The Central Coast Mariners will return to the group stage of the premier Asian club competition for the first time in 10 years in the 2024/25 season.
By finishing at the top of the 2023/24 Isuzu UTE A-League, the team qualified for the AFC Champions League Elite, where the top 24 Asian teams will compete for the title of best club in Asia and a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Unlike the traditional Champions League format, in which four teams compete in the group stage, the new format features one large group comprising all qualified teams in the Eastern region.
We will compete against eight teams in the league stage, with four matches at home and four away, to accumulate points. The top eight teams with the most points after these eight games will advance to the Round of 16.
The knockout stage will take place in Saudi Arabia over two weeks, featuring the quarterfinals and beyond. This exciting phase of the competition will determine the ultimate champion of the AFC Champions League Elite.
The official draw ceremony is scheduled for August 16th, and further details on the draw mechanics will be announced soon. This ceremony will set the stage for the competition, revealing the matchups and schedule for the league stage.
The Eastern League group will feature teams from Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, and Malaysia, with eleven out of twelve teams confirmed. The qualified teams are:
– Japan – Kawasaki Frontale and Yokohama F. Marinos
– South Korea – Ulsan Hyundai and Pohang Steelers
– China – Shanghai Port and Shanghai Shenhua
– Thailand – Buriram United
– Malaysia – Johor Darul Ta’zim
– Australia – Central Coast Mariners
The last remaining spot will be filled by either Shandong Taishan (China) or Bangkok FC (Thailand), who will compete against each other for the final position.
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