The 2017 AFC Champions League was the 36th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 15th under the current AFC Champions League title.
Urawa Red Diamonds defeated Al-Hilal in the final to win their second AFC Champions League title, and qualified as the AFC representative at the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were the defending champions, but they were excluded from the 2017 season due to a bribery scandal in the domestic K League Classic. Jeonbuk appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but their request for provisional measures was rejected on 3 February.
Association team allocation The AFC Competitions Committee proposed a revamp of the AFC club competitions on 25 January 2014, which was ratified by the AFC Executive Committee on 16 April 2014. 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 two regions: West Region consists of the associations from the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA), and the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). East Region consists of the associations from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) and the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF). In each region, there are four groups in the group stage, including a total of 12 direct slots, with the 4 remaining slots filled through play-offs. The top 12 associations in each region as per the AFC rankings are eligible to enter the AFC Champions League, as long as they fulfill the AFC Champions League criteria. The top six associations in each region get at least one direct slot in the group stage, while the remaining associations get only play-off slots (as well as AFC Cup group stage slots): The associations ranked 1st and 2nd each get three direct slots and one play-off slot. The associations ranked 3rd and 4th each get two direct slots and two play-off slots. The associations ranked 5th each get one direct slot and two play-off slots. The associations ranked 6th each get one direct slot and one play-off slot. The associations ranked 7th to 12th 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 three direct slots. If any association gives up its play-off slots, they are annulled and not redistributed to any other association.
For the 2017 AFC Champions League, 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, with India and Maldives returning to the West Region. The final slot allocation, after unused slots were redistributed, was announced on 12 December 2016.
Participation for 2017 AFC Champions LeagueParticipatingNot participating
+West RegionRankMemberAssociationPointsSlotsGroupstagePlay-off 1 2 United Arab Emirates87.5553100 2 3 Saudi Arabia84.6983100 3 4 Iran78.9083100 4 5 Qatar78.1712200 5 9 Uzbekistan56.8761110 610 Iraq37.2400000 711 Kuwait36.4570000 813 Syria34.2570000 915 Jordan31.21300101018 India27.93000101119 Bahrain27.35300101220 Lebanon22.0770000Total126401022
+East RegionRankMemberAssociationPointsSlotsGroupstagePlay-off 1 1 South Korea96.3113100 2 6 Japan75.8073100 3 7 China72.7192200 4 8 Australia72.5992010 512 Thailand34.7531020 614 Hong Kong31.7971010 716 Vietnam29.2730010 817 Malaysia28.8650010 921 Indonesia20.37200001024 Myanmar17.22000101125 Philippines17.18800011227 Singapore13.6640001Total124721325
Notes
Teams The following 47 teams from 19 associations entered the competition.
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 RegionTeamQualifying methodAppLast AppGroup stage direct entrants (Groups A–D) Al-Ahli2015–16 UAE Pro-League champions7th2015 Al-Jazira2015–16 UAE President's Cup winners9th2016 Al-Ain2015–16 UAE Pro-League runners-up12th2016 Al-Ahli2015–16 Saudi Professional League champions and 2016 King Cup winners9th2016 Al-Hilal2015–16 Saudi Professional League runners-up13th2016 Al-Taawoun2015–16 Saudi Professional League 4th place1stnone2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League champions1stnone Zob Ahan2015–16 Hazfi Cup winners and 2016 Iranian Super Cup winners 6th2016 Persepolis2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League runners-up6th2015 Al-Rayyan2015–16 Qatar Stars League champions7th2014 Lekhwiya2016 Emir of Qatar Cup winners6th2016 Lokomotiv Tashkent2016 Uzbek League champions and 2016 Uzbekistan Cup winners5th2016Qualifying play-off participantsEntering in play-off round Al-Wahda2015–16 UAE Pro-League 3rd place8th2015 Al-Fateh2015–16 Saudi Professional League 5th place2nd2014 Esteghlal2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League 3rd place8th2014 El Jaish2015–16 Qatar Stars League runners-up5th2016 Al-Sadd2015–16 Qatar Stars League 3rd place12th2016 Bunyodkor2016 Uzbek League runners-up10th2016Entering in preliminary round 2 Nasaf Qarshi2016 Uzbek League 3rd place5th2016 Al-Wehdat2015–16 Jordan League champions4th2016 Bengaluru FC2015–16 I-League champions2nd2015 Al-Hidd2015–16 Bahrain First Division League champions2nd2014
