2023-2024 AFC Champions League Group Stage Guide

K League United's complete guide to the 2023-2024 AFC Champions League Group Stage (East). Last updated 21st September 2023, 01:48

Matchday 1 Recap

Group Stage Results

Matchday 1

Tuesday 19th September 2023

Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) 2-4 Incheon United (KOR) - 19:00 | Preview: here
Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI) 1-3 Shandong Taishain (CHN) - 21:00

Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 3-1 BG Pathum United (THA) - 19:00 | Preview: here
Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS) 0-1 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) - 21:00

Wednesday 20th September 2023

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 2-1 Kitchee SC (HKG) - 19:00 | Preview: here
Lion City Sailors (SGP) 1-2 True Bangkok United (THA) - 21:00

Melbourne City (AUS) 0-0 Ventforet Kofu (JPN) - 19:00
Buriram United (THA) 4-1 Zhejiang FC (CHN) - 19:00

Wuhan Three Towns (CHN) 2-2 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) - 21:00
Hanoi FC (VIE) 2-4 Pohang Steelers (KOR) - 21:00 | Preview: here

[READ: Familiar Faces in 2023-2024 ACL]

Upcoming Fixtures

Tuesday 3rd October 2023

Incheon United (KOR) vs. Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI) - 19:00
Shandong Taishain (CHN) vs. Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) - 21:00

Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) vs. Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) - 19:00

BG Pathum United (THA) vs. Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS) - 21:00

Wednesday 4th October 2023

Pohang Steelers (KOR) vs. Wuhan Three Towns (CHN) - 19:00
Urawa Reds (JPN) vs. Hanoi FC (VIE) - 19:00

Ventforet Kofu (JPN) vs. Buriram United (THA) - 19:00
Zhejiang FC (CHN) vs. Melbourne City (AUS) - 21:00

Kitchee SC (HKG) vs. Lion City Sailors (SGP) - 21:00
True Bangkok United (THA) vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) - 21:00

Previously...

More ACL content here.

Mugoša Interview

Full version on KLU Patreon.

Wanderson Interview

Full version on KLU Patreon

New Format

The AFC Champions League returns to its home and away format after three years of centralised hubs but there are some tweaks. The 42nd edition of Asia's premier club tournament - and 21st since it was rebranded to the Champions League - will be the first since 2002-2003 to be spread over two years. 

Foreign player rules

Each Participating Club may only select up to six (6) foreign Participating Players in the Player Selection List. In case more than five (5) foreign Participating Players are selected in the Player Selection List, then at least one (1) of these foreign Participating Players must hold the nationality of a Member Association.”

This means that K League clubs can field all of their foreign players at any one time. Incheon United and Ulsan Hyundai have five (4+1), Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors have six (5+1), while Pohang Steelers have four (3+1).

Fixtures/Results by Group

Group F

Wednesday 20th September 2023

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 2-1 Kitchee SC (HKG) - 19:00
Lion City Sailors (SGP) 1-2 True Bangkok United (THA) - 21:00

Wednesday 4th October 2023

Kitchee SC (HKG) vs Lion City Sailors (SGP) - 21:00
True Bangkok United (THA) vs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) - 21:00

Wednesday 25th October 2023

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) vs. Lion City Sailors (SGB) - 19:00
Kitchee SC (HKG) vs. True Bangkok United (THA) - 21:00

Wednesday 8th November 2023

Lion City Sailors (SGP) vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) - 19:00
True Bangkok United (THA) vs. Kitchee SC (HKG) - 21:00

Wednesday 29th November 2023

Kitchee SC (HKG) vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) - 19:00
True Bangkok United (THA) vs. Lion City Sailors (SGB) - 23:00

Wednesday 13th December 2023

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) vs. True Bangkok United (THA) - 19:00
Lion City Sailors (SGP) vs. Kitchee SC (HKG) - 19:00

Group G

Tuesday 19th September 2023

Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) 2-4 Incheon United (KOR) - 19:00
Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI) 1-3 Shandong Taishain (CHN) - 21:00

