2017 AFC Cup

The 2017 AFC Cup was the 14th edition of the AFC Cup, Asia's secondary club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Defending champions Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya defeated Istiklol in the final to win their second AFC Cup title.

Association team allocation The AFC Competitions Committee recommended a new format for the AFC Cup starting from 2017 which is played in the AFC's five zones: West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, ASEAN, and East Asia, with the winner of the West Asia Zone and the winner of an inter-zone play-off among the other four zones playing in the final, hosted on a rotational basis at venues in the East and West. 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 are split into five zones: West Asia Zone consists of the associations from the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF). Central Asia Zone consists of the associations from Central Asian Football Association (CAFA). South Asia Zone consists of the associations from the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). ASEAN Zone consists of the associations from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). East Asia Zone consists of the associations from the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF). All associations which do not receive direct slots in the AFC Champions League group stage are eligible to enter the AFC Cup. In each zone, the number of groups in the group stage is determined based on the number of entries, with the number of slots filled through play-offs same as the number of groups: In the West Asia Zone and the ASEAN Zone, there are three groups in the group stage, including a total of 9 direct slots, with the 3 remaining slots filled through play-offs. In the Central Asia Zone, the South Asia Zone, and the East Asia Zone, there is one group in the group stage, including a total of 3 direct slots, with the 1 remaining slot filled through play-offs. The top associations participating in the AFC Cup in each zone as per the AFC rankings get at least one direct slot in the group stage (including losers of the AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs), while the remaining associations get only play-off slots: For the West Asia Zone and the ASEAN zone: The associations ranked 1st to 3rd each get two direct slots. The associations ranked 4th to 6th each get one direct slot and one play-off slot. The associations ranked 7th or below each get one play-off slot. For the Central Asia Zone, the South Asia Zone, and the East Asia zone: The associations ranked 1st to 3rd each get one direct slot and one play-off slot. The associations ranked 4th or below 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 two direct slots. If any association gives up its play-off slots, they are annulled and not redistributed to any other association. If the number of teams in the play-offs in any zone is fewer than twice the number of group stage slots filled through play-offs, the play-off teams of the highest eligible associations are given byes to the group stage.

For the 2017 AFC Cup, the associations were 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.

The slot allocation was announced on 7 December 2016. The final slot allocation, after unused slots were redistributed, was announced on 12 December 2016.

Participation for 2017 AFC CupParticipating in the competition proper only(qualifying play-offs and/or group stage)Participating in both the qualifying roundand the competition properParticipating in the qualifying round,but not in the competition properNot participating

+West Asia ZoneRankMemberAssociationPointsSlotsGroupstagePlay-off 110 Iraq37.240200 —11 Kuwait36.457000 213 Syria34.257200 315 Jordan31.213200 419 Bahrain27.353200 520 Lebanon22.077200 622 Oman19.313110 728 Palestine12.342010 —33 Yemen 6.926000Total1120213 +Central Asia ZoneRankMemberAssociationPointsSlotsGroupstagePlay-off 123 Tajikistan18.328101 229 Turkmenistan11.514101 331 Kyrgyzstan10.307101 432 Afghanistan 7.114001Total30447 +South Asia ZoneRankMemberAssociationPointsSlotsGroupstagePlay-off 118 India27.930101 226 Maldives15.345101 337 Bangladesh 4.158100 438 Bhutan 3.877001 —39 Nepal 3.388000 544 Sri Lanka 1.656001 —45 Pakistan 1.506000Total30447

+ASEAN ZoneRankMemberAssociationPointsSlotsGroupstagePlay-off 116 Vietnam29.273200 217 Malaysia28.865200 —21 Indonesia20.372000 324 Myanmar17.220200 425 Philippines17.188200 527 Singapore13.664110 634 Laos 6.886010 736 Cambodia 4.856020 —42 Brunei 2.785000 —43 East Timor 2.409000Total940413 +East Asia ZoneRankMemberAssociationPointsSlotsGroupstagePlay-off 130 North Korea10.314200 235 Chinese Taipei 5.609000 —40 Macau 3.087000 341 Guam 3.049000 446 Mongolia 1.430100Total30003

Notes

Teams The following 47 teams from 27 associations entered the competition proper. Only 43 teams from 25 associations competed after the withdrawal of four teams.

+West Asia ZoneTeamQualifying methodAppLast AppGroup stage direct entrants (Groups A–C) Al-Zawraa2015–16 Iraqi Premier League champions3rd20122015–16 Iraq FA Cup winners2nd2016 Al-Jaish2015–16 Syrian Premier League champions7th2016 Al-Wahda2016 Syrian Cup winners6th2016 Al-Wehdat2015–16 Jordan League champions10th2016 Al-Ahli2015–16 Jordan FA Cup winners1stnone Al-Hidd2015–16 Bahrain First Division League champions4th2016 Al-Muharraq2015–16 Bahraini King's Cup winners6th2016 Safa2015–16 Lebanese Premier League champions6th2014 Nejmeh2015–16 Lebanese FA Cup winners8th2015 Saham2015–16 Sultan Qaboos Cup winners2nd2010Qualifying play-off participants (Entering in play-off round) Al-Suwaiq2015–16 Oman Professional League runners-up5th2014 Shabab Al-Khalil2015–16 West Bank Premier League champions1stnone +Central Asia ZoneTeamQualifying methodAppLast AppGroup stage direct entrants (Group D) Istiklol2016 Tajik League champions2016 Tajik Cup winners3rd2016 Altyn Asyr2016 Ýokary Liga champions2016 Turkmenistan Cup winners3rd2016 Alay Osh2016 Kyrgyzstan League champions3rd2016Qualifying play-off participants (Entering in preliminary round) Khosilot2016 Tajik League runners-up1stnone Balkan2016 Ýokary Liga runners-up5th2016 Dordoi2016 Kyrgyzstan Cup winners2nd20152016 Afghan Premier League champions1stnone +South Asia ZoneTeamQualifying methodAppLast AppGroup stage direct entrants (Group E) Bengaluru2015–16 I-League champions3rd2016 Maziya2016 Dhivehi Premier League champions5th20162016 Bangladesh Federation Cup winners1stnoneQualifying play-off participants (Entering in preliminary round) Mohun Bagan2015–16 Indian Federation Cup winners4th2016 Club Valencia2016 Maldives FA Cup winners4th2009 Thimphu City2016 Bhutan National League champions1stnone Colombo2015 Sri Lanka Football League champions1stnone