+East RegionTeamQualifying methodAppLast AppGroup stage direct entrants (Groups E–H) FC Seoul2016 K League Classic champions7th2016 Suwon Samsung Bluewings2016 Korean FA Cup winners8th2016 Jeju United2016 K League Classic 3rd place2nd2011 Kashima Antlers2016 J1 League champions and 2016 Emperor's Cup winners7th2015 Urawa Red Diamonds2016 J1 League runners-up6th2016 Kawasaki Frontale2016 J1 League 3rd place5th2014 Guangzhou Evergrande2016 Chinese Super League champions and 2016 Chinese FA Cup winners6th2016 Jiangsu Suning2016 Chinese Super League runners-up3rd2016 Adelaide United2015–16 A-League premiers and 2016 A-League Grand Final winners6th20162015–16 A-League regular season runners-up3rd2015 Muangthong United2016 Thai League champions6th2016 Eastern2015–16 Hong Kong Premier League champions1stnoneQualifying play-off participantsEntering in play-off round Ulsan Hyundai2016 K League Classic 4th place5th2014 Gamba Osaka2016 J1 League 4th place9th2016 Shanghai SIPG2016 Chinese Super League 3rd place2nd2016 Shanghai Shenhua2016 Chinese Super League 4th place7th2011Entering in preliminary round 2 Brisbane Roar2015–16 A-League regular season 3rd place4th2015 Sukhothai2016 Thai FA Cup co-winners1stnone Bangkok United2016 Thai League runners-up2nd2007 Kitchee2015–16 Hong Kong season play-off winners3rd2016 Hà Nội2016 V.League 1 champions4th2016 Johor Darul Ta'zim2016 Liga Super champions3rd2016 Yadanarbon2016 Myanmar National League champions2nd2015Entering in preliminary round 1 Global2016 UFL Division 1 champions1stnone Tampines Rovers2016 S.League runners-up3rd2016
Notes
Schedule The schedule of the competition was as follows. Starting from 2017, matches in the West Region were played on Mondays and Tuesdays instead of Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
StageRoundDraw dateFirst legSecond legPreliminary stagePreliminary round 1No draw24 January 2017Preliminary round 225 & 31 January 2017Play-off stagePlay-off round7–8 February 2017Group stageMatchday 113 December 2016(Petaling Jaya, Malaysia)20–22 February 2017Matchday 227 February – 1 March 2017Matchday 313–15 March 2017Matchday 410–12 April 2017Matchday 524–26 April 2017Matchday 68–10 May 2017Knockout stageRound of 1622–24 May 201729–31 May 2017Quarter-finals6 June 2017(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)21–23 August 201711–13 September 2017Semi-finals26–27 September 201717–18 October 2017Final18 November 201725 November 2017
Qualifying play-offs
Preliminary round 1
Preliminary round 2
Play-off round
Group stage
Tiebreakers
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Knockout stage
Bracket
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Awards Main awards AwardPlayerTeamMost Valuable Player Yōsuke Kashiwagi Urawa Red DiamondsTop Goalscorer Omar Kharbin Al-HilalFair Play Award— Urawa Red Diamonds
All-Star Squad Source: PositionPlayerTeamGoalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf Al-Hilal Shusaku Nishikawa Urawa Red DiamondsDefenders Motaz Hawsawi Al-Ahli Yuki Abe Urawa Red Diamonds Osama Hawsawi Al-Hilal Yasser Al-Shahrani Al-Hilal Mohammed Al-Breik Al-HilalMidfielders Omar Abdulrahman Al-Ain Kengo Nakamura Kawasaki Frontale Oscar Shanghai SIPG Yōsuke Kashiwagi Urawa Red Diamonds Salman Al-Faraj Al-Hilal Ricardo Goulart Guangzhou Evergrande Zheng Zhi Guangzhou Evergrande Kazuki Nagasawa Urawa Red DiamondsForwards Rafael Silva Urawa Red Diamonds Hulk Shanghai SIPG Omar Kharbin Al-Hilal Yu Kobayashi Kawasaki Frontale Carlos Eduardo Al-Hilal Alan Guangzhou Evergrande Wu Lei Shanghai SIPG Godwin Mensha Persepolis
Opta Best XI Source:
PositionPlayerTeamGoalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf Al-HilalDefenders Mohammed Al-Breik Al-Hilal Tomoaki Makino Urawa Red Diamonds Shi Ke Shanghai SIPG Yasser Al-Shahrani Al-HilalMidfielders Ricardo Goulart Guangzhou Evergrande Carlos Eduardo Al-Hilal Paulinho Guangzhou EvergrandeForwards Omar Kharbin Al-Hilal Rafael Silva Urawa Red Diamonds Hulk Shanghai SIPG
Top scorers
RankPlayerTeam Total1 Omar Kharbin Al-Hilal 1 2 1 321102 Hulk Shanghai SIPG111 1 11111 9 Rafael Silva Urawa Red Diamonds1 112 1 1114 Omar Abdulrahman Al-Ain 2 111 2 7 Alan Guangzhou Evergrande111 2 2 Carlos Eduardo Al-Hilal11 1 1 3 Ricardo Goulart Guangzhou Evergrande11 2 3 Mehdi Taremi Persepolis 21 3 1 9 Yu Kobayashi Kawasaki Frontale1 1 112 6 Kaveh Rezaei Esteghlal 1 11111
Player of the week awards MatchdayToyota Player of the WeekPlayerTeamGroup stageMatchday 1 Youssef El-Arabi LekhwiyaMatchday 2 Kim In-sung Ulsan HyundaiMatchday 3 Yun Il-lok FC SeoulMatchday 4 Ko Seung-beom Suwon Samsung BluewingsMatchday 5 Khalid Eisa Al-AinMatchday 6 Nicolás Milesi Al-HilalKnockout stageRound of 16 1st leg Teerasil Dangda Muangthong UnitedRound of 16 2nd leg Omar Abdulrahman Al-AinQuarter-finals 1st leg Yu Kobayashi Kawasaki FrontaleQuarter-finals 2nd leg Carlos Eduardo Al-HilalSemi-finals 1st leg Omar Kharbin Al-HilalSemi-finals 2nd leg Godwin Mensha PersepolisFinal Mohammed Al-Breik Al-Hilal
See also 2017 AFC Cup 2017 FIFA Club World Cup
References
External links , the-AFC.com AFC Champions League 2017, stats.the-AFC.com