Even East & West regions should be scrapped out. If travel is a problem, move Qatar/UAE/Indian clubs to Eastern region which has better connectivity to most of the East Asian countries.
With current rules, countries like Uzbekistan & Iraq will get only 1 slot irrespective of their AFC club ranking. Also, countries like Malaysia, Vietnam & Hong Kong getting advantage due to this division. If they are allowed, even clubs from Jordan/Tajikistan/India etc deserved to be in top club competition.
Top tier of Asian club football, which will comprise top 24 clubs, will be named AFC Champions League Elite
The 32-team second tier will be known AFC Champions League 2
Final tier, which will have 20 clubs, is confirmed as the AFC Challenge League
AFC has decided to Scrap AFC Cup
Also we no longer get a direct slot with this new change. In the Elite Indian clubs spot has been kicked out. The only option now is win the AFC Cup earn entry into group stage next season.
So this season from MCFC will be the last direct entry from an ISL. I am not sure if Odisha or MB will win AFC Cup when they are struggling to beat local army sides lol.
Top tier of Asian club football, which will comprise top 24 clubs, will be named AFC Champions League Elite
The 32-team second tier will be known AFC Champions League 2
Final tier, which will have 20 clubs, is confirmed as the AFC Challenge League
AFC has decided to Scrap AFC Cup
Also we no longer get a direct slot with this new change. In the Elite Indian clubs spot has been kicked out. The only option now is win the AFC Cup earn entry into group stage next season.
So this season from MCFC will be the last direct entry from an ISL. I am not sure if Odisha or MB will win AFC Cup when they are struggling to beat local army sides lol.
Top tier of Asian club football, which will comprise top 24 clubs, will be named AFC Champions League Elite
The 32-team second tier will be known AFC Champions League 2
Final tier, which will have 20 clubs, is confirmed as the AFC Challenge League
AFC has decided to Scrap AFC Cup
Also we no longer get a direct slot with this new change. In the Elite Indian clubs spot has been kicked out. The only option now is win the AFC Cup earn entry into group stage next season.
So this season from MCFC will be the last direct entry from an ISL. I am not sure if Odisha or MB will win AFC Cup when they are struggling to beat local army sides lol.
Top tier of Asian club football, which will comprise top 24 clubs, will be named AFC Champions League Elite
The 32-team second tier will be known AFC Champions League 2
Final tier, which will have 20 clubs, is confirmed as the AFC Challenge League
AFC has decided to Scrap AFC Cup
Also we no longer get a direct slot with this new change. In the Elite Indian clubs spot has been kicked out. The only option now is win the AFC Cup earn entry into group stage next season.
So this season from MCFC will be the last direct entry from an ISL. I am not sure if Odisha or MB will win AFC Cup when they are struggling to beat local army sides lol.
What are the conditions for being in the elite group? And why India falls short?
MA points ranking
That and also Saudi clubs got this system pushed. They wanted all rich clubs in top division. Just for charity they are throwing one winner from AFC. If they give say 2 or 3 slots and they can cause an upset. Same like UEFA. They wanted rich clubs to keep their earnings and keep the shocks to minimum. That's why we have not seen clubs like Porto, Sevilla, Benfica, Marseille, Monaco, Ajax the previous winners are struggling. No unexpected clubs are winning UCL anymore. That is fine too. It all comes down to money!
AFC Champions League 2 is basically the AFC Cup. Some genius at AFC, who I bet gets paid very well, came up with this name. Deserves top marks for creativity.
They could have bought knockout tournament for saving money,consisting of 32 or more teams,playing away/home format,as a third competition.It would have got more participations and made more inclusive.Say team of ISL finishing Second/Third qualifying for it.What an interesting tournament it would have been.Isl top 4 fight too would have been interesting.
32 in Champions League Elite, 32 in Champions League 2 & 16 in Conference League would have made some sense. Total 78 slots in group stage instead of current allocated 76 slots.
Also , what money they are going to save ? Nations already divided to East & West Region. Also Prize money for Elite league is increased multiple times, starting from next season, winner gets 12 million USD & runners 6 million. Currently it is 4 & 2 million USD.
This change is initiated by Saudi & supported by top nations like Iran, Japan, S.Korea , Qatar & UAE.
One good thing about this change is increase in prize money for 2tier (AFC cup/Champions League 2). Currently it is 1.5 million & will be increased to 3 million USD. Also reintroduction of 3rd tier(Challenge League) will be a blessing for smaller football nations.
Due to Covid & some other reasons, China & Australia hardly showed any interest in AFC competitions in last 2 seasons. Increase in prize money & travel allowance will reinstate interest from all nations.
Despite some positives, Losing Champions League is still hurting me. We will never be able to see top performances from nations like India(Mumbai, to some extent Goa) , Tajikistan (Istikol) & Jordan clubs in Elite league.
Comments
AFC has decided to Scrap AFC Cup
Even East & West regions should be scrapped out. If travel is a problem, move Qatar/UAE/Indian clubs to Eastern region which has better connectivity to most of the East Asian countries.
With current rules, countries like Uzbekistan & Iraq will get only 1 slot irrespective of their AFC club ranking. Also, countries like Malaysia, Vietnam & Hong Kong getting advantage due to this division. If they are allowed, even clubs from Jordan/Tajikistan/India etc deserved to be in top club competition.
https://www.news9live.com/sports/football/three-week-window-likely-during-isl-for-afc-asian-cup-camp-2249805
So this season from MCFC will be the last direct entry from an ISL. I am not sure if Odisha or MB will win AFC Cup when they are struggling to beat local army sides lol.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/indian-football/news-indian-clubs-lose-direct-entry-spot-afc-champions-league-mumbai-city-fc-potentially-last-indian-team-participate
Also , what money they are going to save ? Nations already divided to East & West Region. Also Prize money for Elite league is increased multiple times, starting from next season, winner gets 12 million USD & runners 6 million. Currently it is 4 & 2 million USD.
This change is initiated by Saudi & supported by top nations like Iran, Japan, S.Korea , Qatar & UAE.
One good thing about this change is increase in prize money for 2tier (AFC cup/Champions League 2). Currently it is 1.5 million & will be increased to 3 million USD. Also reintroduction of 3rd tier(Challenge League) will be a blessing for smaller football nations.
Due to Covid & some other reasons, China & Australia hardly showed any interest in AFC competitions in last 2 seasons. Increase in prize money & travel allowance will reinstate interest from all nations.
Despite some positives, Losing Champions League is still hurting me. We will never be able to see top performances from nations like India(Mumbai, to some extent Goa) , Tajikistan (Istikol) & Jordan clubs in Elite league.