The AFC Cup football tournament is one of Asia’s most important tournaments, attracting the attention of millions of football fans around the world. So what is this football tournament? What is its history and development? Let’s with 2019seagames.com learn about the AFC Cup football tournament and interesting things surrounding it in the article below.
What is the AFC Cup football tournament?
AFC Cup is the abbreviation for the phrase “Asian Football Confederation Cup”, which means the Asian Football Confederation. This is an annual football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for football clubs in the Asian region. This tournament is considered a “smaller” version of the AFC Champions League, where the strongest teams in Asia compete.
However, not everyone knows that the AFC Cup football tournament is also known as “Asian Football Confederation Cup” or “Asian National Cup”. This shows the diversity and richness of this tournament, attracting the attention of many football clubs from different countries and territories on the continent.
A few words about the AFC Cup football tournament
The AFC Cup football tournament was held for the first time in 2004, with the aim of creating a new playground for Asian football clubs. Since then, the tournament has become one of the most prestigious and anticipated tournaments in Asia.
Initially, the AFC Cup football tournament only had the participation of clubs from Southeast Asian countries and China. However, over time, the tournament has expanded to include clubs from other countries in Asia such as Korea, Japan, India, Iran, Iraq, Palestine and Jordan.
The birth and development of the AFC Cup
The AFC Cup football tournament was created with the aim of improving the quality and competition of Asian football. Before the appearance of this tournament, Asian clubs could only compete in national or regional tournaments such as the Asian Club Championship or the Asian Club Championship. Asian Cup Winners’ Cup.
However, with the success of the AFC Champions League tournament, the Asian Football Confederation decided to create a “smaller” tournament to give smaller football clubs the opportunity to participate and compete. . Since then, the AFC Cup football tournament was born and has become increasingly popular and important in Asian football.
Evolution of the competition format: Changes over the years
Since it was first held in 2004, the AFC Cup football tournament has undergone many changes in the competition format to create attractiveness and competition for participating clubs. Below are the main changes of the tournament from year to year:
2004 – 2008: Original competition format
- Initially, the AFC Cup football tournament only had the participation of 18 clubs from 9 different countries. The clubs are divided into 4 groups, each group consists of 4 teams and competes in a 2-legged round-robin format. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knock-out round.
- However, with the development of the tournament, the number of participating clubs has increased to 32 teams from 14 different countries. Therefore, the old competition format is no longer suitable and has been changed.
2009 – 2013: Added group stage and knockout round
- Since 2009, the AFC Cup football tournament has been divided into two stages: group stage and knockout round. The group stage consists of 8 groups, each group has 4 teams and competes in a round-robin format of 2 rounds. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knock-out round.
- In the knockout round, teams will compete in a knockout format with 3 rounds: round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals. The champion and runner-up of this tournament will participate in next year’s AFC Champions League.
2014 – 2020: Add play-off round and expanded group stage
- Since 2014, the AFC Cup football tournament has had a play-off round before entering the group stage. This play-off round is held between the champions and runners-up of national tournaments in the Asian region but cannot participate in the AFC Champions League. The winners of the play-off round will advance to the group stage of the AFC Cup.
- In addition, since 2014, the number of clubs participating in the tournament has been expanded to 36 teams from 20 different countries. The group stage is also expanded into 9 groups, each group has 4 teams and competes in a 2-legged round-robin format.
- 2021 – present: Change of competition format due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, the competition format of the AFC Cup football tournament had to change in 2021. Instead of competing in a 2-legged round-robin format, teams will compete in a round-robin format. Round robin format and only the top 2 teams in each group will advance to the knock-out round.
Latest match schedule: Follow top matches
The AFC Cup football tournament takes place from February to November every year. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, the tournament schedule has been postponed and changed many times in 2021.
Currently, the group stage of the tournament ended in June and teams are preparing for the upcoming knockout round. The quarter-finals will take place in September, the semi-finals in October and the final will be held in November.
Impressive achievements: Honoring champions
Since its inception, the AFC Cup football tournament has witnessed dramatic and exciting competitions from Asian clubs. Below is the list of championship teams of the tournament each year:
- 2004: Al-Jaish (Syria)
- 2005: Al-Faisaly (Jordan)
- 2006: Al-Muharraq (Bahrain)
- 2007: Shabab Al-Ordon (Jordan)
- 2008: Al-Muharraq (Bahrain)
- 2009: Al-Kuwait (Kuwait)
- 2010: Al-Ittihad (Syria)
- 2011: Nasaf Qarshi (Uzbekistan)
- 2012: Al-Kuwait (Kuwait)
- 2013: Al-Kuwait (Kuwait)
- 2014: Qadsia SC (Kuwait)
- 2015: Johor Darul Ta’zim (Malaysia)
- 2016: Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (Iraq)
- 2017: Istiklol (Tajikistan)
- 2018: Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (Iraq)
- 2019: Al-Ahed (Lebanon)
- 2020: Al-Ahed (Lebanon)
- 2021: Al-Muharraq
- 2022: Al-Seeb
AFC Cup bonus: Prestigious value and competitive motivation
> See more: What is the AFC Champions League football tournament?
The AFC Cup football tournament is not only an opportunity for Asian clubs to compete and be honored, but also an opportunity for clubs to earn attractive bonuses. According to the regulations of the Asian Football Confederation, this tournament will award prize money to the top teams and high-ranking teams in the group stage and knock-out round.
In 2021, the total prize money of the AFC Cup football tournament is 4.2 million USD, of which the champion team will receive 1 million USD, the runner-up will receive 500 thousand USD and the high-ranking teams in the group stage will receive from 15 thousand to 30 thousand USD.
Vietnamese football teams at the AFC Cup: Reaching the continent
Vietnam is one of the countries with the most football teams participating in the AFC Cup football tournament. Since the tournament’s inception, 9 Vietnamese teams have participated and achieved proud achievements.
Vietnamese football teams that have participated in the AFC Cup include: Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Binh Duong, Dong Tam Long An, SHB Da Nang, Hanoi FC, Song Lam Nghe An, Than Quang Ninh, FLC Thanh Hoa and Becamex Binh Duong .
Among them, Hanoi FC is the only Vietnamese team to have won the tournament in 2019. In addition, other teams have also had notable achievements such as SHB Da Nang and Song Lam Nghe An reached the semi-finals in 2009 and 2011.
Assessing the impact of the AFC Cup: Enhancing the position of Asian football
The AFC Cup football tournament has had a huge impact on enhancing the position of Asian football on the international stage. Thanks to this tournament, Asian clubs have the opportunity to compete with each other and compete with teams from other regions.
In addition, participating in the tournament also helps Vietnamese clubs improve their level and playing experience, thereby improving and developing domestic football.
The future of the AFC Cup: Striving for new heights
With the continuous development of Asian football, the AFC Cup football tournament is also gradually being raised to a new level. Improvements in the competition format and expansion of the number of participating clubs have shown the Asian Football Confederation’s efforts to make this tournament a leading tournament in Asia.
With the achievements and positive impacts of the AFC Cup football tournament, we can believe that this tournament will continue to develop and become an important playground for Asian clubs in the future.