There is a lot of excitement in Hong Kong around football these days. After all, it was just announced that the Hong Kong football team is set to play their first international match in Europe with Liechtenstein on October 10 this year. Needless to say, this is a big opportunity for the team to up their game and take it to the next level.
Before October however, there is a lot of exciting football action lined up for May as well.
As we know every year, the advent of May sees the club football season across Europe and Asia play into its swansong, and this time it is no different. The premier domestic competitions in both continents have their finals slated in the latter half of May and the first half of June. In Asia, the action is at its crescendo with the final leg of the AFC Champions League 2023-24’s summit clash knocking at the door.
Before we discuss the tournament in detail, here are all the key details of the AFC Champions League final’s second leg:
- Date: 25 May
- Venue: Al Ain, UAE
But why did we mention ‘second leg’ in the previous paragraph? This is because, unlike most other major competitions like the UEFA Champions League, their Asian counterpart follows a two-leg, home-and-away format for the final.
In the first leg, played on 11 May, Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos secured a 2-1 win over United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain to place one hand on the trophy. As their lead is slender, it has also perfectly set up the second leg of the summit clash at Al Ain’s home ground.
But is it just the trophy that the victors will take home? Or are there financial benefits on offer as well?
Turns out, the premier Asian tournament has one of the biggest purses in Asia. On that note, join us in taking a closer look at the prize money pool of the AFC Champions League 2023-24, the schedule and venue for the second leg of the final and details of the live stream.
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AFC Champions League 2023-24: All you need to know about the tournament
A brief history of the AFC Champions League
Founded in 1967 as the Asian Champion Club Tournament, the AFC was rebranded to its current iteration in 2002. The new avatar happened following the merger of the Asian Club Championship, the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup and the Asian Super Cup.
Hapoel Tel Aviv of Israel won the inaugural edition of the competition in 1967. Meanwhile, Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal has won the most titles (four) in the tournament’s history.
How much prize money will the winners of the AFC Champions League 2023-24 take home?
According to a report by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the champions of the AFC Champions League 2023-24 will receive a prize money of USD 4 million (around HKD 31.2 million). On the other hand, the runners-up will take home USD 2 million (a little over HKD 15.2 million).
As a mandate, both the winners and the runners-up will have to donate five percent of their respective winnings to the AFC Dream Asia Foundation. The proceeds will be used “to fund social responsibility activities proposed by the Champion and the runner-up respectively.”
Additionally, in each match of the tournament’s group stage, round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals, the winners received a bonus of USD 50,000. In the event of a draw, both teams got USD 10,000 each.
Moreover, there was a participation fee for the teams in each of the knockout stages of the tournament. The payout structure was as follows:
- Round of 16: USD 100,000
- Quarter-finals: USD 150,000
- Semi-finals: USD 250,000
A look at the schedule and venue for the final of the AFC Champions League 2023-24 (second leg)
The second and decisive leg of the AFC Champions League final between the Yokohama F. Marinos and Al Ain will be played on Saturday, 25 May at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi. The stadium offers a capacity of 22,717 spectators.
Where to watch the second leg of the AFC Champions League 2023-24 final in Hong Kong
Fans in Hong Kong can live stream the second leg of the AFC Champions League 2023-24 final on Now TV, the official broadcaster of the tournament in this Asian region.
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(Main Image Credits: AFC/Instagram; Featured Image Credits: AFC)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What is the prize money for the AFC Champions League 2023-24?
The winners of the AFC Champions League 2023-24 will receive a prize money of USD 4 million (HKD 31.2 million).
– When is the final of the AFC Champions League 2023-24?
The second leg of the AFC Champions League final will be played on Saturday, 25 May.
– What is the venue for the AFC Champions League 2023-24 final?
The second leg of the AFC Champions League final will be held at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi.
– Where can I live stream the AFC Champions League 2023-24 final in Hong Kong?
Football fans in Hong Kong can watch the second leg of the AFC Champions League final on Now TV.
