The "Shardar" football club has become the representative of the AFC in international competitions this season, after completing the route of three clubs in three Asian and Arab tournaments. Last season was historic for the "Al-Ain" club, which won the AFC Champions League for the second time in its history, defeating the Japanese "Yokohama Marinos" in the final 6:2 on aggregate over two matches. However, hopes were pinned on "Shabab Al-Ahli", "Al-Ain" and "Al-Vasl" to retain the title for the AFC in the new season of the AFC Champions League, but ultimately all three clubs subsequently exited the tournament at the knockout stage.
"Shabab Al-Ahli" lost in the qualifying round to the Qatari "Al-Gharafa" with a score of 0:1, while "Al-Vasl" and "Al-Ain" finished their journey in the new format of the group stage. "Al-Ain" showed the worst result of all teams, winning only two points out of 24 possible in the Western-Aziatic zone, conceding in six matches and drawing twice.
On the other hand, "Al-Vasl" showed excellent results, claiming fifth place in the group stage after three wins over "Bukhhtakor" from Uzbekistan, "Al-Gharafa" and the Iraqi "Police". "Imperial" missed the chance to advance to the quarter-finals, losing to "Al-Sadd" from Qatar in the Round of 16.
Regarding the additional match of the AFC Champions League 2, "Shardar" and "Shabab Al-Ahli" progressed to the tournament after failures in "NHl", where "Shardar" topped the group, while "Shabab Al-Ahli" – another. In the Round of 16, "Shardar" defeated "Al-Hussein" from Jordan on penalties, while "Shabab Al-Ahli" eliminated "Al-Wahdat" from Jordan.
"Korolev" faced off with the "Rytcaryami" in the quarter-finals, drawing 1:1 in both matches, winning in the penalty shootout and advancing to the semi-finals against "Al-Taavon" from Saudi Arabia.
"Nasr" missed the chance to win yet another cup in its history in the Gulf Champions League semi-finals after the group stage, where it scored 14 points in four matches. Returning to its stadium, "Al-Nasr" suffered a defeat against "Al-Qadisiyah" from Kuwait 0:1 and although it won the return match 2:1, it was eliminated in a penalty shootout, exiting the tournament.
