The 2018 AFC Champions League was the 37th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 16th under the current AFC Champions League title.
Kashima Antlers won the title for the first time, defeating Persepolis in the final, and qualified as the AFC representative at the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
Urawa Red Diamonds were the title holders, but they were unable to defend their title as they finished seventh in the 2017 J1 League and were eliminated in the fourth round of the 2017 Emperor's Cup, thus did not qualify for the tournament. It marked the second season in a row without title holders after Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were disqualified in 2017 as a result of their involvement in a match-fixing scandal in 2016.
Association team allocation The AFC Competitions Committee proposed a revamp of the AFC club competitions on 25 January 2014, which was ratified by the AFC Executive Committee on 16 April 2014. The 46 AFC member associations (excluding the associate member Northern Mariana Islands) are ranked based on their national team's and clubs' performance over the last four years in AFC competitions, with the allocation of slots for the 2017 and 2018 editions of the AFC club competitions determined by the 2016 AFC rankings (Entry Manual Article 2.2): The associations were split into two regions: West Region consists of the associations from the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA), and the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). East Region consists of the associations from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) and the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF). In each region, there are four groups in the group stage, including a total of 12 direct slots, with the 4 remaining slots filled through play-offs. The top 12 associations in each region as per the AFC rankings are eligible to enter the AFC Champions League, as long as they fulfill the AFC Champions League criteria. The top six associations in each region get at least one direct slot in the group stage, while the remaining associations get only play-off slots (as well as AFC Cup group stage slots): The associations ranked 1st and 2nd each get three direct slots and one play-off slot. The associations ranked 3rd and 4th each get two direct slots and two play-off slots. The associations ranked 5th each get one direct slot and two play-off slots. The associations ranked 6th each get one direct slot and one play-off slot. The associations ranked 7th to 12th each get one play-off slot. The maximum number of slots for each association is one-third of the total number of eligible teams in the top division. If any association gives up its direct slots, they are redistributed to the highest eligible association, with each association limited to a maximum of three direct slots. If any association gives up its play-off slots, they are annulled and not redistributed to any other association.
For the 2018 AFC Champions League, the associations are allocated slots according to their association ranking published on 30 November 2016, which takes into account their performance in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup, as well as their national team's FIFA World Rankings, during the period between 2013 and 2016.
Participation for 2018 AFC Champions LeagueParticipatingNot participating
+West RegionRankMemberAssociationPointsSlotsGroupstagePlay-off 1 2 United Arab Emirates87.5553100 2 3 Saudi Arabia84.6982000 3 4 Iran78.9083100 4 5 Qatar78.1713100 5 9 Uzbekistan56.8761200 610 Iraq37.2400000 711 Kuwait36.4570000 813 Syria34.2570000 915 Jordan31.21301001018 India27.93001001119 Bahrain27.35301001220 Lebanon22.0770000Total12800820
+East RegionRankMemberAssociationPointsSlotsGroupstagePlay-off 1 1 South Korea96.3113100 2 6 Japan75.8073100 3 7 China72.7192200 4 8 Australia72.5992010 512 Thailand34.7531020 614 Hong Kong31.7971010 716 Vietnam29.2730010 817 Malaysia28.8650010 921 Indonesia20.37200011024 Myanmar17.22000011125 Philippines17.18800011227 Singapore13.6640001Total124641426
Notes
Teams The following 46 teams from 20 associations entered the competition.
In the following table, the number of appearances and last appearance count only those since the 2002–03 season (including qualifying rounds), when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League.
