Asian Champions League to restart with groups in Qatar hub

Qatar will be the host of all western region games through the semifinals, the AFC says.

The Asian Champions League is set to restart after a seven-month pause with Qatar announced on Thursday as the host of all western region games through the semifinals.

The Asian Football Confederation said 16 teams - including four from Saudi Arabia and four from the United Arab Emirates - will go to Qatar as a centralised venue to complete the group stage starting from 14 September. Games in Asia’s top club competition have not been played since February due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Teams advancing from the groups will stay in Qatar for single-leg knockout games from the round of 16 to the western semifinal on 3 October. The 39 scheduled games will produce a finalist from the western region.

The AFC said possible host nations in eastern Asia to stage the other half of the competition have until 24 July to submit their interest.

The Asian Champions Leagues east region groups include teams from Australia, China, Japan and South Korea.