The 2021 AFC Champions League was the 40th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 19th under the current AFC Champions League title.
Al-Hilal won their fourth title by defeating Pohang Steelers 2–0 in the final, becoming the most successful team in the history of the competition. As winners, they automatically qualified for the 2022 AFC Champions League (although they had already qualified through their domestic performance). They also earned the right to play in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
The tournament was the first to involve 40 teams during the group stage, with an increase from the previous 32 teams.
Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the semi-finals by fellow South Korean club Pohang Steelers.
Association team allocation The 46 AFC member associations (excluding the Northern Mariana Islands, which became a full member in December 2020 and were not eligible for this season) were ranked based on their clubs' performance over the last four years in AFC competitions (their national team's FIFA World Rankings no longer considered). The slots were allocated by the following criteria according to the Entry Manual: The associations were split into two regions (Article 3.1): West Region consisted of the 25 associations from the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), and the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA). East Region consisted of the 21 associations from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) and the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF). The AFC could reallocate one or more associations to another region if necessary for sporting reasons. The top 12 associations in each region were eligible to enter the AFC Champions League. In each region, there were five groups in the group stage, including 16 direct slots, with the 4 remaining slots filled through qualifying play-offs (Article 3.2). The slots in each region were distributed as follows: The associations ranked 1st and 2nd were each allocated three direct slots and one play-off slot. The associations ranked 3rd and 4th were each allocated two direct slots and two play-off slots. The associations ranked 5th were each allocated one direct slot and two play-off slots. The associations ranked 6th were each allocated one direct slot and one play-off slot. The associations ranked 7th to 10th were each allocated one direct slot. The associations ranked 11th to 12th were each allocated one play-off slot. The AFC Champions League title holders and AFC Cup title holders were each allocated one play-off slot should they not qualify for the tournament through domestic performance (Article 3.6). However, there were no AFC Cup title holders for this season as the 2020 AFC Cup was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following rules were applied: If the AFC Champions League title holders or AFC Cup title holders were from associations ranked 1st to 6th, their association was allocated the same number of play-off slots, and they replaced the lowest-seeded team from their association. Otherwise, their association was allocated one additional play-off slot, and they did not replace any team from their association (Articles 3.8, 3.9 and 3.10). If both the AFC Champions League title holders and AFC Cup title holders were from the same association which was allocated only one play-off slot, their association was allocated one additional play-off slot, and only the lowest-seeded team from their association was replaced as a result (Article 3.11). The AFC Champions League title holders and AFC Cup title holders were the lowest-seeded teams in the qualifying play-offs if they did not replace any team from their association (Article 3.12). If any association ranked 1st to 6th did not fulfill any one of the AFC Champions League criteria, they had all their direct slots converted into play-off slots. The direct slots given up were redistributed to the highest eligible association by the following criteria (Articles 3.13 and 3.14): For each association, the maximum number of total slots was four and the maximum number of direct slots is three (Articles 3.4 and 3.5). If any association ranked 3rd to 6th was allocated one additional direct slot, one play-off slot was annulled and not redistributed. If any association ranked 5th to 6th was allocated two additional direct slots, one play-off slot was annulled and not redistributed. If any association ranked 7th to 10th did not fulfill any one of the AFC Champions League criteria, they had their direct slot converted into play-off slot. The direct slot given up was redistributed to the next association ranked 11th or 12th, whose play-off slot was annulled and not redistributed, or if neither were eligible, the highest eligible association by the same criteria as mentioned above (Articles 3.16 and 3.17). If any association with only play-off slot(s), including any association ranked 11th to 12th or those mentioned above, did not fulfill the minimum AFC Champions League criteria, the play-off slot(s) were annulled and not redistributed (Articles 3.19 and 3.20). For each association, the maximum number of total slots was one-third of the total number of eligible teams (excluding foreign teams) in the top division (Article 3.4). If this rule was applied, any direct slots given up were redistributed by the same criteria as mentioned above, and play-off slots were annulled and not redistributed (Article 9.10). All participating teams had to be granted an AFC Champions League license, and apart from cup winners, finish in the top half of their top division (Articles 7.1 and 9.5). If any association did not have enough teams which satisfied these criteria, any direct slots given up were redistributed by the same criteria as mentioned above, and play-off slots were annulled and not redistributed (Article 9.9). If any team granted a license refused to participate, their slot, either direct or play-off, was annulled and not redistributed (Article 9.11).
Association ranking For the 2021 AFC Champions League, the associations were allocated slots according to their association ranking which was published on 29 November 2019, which took into account their performance in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup during the period between 2016 and 2019.