+West Region+Group stage direct entrants (Groups A–D)TeamQualifying methodApp Al-Jazira2016–17 UAE Pro-League champions10th Al-Wahda2016–17 UAE President's Cup winners9th Al-Wasl2016–17 UAE Pro-League runners-up2nd Al-Hilal2016–17 Saudi Professional League champions and 2017 King Cup winners14th Al-Ahli2016–17 Saudi Professional League runners-up10th Persepolis2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League champions and 2017 Iranian Super Cup winners 7th Esteghlal2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League runners-up9th Tractor2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League 3rd place5th Al-Duhail2016–17 Qatar Stars League champions7th Al-Sadd2017 Emir of Qatar Cup winners2016–17 Qatar Stars League runners-up13th Al-Rayyan2016–17 Qatar Stars League 3rd place8th Lokomotiv Tashkent2017 Uzbek League champions and 2017 Uzbekistan Cup winners6th +Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in play-off roundTeamQualifying methodApp Al-Ain2016–17 UAE Pro-League 4th place13th Zob Ahan2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League 4th place7th Al-Gharafa2016–17 Qatar Stars League 5th place9th Nasaf Qarshi2017 Uzbek League runners-up6th Pakhtakor2017 Uzbek League 3rd place14th Al-Faisaly2016–17 Jordan League champions2nd Aizawl2016–17 I-League champions1st Malkiya2016–17 Bahrain First Division League champions1st
+East Region+Group stage direct entrants (Groups E–H)TeamQualifying methodApp Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2017 K League Classic champions11th Ulsan Hyundai2017 Korean FA Cup winners6th Jeju United2017 K League Classic runners-up3rd Kawasaki Frontale2017 J1 League champions6th Cerezo Osaka2017 Emperor's Cup winners2017 J1 League 3rd place3rd Kashima Antlers2017 J1 League runners-up 8th Guangzhou Evergrande2017 Chinese Super League champions7th Shanghai Shenhua2017 Chinese FA Cup winners8th Sydney FC2016–17 A-League premiers and 2017 A-League Grand Final winners4th Melbourne Victory2016–17 A-League regular season runners-up6th Buriram United2017 Thai League T1 champions7th Kitchee2016–17 Hong Kong Premier League champions4th +Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in play-off roundTeamQualifying methodApp Suwon Samsung Bluewings2017 K League Classic 3rd place9th Kashiwa Reysol2017 J1 League 4th place4th Shanghai SIPG2017 Chinese Super League runners-up3rd Tianjin Quanjian2017 Chinese Super League 3rd place1st +Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in preliminary round 2TeamQualifying methodApp Brisbane Roar2016–17 A-League regular season 3rd place5th Chiangrai United2017 Thai FA Cup winners1st Muangthong United2017 Thai League T1 runners-up7th Eastern2016–17 Hong Kong season play-off winners2nd FLC Thanh Hóa2017 V.League 1 runners-up1st Johor Darul Ta'zim2017 Malaysia Super League champions4th +Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in preliminary round 1TeamQualifying methodApp Bali United2017 Liga 1 runners-up1st Shan United2017 Myanmar National League champions1st Ceres–Negros2017 Philippines Football League champions 1st Tampines Rovers2017 S.League runners-up4th
Notes
Schedule The schedule of the competition was as follows.
