Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Al-Nassr can be drawn in the same group as ISL franchise Mumbai City in the AFC Champions League draw.
India might not be among the top football nations in the world but the mode for the game is huge in the country. The likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe,etc. have huge addict following in the country. As far as Ronaldo is concerned, not numerous of his suckers had prognosticated that the Portuguese megastar would go on to play in the Saudi Pro League. But, his Indian suckers are kind of thankful as the fact that Ronaldo plays for Al- Nassr in Saudi Arabia gives them the chance of potentially seeing Ronaldo play in Mumbai.
As the draw for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League2023/24 Group Stage draw takes place at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, there remains a good chance that Ronaldo’s Al- Nassr could be drawn in the same group as Indian Super League’s Mumbai City FC.
All You Need To Know About AFC Champions League Group Stage Draw
Divided into 10 groups of four, the draw will witness brigades from the West Zone drawn into Groups A to E while the rivals in the East Zone will find their places in Groups F to J.
Of the 40 sharing brigades, the places of 32 contenders were verified preliminarily while the remaining eight places have been decided through the Playoff Stage. Owing to the principle of country protection, clubs from the same Member Association( MA) won’t be drawn into the same group.
The West Zone will see four former titleholders, videlicet Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC and Al Ittihad, Al Ain FC from the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar’s Al Sadd SC attempt to reclaim the Continental throne.
Indian Super League (ISL) league winners Mumbai City FC, who’ll be representing the nation at the AFC titleholders League for the alternate time, have been drawn in Pot 3 alongside Al Faisaly( JOR), FC Istiklol( TJK), Air Force Club( IRQ), and Ahal FC( TKM).
Meanwhile, in the East Zone, defending titleholders Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan to join the species of former titleholders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC, Ulsan Hyundai FC, and Pohang Steelers in the ACL Group Stage after a palm in the playoff round.
The pots for participating clubs in the AFC Champions League 2023/24 Group Stage Draw are:
West Zone
Pot 1: Al Ittihad (KSA), Persepolis FC (IRN), Al Sadd SC (QAT), Pakhtakor (UZB), Al Hilal SFC (KSA)
Pot 2: Sepahan SC (IRN), Al Duhail SC (QAT), FC Nasaf (UZB), Al Fayha FC (KSA), Nassaji Mazandaran FC (IRN)
Pot 3: Al Faisaly (JOR), FC Istiklol (TJK), Air Force Club (IRQ), Ahal FC (TKM), Mumbai City FC (IND)
Pot 4: Al Ain FC (UAE), Al Nassr (KSA), Sharjah FC (UAE), AGMK FC (UZB), Navbahor (UZB)
East Zone
Pot 1: Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR), Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN), Wuhan Three Towns FC (CHN), Buriram United (THA), Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR)
Pot 2: Ventforet Kofu (JPN), Shandong Taishan FC (CHN), Bangkok United (THA), Pohang Steelers (KOR), Kawasaki Frontale (JPN)
Pot 3: Hanoi FC (VIE), Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI), Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS), Melbourne City FC (AUS), Lion City Sailors (SGP)
Pot 4: Kitchee SC (HKG), Incheon United FC (KOR), Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN), Zhejiang FC (CHN), BG Pathum United (THA)
Following the contest between the Asian powerhouses in the Group Stage, the 10 group winners along with the three best runners-up of each Zone will book their places in the Knockout Stages, which will take place from February to April before the coveted Final is held over two legs on May 11 and 18, 2024. Know More Latest Football News…
