Mohun Bagan Super Giants which earned automatic qualification into AFC Champions League-2 after winning its maiden Indian Super League (ISL) Shield, is placed in Pot 3, alongside Al Hussein (Jordan), FC Istiklol (Tajikistan), and Al Khaldiya SC (Bahrain).

The AFC has changed the previous structure of AFC Champions League and AFC Cup, with AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League 2 from this season.

The new second-tier men’s tournament will comprise eight groups – four West, four East – of four teams each for the Group Stage, which will be played in a home-and-away round-robin format from 17th September 5th December.