India offered three AFC competition slots for 2023-24

3 Min Read
India offered three AFC competition slots for 2023-24.(photoAIFF)

The Qualifiers for the AFC competitions 2023-24 for the Indian clubs will be played between April 4 to May 3, with the country getting three slots from the continental body.

As per AIFF, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has allocated three slots to India — one in the AFC Champions League Group Stage, one in the AFC Cup Group Stage, and one slot for the AFC Cup Qualifiers.

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Slot 1: AFC Champions League, Group Stage

The winners of the Indian Super League Shield 2021-22 (Jamshedpur FC) and winners of the same in the 2022-23 season (Mumbai City FC) will fight it out in a one-off match on April 4, 2023. The match will be played between the matches of the Super Cup, with further details to follow in later updates.

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The winners of the game will get a direct slot in the AFC Champions League 2023-24 Group Stage.

Slot 2: AFC Cup, Group Stage

This slot will be determined between the winners of the I-League 2021-22 (Gokulam Kerala FC) and the winners of the Super Cup 2023 (TBD).

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If the winners of the Super Cup 2023 have already qualified for Slot 1, then Gokulam Kerala FC will get an automatic spot in the AFC Cup 2023-24 Group Stage. If Gokulam Kerala FC wins the Super Cup 2023, then they will secure their qualification for the AFC Cup 2023-24 Group Stage.

The qualifying match for Slot 2, should it be required, will be played on April 29, 2023.

Slot 3: AFC Cup Preliminary Round

This slot will be decided between the winners of the ISL 2021-22 Trophy (Hyderabad FC) and the ISL 2022-23 Trophy (Bengaluru FC or ATK Mohun Bagan FC).

If Hyderabad FC has already qualified for Slot 2, then a qualification match for Slot 3 will not be required, and the winner of the ISL 2022-23 Trophy will take the slot in the AFC Cup 2023-24 preliminary round.

If the winners of the ISL Trophy 2022-23 have already qualified for Slot 2, then a qualifying match for Slot 3 will not be required, and Hyderabad FC would automatically play the AFC Cup 2023-24 preliminary round.

The qualifying match for Slot 3, should it be required, will be played on May 3, 2023, or as decided by the AIFF.

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-IANS

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