Tuesday 3rd October 2023

Incheon United (KOR) vs. Kaya FC-Iloiloo (PHI) - 19:00
Shandong Taishan (CHN) vs. Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) - 21:00

Wednesday 25th October 2023

Incheon United (KOR) vs. Shandong Taishan (CHN) - 19:00
Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) vs. Kaya FC-Iloilo - 19:00

Tuesday 7th November 2023

Shandong Taishan (CHN) vs. Incheon United (KOR) - 19:00
Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI) vs. Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) - 21:00

Tuesday 28th November 2023

Incheon United (KOR) vs. Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) - 19:00
Shandong Taishan (CHN) vs. Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI) - 21:00

Wednesday 13th December 2023

Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI) vs. Incheon United (KOR) - 17:00
Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) vs. Shandong Taishain (CHN) - 17:00

Group H

Wednesday 20th September 2023

Melbourne City (AUS) 0-0 Ventforet Kofu (JPN) - 19:00
Buriram United (THA) 4-1 Zhejiang FC (CHN) - 19:00

Wednesday 4th October 2023

Ventforet Kofu (JPN) vs. Buriram United (THA) - 19:00
Zhejiang FC (CHN) vs. Melbourne City (AUS) - 21:00

Wednesday 25th October 2023

Zhejiang FC (CHN) vs. Ventforet Kofu (JPN) - 19:00
Buriram United (THA) vs. Melbourne City (AUS) - 19:00

Wednesday 8th November 2023

Melbourne City (AUS) vs. Buriram United (THA) - 18:00
Ventforet Kofu (JPN) vs. Zhejiang FC (CHN) - 19:00

Wednesday 29th November 2023

Ventforet Kofu (JPN) vs. Melbourne City (AUS) - 19:00
Zhejiang FC (CHN) vs. Buriram United (THA) - 21:00

Tuesday 12th December 2023

Melbourne City (AUS) vs. Zhejiang FC (CHN) - 18:00
Buriram United (THA) vs. Ventforet Kofu (JPN) - 19:00

Group I

Tuesday 19th September 2023

Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 3-1 BG Pathum United (THA) - 19:00
Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS) 0-1 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) - 21:00

Tuesday 3rd October 2023

Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) vs. Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) - 19:00
BG Pathum United (THA) vs. Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS) - 21:00

Tuesday 24th October 2023

Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) vs. Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS) - 19:00
BG Pathum United (THA) vs. Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) - 21:00

Tuesday 7th November 2023

Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) vs. BG Pathum United (THA) - 19:00
Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS) vs. Ulsan Hyudnai (KOR) - 21:00

Tuesday 28th November 2023

BG Pathum United (THA) vs. Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) - 19:00
Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) vs. Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS) - 19:00

Tuesday 12th December 2023

Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) vs. Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) - 19:00
Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS) vs. BG Pathum United (THA) - 19:00

Group J

Wednesday 20th September 2023

Wuhan Three Towns (CHN) 2-2 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) - 21:00
Hanoi FC (VIE) 2-4 Pohang Steelers (KOR) - 21:00

Wednesday 4th October 2023

Pohang Steelers (KOR) vs. Wuhan Three Towns (CHN) - 19:00
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) vs. Hanoi FC (VIE) - 19:00

Tuesday 24th October 2023

Wuhan Three Towns (CHN) vs. Hanoi FC (VIE) - 21:00
Pohang Steelers (KOR) vs. Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) - 19:00

Wednesday 8th November 2023

Pohang Steelers (KOR) vs. Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) - 19:00
Hanoi FC (VIE) vs. Wuhan Three Towns (CHN) - 21:00

Wednesday 29th November 2023

Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) vs. Wuhan Three Towns (CHN) - 19:00
Pohang Steelers (KOR) vs. Hanoi FC (VIE) - 19:00

Wednesday 6th December 2023

Wuhan Three Towns (CHN) vs. Pohang Steelers (KOR) - 21:00
Hanoi FC (VIE) vs. Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) - 21:00