Mohun Bagan Super Giant, an Indian team, was selected into Group A of the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two on Friday along with FC Ravshan of Tajikistan, Iran’s Tractor FC, and Al-Wakrah SC of Qatar. The draw took place in Kuala Lumpur at the AFC House. Mohun Bagan SG won the 2023–24 Indian Super League Shield, which let them to play in the newly renamed second division men’s AFC club circuit. The Mariners were unable to advance to the knockout stage after placing third in the 2023–24 AFC Cup Group Stage.
Al-Wakrah SC placed fourth in the 2023–24 Qatar Stars League, earning them a spot in the Champions League Two. The Qatari team hasn’t played in Asia since the Asian Club Championship in 2001–02.
Tractor FC, an Iranian team, also made it through after placing fourth in the Persian Gulf Pro League for 2023–24. In both 2021 and 2016, they made it to the Round of 16 of the former AFC Champions League.
FC Ravshan, the 2023 Tajikistan Higher League runners-up, secured their place in the competition. The Kulob team has participated in the AFC Cup four times, although they have never advanced past the group round.
For the group stage of the Champions League Two, which runs from September 17 to December 5, home-and-away round-robin matches will be contested between 32 clubs split into eight groups (four West, four East) of four teams each.
Each group’s top two finishers will move on to the Round of 16, which is scheduled for February 2025. The competition will conclude with a single-leg final on May 17 of the following year. The quarterfinals and semifinals will take place in March and April, respectively.
Due to their victory in the 2024 Kalinga Super Cup, East Bengal FC, the other team representing India in the AFC club championships for 2024–25, was defeated on Wednesday by FC Altyn Asyr in their Champions League Two qualifying round match.
They will compete in the Group Stage of the 2024–25 AFC Challenge League (third tier), with a draw scheduled on August 22.