+ASEAN ZoneTeamQualifying methodAppLast AppGroup stage direct entrants (Groups F–H) Hà Nội2016 V.League 1 champions3rd2014 Than Quảng Ninh2016 Vietnamese Cup winners1stnone Johor Darul Ta'zim2016 Malaysia Super League champions2016 Malaysia FA Cup winners4th2016 FELDA United2016 Malaysia Super League runners-up1stnone Yadanarbon2016 Myanmar National League champions2nd2015 Magwe2016 General Aung San Shield winners1stnone Global Cebu2016 UFL Division 1 champions2016 UFL Cup winners2nd2015 Ceres–Negros2016 UFL Division 1 runners-up3rd2016 Tampines Rovers2016 S.League runners-up9th2016Qualifying play-off participants (Entering in play-off round) Home United2016 S.League 4th place8th2014 Lao Toyota2016 Lao Premier League runners-up3rd2016 Boeung Ket Angkor2016 Cambodian League champions1stnone2015 Cambodian League champions1stnoneWithdrawn teams Lanexang United2016 Lao Premier League champions1stnone +East Asia ZoneTeamQualifying methodAppLast AppGroup stage direct entrants (Group I)Kigwancha2016 DPR Korea Football League champions1stnoneApril 252016 Hwaebul Cup winners1stnone Erchim2016 Mongolian Premier League champions1stnoneWithdrawn teams Taipower2015–16 Intercity Football League champions1stnone Tatung2015–16 Intercity Football League runners-up1stnone Rovers2015–16 Guam Soccer League champions1stnone

Notes

Schedule The schedule of the competition was as follows (W: West Asia Zone; C: Central Asia Zone; S: South Asia Zone; A: ASEAN Zone; E: East Asia Zone). Starting from 2017, matches in the West Asia Zone were played on Mondays and Tuesdays instead of Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

StageRoundDraw dateFirst legSecond legQualifying stageQualifying round17 June 201619–25 August 2016Preliminary stagePreliminary roundNo draw31 January 2017 (C, S)7 February 2017 (C, S)Play-off stagePlay-off round30–31 January 2017 (W, A),21 February 2017 (C, S)6–7 February 2017 (W, A),28 February 2017 (C, S)Group stageMatchday 113 December 201620–22 February 2017 (W, A), 14 March 2017 (C, S, E)Matchday 26–8 March 2017 (W, A), 4 April 2017 (C, S, E)Matchday 313–15 March 2017 (W, A), 18–19 April 2017 (C, S, E)Matchday 43–5 April 2017 (W, A), 3 May 2017 (C, S, E)Matchday 517–19 April 2017 (W, A), 17 May 2017 (C, S, E)Matchday 61–3 May 2017 (W, A), 31 May 2017 (C, S, E)Knockout stageZonal semi-finals16–17, 22 May 2017 (W, A)29–31 May 2017 (W, A)Zonal finals6 June 20172 August 2017 (A),12 September 2017 (W)9 August 2017 (A),26 September 2017 (W)Inter-zone play-off semi-finals22–23 August 201712–13 September 2017Inter-zone play-off final27 September 201718 October 2017Final4 November 2017

Qualifying round

Group A

Group B

Group C

Qualifying play-offs

Preliminary round

Play-off round

Group stage

Tiebreakers

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Group H

Group I

Ranking of second-placed teams West Asia Zone

ASEAN Zone

Knockout stage

Bracket

Zonal semi-finals

Zonal finals

Inter-zone play-off semi-finals

Inter-zone play-off final

Final

Awards AwardPlayerTeamMost Valuable Player Manuchekhr Dzhalilov IstiklolTop Goalscorer Kim Yu-song April 25Fair Play Award— Ceres–Negros

Top scorers

RankPlayerTeam Total1 Kim Yu-song April 25 5 13 92 Gabriel Guerra Johor Darul Ta'zim1 213 18 Bienvenido Marañón Ceres–Negros12 221 Stipe Plazibat Home United 4 121 5 Manuchekhr Dzhalilov Istiklol 23 2 76 Mohammed Al-Ghassani Saham111 3 67 Nguyễn Văn Quyết Hà Nội1 11 2 5 Rim Kwang-hyok Kigwancha 1 4 Fernando Rodríguez Ceres–Negros 1 1111 Myrat Ýagşyýew Altyn Asyr 1 4

2017 AFC Cup

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