3 2 0 1 9 4 +5 6[a] Zonal semi-finals 5–1 4–1
2   Visakha FC 3 2 0 1 8 8 0 6[a] 5–2
3   Bali United (H) 3 2 0 1 5 5 0 6[a] 2–0
4   Kaya F.C.–Iloilo 3 0 0 3 2 7 −5 0 1–2 0–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c Head-to-head standings:
    • Tied on head-to-head points.
    • Head-to-head goal difference: Kedah Darul Aman: +2, Visakha FC –1, Bali United –1.
    • Head-to-head goals scored: Visakha FC 6, Bali United 4.
Kaya F.C.–Iloilo  1–2  Visakha FC
Report
Attendance: 821
Referee: Abdul Hakim Haidi (Brunei)
Bali United  2–0  Kedah Darul Aman
Report
Attendance: 9,832
Referee: Akhrol Riskullaev (Uzbekistan)

Visakha FC  5–2  Bali United
Report
Attendance: 5,669
Referee: Mohamed Javiz (Maldives)
Kedah Darul Aman  4–1  Kaya F.C.–Iloilo
Report
Attendance: 100
Referee: Payam Heidari (Iran)

Kaya F.C.–Iloilo  0–1  Bali United
Report
Attendance: 5,069
Referee: Shukri Al-Hunfush (Saudi Arabia)
Kedah Darul Aman  5–1  Visakha FC
Report
Attendance: 100
Referee: Ahmed Al-Ali (Jordan)

Group H

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification PSM KLC TAM
1   PSM Makassar 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4[a] Zonal semi-finals 0–0
2   Kuala Lumpur City (H) 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4[a] 2–1
3   Tampines Rovers 2 0 0 2 2 5 −3 0 1–3
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Tied on head-to-head results. Overall goal difference used as tiebreaker.
PSM Makassar  0–0  Kuala Lumpur City
Report

Tampines Rovers  1–3  PSM Makassar
Report
Attendance: 302
Referee: Seyed Vahid Kazemi (Iran)

Kuala Lumpur City  2–1  Tampines Rovers
Report
Attendance: 1,354
Referee: Masoud Tufaylieh (Syria)

Group I

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification VIE HOU PPC YEL
1   Viettel (H) 3 3 0 0 11 3 +8 9 Zonal semi-finals 5–2 5–1
2   Hougang United 3 2 0 1 9 9 0 6 4–3
3   Phnom Penh Crown 3 1 0 2 7 7 0 3 0–1 4–2
4   Young Elephants 3 0 0 3 4 12 −8 0 1–3
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Viettel  5–1  Young Elephants
Report
Attendance: 1,135
Referee: Feras Taweel (Syria)
Hougang United  4–3  Phnom Penh Crown
Report

Phnom Penh Crown  0–1  Viettel
Report
Young Elephants  1–3  Hougang United
Report
Attendance: 388
Referee: Sayyodjon Zainiddinov (Tajikistan)

Viettel  5–2  Hougang United
Report
Attendance: 1,555
Referee: Ali Reda (Lebanon)
Phnom Penh Crown  4–2  Young Elephants
Report
Attendance: 267
Referee: Halim Shirzad (Afghanistan)

Group J

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification EAS LEE TNC CPK
1   Eastern 2 2 0 0 6 2 +4 6 Inter-zone play-off semi-finals 3–1 Canc.
2   Lee Man 2 1 0 1 4 4 0 3 1–3 Canc.
3   Tainan City 2 0 0 2 2 6 −4 0 1–3
4   MUST CPK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrew[10] Canc.
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Lee Man  1–3  Eastern
Report
Attendance: 159
Referee: Ismaeel Habib Ali (Bahrain)
MUST CPK  Cancelled[note 3]  Tainan City

Tainan City  1–3  Lee Man
Report
Attendance: 122
Referee: Adam Fazeel (Maldives)
Eastern  Cancelled[note 3]  MUST CPK

Eastern  3–1  Tainan City
Report
Attendance: 130
Referee: Yousif Saeed Hassan (Iraq)
Lee Man  Cancelled[note 3]  MUST CPK

Ranking of runner-up teams

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West Asia Zone

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Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 B   Al-Riffa 3 2 0 1 8 6 +2 6 Zonal semi-finals
2 A   Al-Kuwait 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1 5
3 C   Tishreen 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Disciplinary points; 5) Drawing of lots.

ASEAN Zone

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Since Group H only had three teams, the results against fourth-placed teams in Groups G and I were omitted for this ranking.

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 H   Kuala Lumpur City 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4 Zonal semi-finals
2 G   Visakha FC 2 1 0 1 6 7 −1 3
3 I   Hougang United 2 1 0 1 6 8 −2 3
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Disciplinary points; 5) Drawing of lots.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b The standby teams would replace a team from the same association which played in the AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs and advanced to the AFC Champions League group stage. Since Nasaf Qarshi advanced from the AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs to the group stage, Sogdiana Jizzakh, which were the standby team from Uzbekistan, replaced Nasaf Qarshi in the AFC Cup group stage.
  2. ^ a b c d On 19 January 2022, the AFC announced that the two teams from Myanmar, Shan United and Hanthawaddy United, withdrew from the group stage after the draw.[3] As a result, on 1 March 2022, the AFC decided to cancel the ASEAN zone play-off round match between Visakha FC and Young Elephants, and promote both the participating teams to the group stage to fill the vacant group stage spots.[4]
  3. ^ a b c d MUST CPK withdrew from the competition due to travel restrictions as a result of the recent lockdown measures enforced in Macau due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "AFC Competitions Calendar 2022" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-13. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  2. ^ a b "AFC Cup 2022 Competition Regulations" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
  3. ^ "AFC confirms the withdrawal of Myanmar clubs". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  4. ^ "AFC's decision on withdrawal of Myanmar clubs". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Latest update on the AFC Cup 2022". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  6. ^ "AFC Cup 2022 Group Stage centralised venues confirmed". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 24 February 2022.
  7. ^ "AFC Cup 2022 Group I to be held in Vietnam". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 4 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Latest update on the AFC Cup 2022 Group J". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 25 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Latest update on the AFC Cup 2022 Group J". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 5 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Latest update on the AFC Cup 2022™". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
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