The draw for the group stage took place on August 16th at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[2] The 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four: four groups each in the West Region (Groups A–D) and the East Region (Groups E–H).[3] For each region, teams were seeded into four pots and drawn into the relevant positions within each group, based on their association ranking and their seeding within their association. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group.
ACLE: AFC Champions League Elite qualifying play-off losers
PS: Preliminary stage winners
Format
In the group stage, each group will be played in a double round-robin format on home and away basis. The winners and runners-up of each group advance to the round of 16 of the knockout stage.
Tiebreakers
The teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers were applied in the following order (Regulations Article 8.3):[4]
Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
Goal difference in all group matches;
Goals scored in all group matches;
Penalty shoot-out if only two teams playing each other in the last round of the group are tied;
Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
Drawing of lots.
Schedule
The schedule of the group stage was as follows.[1]
Round
Dates (West region)
Dates (East region)
Matchday 1
17–18 September 2024
18–19 September 2024
Matchday 2
1–2 October 2024
2–3 October 2024
Matchday 3
22–23 October 2024
23–24 October 2024
Matchday 4
5–6 November 2024
6–7 November 2024
Matchday 5
26–27 November 2024
27–28 November 2024
Matchday 6
3–4 December 2024
4–5 December 2024
Groups
The detailed schedule was announced on 16 August 2024 after the draw ceremony.[5][3]
^ abcAltyn Asyr played their home matches at Köpetdag Stadium, Ashgabat, instead of their regular home stadium Büzmeýin Sport Topulmy, Büzmeýin, which did not meet AFC requirements.
^ ab"AFC Competitions Calendar (Jul 2024 - Jun 2025)" (PDF). the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 20 June 2024.
^"AFC Champions League Two: #ACLTwo contenders to discover Group Stage fate". the-AFC. 12 August 2024.
^ ab"#ACLTwo group stage draw finalised". Asian Football Confederation. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
^"AFC Champions League Two 2024/25 Competition Regulations" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
^"2024–25 AFC Champions League Two Group Stage Draw Results & Match Schedule" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
^Rosal, Glendale (14 September 2024). "Cebu FC 'forced' to play ACL 2 home games in Manila". Cebu Daily News. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 17 September 2024.