Schedule for New AFC Club Competitions' Seasons Confirmed

Kuala Lumpur, August 01 (QNA) - Following the decision to transition the AFC Club Competitions from its current Spring-Autumn season to Autumn-Spring on Feb. 25, 2022, the AFC Executive Committee has on Monday approved the new calendar of the 2023-2024 AFC Champions League and AFC Cup seasons.
The AFC Champions League 2023-2024 edition is set to kick off with the Preliminary Stage 1 on Aug. 8, 2023, while the Group Stage is scheduled to take place from Sept.18 to Dec.13, 2023.
The Knockout Stage will be held from Feb. 12 to April 24, 2024, before the two-legged Final is staged on May 11 and 18, 2024.
Meanwhile, the AFC Cup 2023-2024 season will commence with the Preliminary Stage on Aug. 1, 2023, while the Group Stage is set to be held from Sep. 18 to Dec.14, before the Zonal Semi-finals take place from Feb. 2024, followed by the single-leg Final on May 5, 2024.
The recommendation to eliminate the away goals rule as a tiebreaker option was also approved and instead, extra time and, if necessary, kicks from the penalty mark will be used to determine the winner of tied home and away matches.
This will be implemented in the AFC Club Competitions from the 2023-2024 season onwards. (QNA)