The Zonal system
One of the defining features of the AFC Cup over the course of its history has been the unique zones system, which was introduced since the inaugural edition in 2004, but evolved over the years to finally take its current form since 2017.

 

Ten of the 11 ASEAN member associations were represented in the AFC Cup at one point or another, with Brunei Darussalam the only exception. The best performance for an ASEAN side came in 2015 when Malaysian powerhouse Johor Darul Ta’zim won the AFC Cup, beating Tajikistan’s Istiklol in the final. Their compatriots Kuala Lumpur FC came close in 2022, losing to Oman’s Al Seeb. This year’s finalists Central Coast Mariners competed as part of the ASEAN zone, becoming the third team from the zone to reach the final.

Clubs from Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, China, Macau, Mongolia and DPR Korea represented the East region, with DPR Korea’s 4.25 being the most successful, reaching the AFC Cup final in 2019 and losing to Lebanon’s Al Ahed.

 

India, Bangladesh and the Maldives produced most of the participants in South Zone, while Nepal’s Manang Marshyangdi Club became the only club from outside the aforementioned three countries to compete in the AFC Cup. Bengaluru FC went furthest amongst South teams, achieving a runner-up finish in 2016.

Meanwhile, the Central Zone often saw clubs from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyz Republic compete, with IR Iran and Afghanistan clubs never making an AFC Cup appearance. The outstanding performers from this region were FC Nasaf who won the title in 2011 and reached the final a decade later. Tajikistan’s Istiklol and Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr both have a runner-up finish to their names.

 

By far the most dominant of the five zones has been the West Zone which boasts 16 of the 18 AFC Cup winners to date. Kuwait SC and Air Force Club of Iraq hold the record for the most victories in the competition, with three titles each, while Jordan’s Al Faisaly and Bahrain’s Al Muharraq both won it twice.

Iconic Players
The AFC Cup has offered a platform for many of the continent’s best players to showcase their talents, while journeymen from across the planet achieved hero status for their Asian clubs through success in the competition.

Arriving to Asia from little-known Spanish side Socuéllamos in 2015, not only did Bienvenido Maranon acquire Filipino citizenship and represent the Azkals, but the forward will have his name immortalised as the all-time top scorer of the AFC Cup, with 37 goals to his name.

 

And if Maranon is enjoying his place atop the overall scoring charts, another import wrote his name in the AFC Cup records book with an exceptional season in 2018. Surprisingly, Rico, then at Al Muharraq, started that campaign slowly, scoring just once from a penalty in his first two games, but then he picked up quickly, putting four past Dempo as he marched to register an incredible 19 goals, the highest by any player in a single AFC Cup season.

Head coach Basim Qasim was the man at the helm during that run and managed to become only the second coach to win the AFC Cup twice, an honour that was previously achieved by Romanian Marin Ion who won the title with Kuwait Club in 2012 and 2013.

 

For fans of tens of clubs from Macau in the far east to Yemen in the Southwestern corner of Asia, the AFC Cup was an opportunity to see some of their idols on the pitch, and for that the competition will live long in the memory of Asian football fans, well beyond Sunday’s final.