Nasaf will compete among the strongest clubs of Asia

The current champion of Uzbekistan and Super League leader, "Nasaf", will test itself among the continent’s strongest clubs in the upcoming season. The Qarshi team will represent the country in the AFC Elite Champions League (ACL Elite), organized by the Asian Football Confederation.

It should be noted that in the updated Elite ACL format, each country has been allocated a limited number of quotas. Uzbekistan received only one spot in this prestigious tournament, and "Nasaf" was recognized as the owner of this place. The team managed to surpass all rivals in the 2024 national championship and gain full support.

In addition, "Andijon", who won the Uzbekistan Cup final, will participate in the second-tier Asian Champions League competition — ACL 2.

According to the quotas provided by the AFC, the list of participating clubs from the West region is as follows:

Saudi Arabia: Al Ahli (current champion), Al Ittihad (national champion), Al Hilal (vice-champion).

UAE: Shabab Al Ahli (champion), Sharjah (ACL 2 winner), Al Wahda.

Qatar: Al Sadd and Al Gharafa (Cup holder), and also Al Duhail, who will attempt to qualify through the play-off match.

Iran: Tractor (champion).

Uzbekistan: Nasaf (champion).

Iraq: Al Shorta (champion).

In addition, Iran’s Sepahan and Qatar’s Al Duhail will meet in a play-off for the 12th place. This match is scheduled for August 12 at the "Abdullah bin Khalifa" stadium in Doha, Qatar. However, due to political relations between Qatar and Iran, the match may be moved to another country.

According to the rules, each club will play four home and four away matches against rivals — a total of 8 matches. This year, instead of a group stage, all teams will play in a round-robin format.

The first matches of the ACL Elite will start on September 15-16. Starting from the quarterfinals, all stages, including the final, will be held in Saudi Arabia. These rounds will be organized in a home-and-away format, increasing the excitement of the competition.

Thus, "Nasaf" aims to conquer new heights. The team seeks not only to defend the honor of the country but also to further enhance its reputation across the whole Asian continent. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!