Club football action in Europe and many parts of Asia kick-started in August and September 2024, respectively. And of the many top-tier football tournaments out there, few are as competitive as the AFC Champions League Elite 2024-25. With some of the best players in the world participating, the competition is on every Asian football fan’s radar.
Before we delve deep into all of its details, here are some quick points you need to keep in mind:
- Dates: 16 September 2024 to 4 May 2025
- Number of teams: 24
Previously known as the AFC Champions League, this is the first season of the competition being played under its revamped name and format. The excitement around it, however, remains intact, not just among fans but the players as well.
During the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 fixtures draw, Cristiano Ronaldo proudly stated on the stage that he plays in the AFC Champions League. This goes to show that there is no dearth of cut-throat competition in the premier Asian club football tournament.
We Malaysian fans also have our own team to root for in the AFC Champions League Elite 2024-25. By virtue of winning the Malaysia Super League and the Malaysia FA Cup in 2023, Johor Darul Ta’zim booked their spot in the continental competition.
To ensure you do not miss out on the enthralling football action, we bring you all the details of the live stream for the AFC Champions League Elite 2024-25 in Malaysia along with information about its new format as well as the schedule for the fixtures.
Everything to know about the AFC Champions League Elite 2024-25
A look at the format of the AFC Champions League Elite 2024-25
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The 24 participating teams in the AFC Champions League 2024-25 have been drawn into two pools of 12 teams each — the West Region and the East Region. Here is a look at the teams in each pool:
West Region
- Al-Ahli
- Al Ain
- Al-Gharafa
- Al-Hilal
- Al-Nassr
- Al-Rayyan
- Al-Sadd
- Al-Shorta
- Al Wasl
- Esteghlal
- Pakhtakor
- Persepolis
East Region
- Buriram United
- Central Coast Mariners
- Gwangju
- Johor Darul Ta’zim
- Kawasaki Frontale
- Pohang Steelers
- Shandong Taishan
- Shanghai Port
- Shanghai Shenhua
- Ulsan HD
- Vissel Kobe
- Yokohama F. Marinos
Note: Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr. will feature in the West Zone pool of the AFC Champions League Elite for Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, respectively.
Following the conclusion of the League Stage, the top eight teams from each pool will qualify for the Round of 16. Every fixture in the knockout stages, including the final, will be played over two legs.
The schedule for the AFC Champions League Elite 2024-25
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The AFC Champions League Elite kick-started on Monday, 16 September 2024 and will conclude with the second leg of the final on Sunday, 4 May 2025.
While we do not know the venue of the summit clash, it is likely to be played in Saudi Arabia.
Where to live stream the AFC Champions League Elite 2024-25 in Malaysia
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Now that we have discussed the tournament at length, only one question remains unanswered: where can we watch the AFC Champions League Elite in Malaysia?
According to the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) official website, Malaysian fans can live stream all the matches of the AFC Champions League Elite 2024-25 on Astro, the tournament’s official broadcaster here.
(Main and Featured Images Credits: AFC/Instagram)
This article first appeared here
