The qualification slots for the Indian clubs in the 2023-24 AFC competitions were decided by the AIFF on March 14, 2023. As many as six clubs will be involved in fighting for the three available slots. One in the AFC Champions League Group Stage, one in the AFC Cup Group Stage and the other for the AFC Cup Qualifiers in the preliminary round. The qualifiers will be played between April 4 to May 3, 2023, along with the Hero Super Cup which will begin on 3 April 2023.
Slot 1: AFC Champions League group stage
The last two winners of the Hero ISL Shield, the 2021-22 season winners Jamshedpur FC and current holders Mumbai City FC will fight it out in a single match on April 4, 2023, to secure a 2023-24 AFC Champions League group stage berth. The match will be played between the matches of the Hero Super Cup, with further details to follow in later updates. The venue for the game could either be in Calicut or Manjeri
AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIER
The Men of Steel will be battling it out for a spot in the AFC Champions League 2022-23 Group Stage in a qualifying game against Mumbai City FC next month in Kozhikode (Calicut) or Manjeri, Kerala #ACL #JamKeKhelo @theafcdotcom pic.twitter.com/eucpFsm3mw
Slot 2: AFC Cup group stage
Winners of the 2021-22 I-League season, Gokulam Kerala FC will fight against the winners of the Hero Super Cup 2023 for a place in the 2023-24 AFC Cup group stage. If the winners of the Super Cup have already qualified for Slot 1 then Gokulam Kerala FC will earn an automatic qualification to the continental competition. The I-League winners could also seal group-stage qualification by winning the Super Cup itself. Should it be required, the game will be played on April 29, 2023.
Slot 3: AFC Cup preliminary round
This slot will be decided between the winners of the Hero ISL 2021-22 Trophy, Hyderabad FC and the champions of the Hero ISL 2022-23 Trophy between Bengaluru FC or ATK Mohun Bagan FC with the final scheduled on March 18, 2023. If Hyderabad FC have already qualified for Slot 2, then a qualification match for Slot 3 will not be required. In that case, the winner of the Hero ISL 2022-23 Trophy will take the slot in the AFC Cup 2023-24 Preliminary Round.
If the winners of the Hero ISL Trophy 2022-23 have already qualified for Slot 2, then a qualifying match for Slot 3 will not be required and Hyderabad FC would automatically play the AFC Cup 2023-24 Preliminary Round. The qualifying match for Slot 3, should it be required, will be played on May 3, 2023, or as decided by the AIFF.
Also Read | Hero Super Cup 2023: Groups and Fixtures
