News: Pohang Steelers confirmed for 2024-2025 ACLE

Pohang Steelers, as 2023 FA Cup winners, have qualified for the 2024-2025 AFC Champions League Elite, the KFA and K League confirmed on Friday.

However, should Pohang Steelers also finish second in K League 1 this season, the remaining playoff spot in ACLE will given to the team that finishes third; fourth will then be enough for AFC Champions League 2, according to multiple reports.

This means that as things stand, Gwangju FC sitting in third would earn a playoff spot for the ACLE, and Jeonbuk in fourth, two time winners of what is now the ACLE, would qualify for ACL2.

The AFC Champions League has been expanded but the AFC gave the KFA and K League the authority to allocate which teams qualify for which competition - the AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League 2.

One particular area of contention in allowing the FA Cup winners to qualify for the ACLE is the number of games they need to win in order to lift the trophy which is five for teams already in ACL. Pohang won four this year as the semifinals and final were played over one leg.

Pohang have already booked their place in the knockouts of this season's competition following four wins from four in Group J, including back-to-back wins over the current holders of the competition Urawa Reds.

Sources: Sportal Korea, MHN Sports, My Daily