Participation for 2021 AFC Champions League Participating Not participating
+West Region (5 groups)RankMemberAssociationPointsSlotsGroupstagePlay-off 1 297.644310 2 488.449310 3 681.724310 4 761.870220 5 948.992120 61045.562110 71233.852100 81529.576100 91728.361100102026.532000112124.746000122222.505000TotalParticipating associations: 91680824
+East Region (5 groups)RankMemberAssociationPointsSlotsGroupstagePlay-off 1 1100.000210 2 393.321400 3 585.979400 4 851.189400 51140.896012 61332.130110 71430.100000 81628.571100 91826.960100101926.607100112319.945100122712.756001TotalParticipating associations: 9 19 202 21
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Teams 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–E)TeamQualifying methodApp. Al-Duhail2019–20 Qatar Stars League champions10th Al-Sadd2020 Emir of Qatar Cup winners2019–20 Qatar Stars League third place16th Al-Rayyan2019–20 Qatar Stars League runners-up11th Al-Hilal2019–20 Saudi Professional League champions and 2019–20 King Cup winners17th Al-Nassr2019–20 Saudi Professional League runners-up6th Al-Ahli2019–20 Saudi Professional League third place13th Persepolis2019–20 Persian Gulf Pro League champions and 2020 Iranian Super Cup winners 10th Tractor2019–20 Hazfi Cup winners6th Esteghlal2019–20 Persian Gulf Pro League runners-up11th Sharjah2018–19 UAE Pro League champions4th Shabab Al-Ahli2018–19 UAE President's Cup winners2018–19 UAE Pro League runners-up9th Al-Shorta2018–19 Iraqi Premier League champions5th Pakhtakor2020 Uzbekistan Super League champions and 2020 Uzbekistan Cup winners17th Al-Wehdat2020 Jordanian Pro League champions6th Goa2019–20 Indian Super League league shield winners1st Istiklol2020 Tajikistan Higher League champions3rd +Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in play-off roundTeamQualifying methodApp. Al-Gharafa2019–20 Qatar Stars League fourth place11th Al-Wehda2019–20 Saudi Professional League fourth place1st Foolad2019–20 Persian Gulf Pro League third place4th Al-Wahda2018–19 UAE Pro League third place12th Al-Ain2018–19 UAE Pro League fourth place16th Al-Zawraa2018–19 Iraq FA Cup winners6th Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya2018–19 Iraqi Premier League runners-up5th AGMK2020 Uzbekistan Super League third place2nd +Withdrawn teamsTeamQualifying methodApp. Köpetdag2020 Ýokary Liga fourth place1st
+East Region+Group stage direct entrants (Groups F–J)TeamQualifying methodApp. Guangzhou2020 Chinese Super League runners-up10th Beijing Guoan2020 Chinese Super League third place10th Kawasaki Frontale2020 J1 League champions and 2020 Emperor's Cup winners8th Gamba Osaka2020 J1 League runners-up10th Nagoya Grampus2020 J1 League third place4th Cerezo Osaka2020 J1 League fourth place4th Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2020 K League 1 champions and 2020 Korean FA Cup winners14th Ulsan Hyundai2020 K League 1 runners-up9th Pohang Steelers2020 K League 1 third place8th Daegu FC2020 K League 1 fifth place2nd BG Pathum United2020–21 Thai League 1 first place after first half of season2nd Port2020–21 Thai League 1 second place after first half of season2nd Chiangrai United2020–21 Thai League 1 third place after first half of season4th Ratchaburi Mitr Phol2020–21 Thai League 1 fourth place after first half of season1st United City2020 Philippines Football League champions4th Viettel2020 V.League 1 champions1st Johor Darul Ta'zim2020 Malaysia Super League champions7th Tampines Rovers2020 Singapore Premier League runners-up6th Kitchee2019–20 Hong Kong Premier League champions6th +Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in play-off roundTeamQualifying methodApp. Shanghai Port2020 Chinese Super League fourth place6th Kaya–Iloilo2020 Philippines Football League runners-up1st +Withdrawn teamsTeamQualifying methodApp. Jiangsu2020 Chinese Super League champions4th Sydney FC2019–20 A-League regular season premiers and 2020 A-League Grand Final winners7th Melbourne City2019–20 A-League regular season runners-up1st Brisbane Roar2019–20 A-League regular season fourth place6th Shan United2020 Myanmar National League champions3rd
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Schedule The schedule of the competition was as follows.
On 25 January 2021, the AFC published the schedule of the competition. The group stage was played as a centralized double round-robin tournament, and the round of 16 and quarter-finals were played as a single match.
Notes: W: West Region E: East Region
StageRoundDraw dateMatch datePreliminary stagePreliminary roundNo draw20 June 2021 (E)Play-off stagePlay-off round7–10 April 2021 (W), 23 June 2021 (E)Group stageMatchday 127 January 202114–15 April 2021 (W), 22–26 June 2021 (E)Matchday 217–18 April 2021 (W), 25–29 June 2021 (E)Matchday 320–21 April 2021 (W), 28 June – 2 July 2021 (E)Matchday 423–24 April 2021 (W), 1–5 July 2021 (E)Matchday 526–27 April 2021 (W), 4–8 July 2021 (E)Matchday 629–30 April 2021 (W), 7–11 July 2021 (E)Knockout stageRound of 1613–15 September 2021Quarter-finals17 September 202116–17 October 2021Semi-finals19–20 October 2021Final23 November 2021 at King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
The original schedule of the competition, as planned before the pandemic, was as follows.