StageRoundDraw dateFirst legSecond legPreliminary stagePreliminary round 1No draw16 January 2018Preliminary round 223 January 2018Play-off stagePlay-off round30 January 2018Group stageMatchday 16 December 201712–14 February 2018Matchday 219–21 February 2018Matchday 35–7 March 2018Matchday 412–14 March 2018Matchday 52–4 April 2018Matchday 616–18 April 2018Knockout stageRound of 167–9 May 201814–16 May 2018Quarter-finals23 May 201827–29 August 201817–19 September 2018Semi-finals2–3 October 201823–24 October 2018Final3 November 201810 November 2018
Qualifying play-offs
Preliminary round 1
Preliminary round 2
Play-off round
Group stage
Tiebreakers
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Knockout stage
Bracket
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Awards Main awards AwardPlayerTeamMost Valuable Player Yuma Suzuki Kashima AntlersTop Goalscorer Baghdad Bounedjah Al-SaddFair Play Award— PersepolisBest Goal Cheng Chin Lung Kitchee
All-Star Squad Source: PositionPlayerTeamGoalkeeper Kwoun Sun-tae Kashima Antlers Alireza Beiranvand Persepolis Shin Hwa-yong Suwon Samsung BluewingsDefenders Abdelkarim Hassan Al-Sadd Rouzbeh Cheshmi Esteghlal Gen Shoji Kashima Antlers Jalal Hosseini Persepolis Jung Seung-hyun Kashima AntlersMidfielders Nam Tae-hee Al-Duhail Léo Silva Kashima Antlers Xavi Al-Sadd Kamal Kamyabinia Persepolis Kento Misao Kashima Antlers Bashar Resan Persepolis Park Jong-woo Suwon Samsung Bluewings Elvis Sarić Suwon Samsung BluewingsForwards Yuma Suzuki Kashima Antlers Godwin Mensha Persepolis Serginho Kashima Antlers Kim Shin-wook Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Ali Alipour Persepolis Alexandre Pato Tianjin Quanjian Dejan Damjanović Suwon Samsung Bluewings Baghdad Bounedjah Al-Sadd
Opta Best XI Source: PositionPlayerTeamGoalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand PersepolisDefenders Li Xuepeng Guangzhou Evergrande Shoja' Khalilzadeh Persepolis Jalal Hosseini Persepolis Lee Yong Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsMidfielders Ricardo Goulart Guangzhou Evergrande Xavi Al-Sadd Serginho Kashima AntlersForwards Dejan Damjanović Suwon Samsung Bluewings Baghdad Bounedjah Al-Sadd Youssef El-Arabi Al-Duhail
Fans' Best XI Source: PositionPlayerTeamGoalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand PersepolisDefenders Abdelkarim Hassan Al-Sadd Shoja' Khalilzadeh Persepolis Ró-Ró Al-Sadd Voria Ghafouri EsteghlalMidfielders Farshid Esmaeili Esteghlal Xavi Al-Sadd Siamak Nemati PersepolisForwards Ali Alipour Persepolis Baghdad Bounedjah Al-Sadd Mame Baba Thiam Esteghlal
Top scorers
RankPlayerTeam Total1 Baghdad Bounedjah Al-Sadd22 12 221 1132 Dejan Damjanović Suwon Samsung Bluewings2 111 2 119 Youssef El-Arabi Al-Duhail 222 12 4 Mame Baba Thiam Esteghlal 121 3 7 Ricardo Goulart Guangzhou Evergrande1 4 26 Marcus Berg Al-Ain 11 22 6 Kim Shin-wook Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 31 1 1 Romarinho Al-Jazira 1 111119 Adriano Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3 1 15 Morteza Tabrizi Zob Ahan (GS & R16) Esteghlal (QF) 12 1 1 Serginho Kashima Antlers 11111 Ali Mabkhout Al-Jazira11 2 1 Muhannad Assiri Al-Ahli11 1 11 Mehdi Taremi Al-Gharafa12 1 1 Ali Alipour Persepolis2 1 1 1
Player of the week awards MatchdayToyota Player of the WeekPlayerTeamGroup stageMatchday 1 Leroy George Melbourne VictoryMatchday 2 Oscar Shanghai SIPGMatchday 3 Ricardo Goulart Guangzhou EvergrandeMatchday 4 Ali Khasif Al-JaziraMatchday 5 Mislav Oršić Ulsan HyundaiMatchday 6 Alan Guangzhou EvergrandeKnockout stageRound of 16 1st leg Edgar Buriram UnitedRound of 16 2nd leg Mame Baba Thiam EsteghlalQuarter-finals 1st leg Dejan Damjanović Suwon Samsung BluewingsQuarter-finals 2nd leg Akram Afif Al-SaddSemi-finals 1st leg Alireza Beiranvand PersepolisSemi-finals 2nd leg Dejan Damjanović Suwon Samsung BluewingsFinal 1st leg Serginho Kashima AntlersFinal 2nd leg Kwoun Sun-tae Kashima Antlers
See also 2018 AFC Cup 2018 FIFA Club World Cup
References
External links , the-AFC.com AFC Champions League 2018, stats.the-AFC.com