The 2016 AFC Cup group stage was played from 23 February to 11 May 2016.[1] A total of 32 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 16 places in the knockout stage of the 2016 AFC Cup.[2]
Draw
The draw for the group stage was held on 10 December 2015, 15:00 MYT (UTC+8), at the Petaling Jaya Hilton Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[3] The 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group.[4][5]
The seeding of each team in the draw was determined by their association and their qualifying position within their association. The mechanism of the draw was as follows:[6]
For the West Zone, a draw was held for the three associations with two direct entrants (Iraq, Jordan, Oman) to determine the seeds 1 placed in order for Groups A, B and C. The remaining teams were then allocated to the groups according to the rules set by AFC.
For the East Zone, a draw was held for the seven associations with two direct entrants (Hong Kong, Myanmar, Malaysia, India, Singapore, Maldives, Philippines) to determine the four associations occupying seeds 1 and 2, with seeds 1 placed in order for Groups E, F, G and H, and the three associations occupying seeds 3 and 4, with seeds 3 placed in order for Groups E, F and G. The remaining teams were then allocated to the groups according to the rules set by AFC.
The following 32 teams (16 from West Zone, 16 from East Zone) entered into the group-stage draw, which included the 28 direct entrants and the four winners of the qualifying play-off, whose identity were not known at the time of the draw.[3]
† Teams played in the 2016 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off, but failed to advance to the AFC Champions League group stage (had they advanced to the AFC Champions League group stage, they would have been replaced in the AFC Cup group stage by another team from the same association).
‡ Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi advanced directly to the group stage due to lack of teams in the East Zone.
Format
In the group stage, each group was played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the round of 16.[2]
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 would be applied in the following order (Regulations Article 11.5):[2]
Greater number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
Greater number of away goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
If, after applying criteria 1 to 4, teams still have an equal ranking, criteria 1 to 4 are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the teams in question to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria 6 to 10 apply;
Goal difference in all the group matches;
Greater number of goals scored in all the group matches;
Penalty shoot-out if only two teams are involved and they are both on the field of play;
Fewer score calculated according to the number of yellow and red cards received in the group matches (1 point for a single yellow card, 3 points for a red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for a direct red card, 4 points for a yellow card followed by a direct red card);
Team who belongs to the member association with the higher AFC ranking.
Schedule
The schedule of each matchday was as follows.[1][2]
^The Al-Wahda v Shabab Al-Dhahiriya match on matchday 2 (9 March 2016) was not played as scheduled. It was awarded 3–0 to Al-Wahda by the AFC Disciplinary Committee on 28 April 2016, as it found Shabab Al-Dhahiriya as the relevant party for causing the cancellation of the match.[7][8] The decision was reversed and awarded 3–0 to Shabab Al-Dhahiriya by the AFC Appeal Committee on 24 June 2016, as it found Al-Wahda as the relevant party for causing the cancellation of the match.[9][10]
^The Shabab Al-Dhahiriya v Al-Wahda match on matchday 6 (11 May 2016) was not played as scheduled. It was awarded 3–0 to Al-Wahda by the AFC Disciplinary Committee on 13 May 2016, as it found Shabab Al-Dhahiriya as the relevant party for causing the cancellation of the match.[11][12]
^The Ahli Al-Khaleel v Al-Jaish match on matchday 2 (9 March 2016) was delayed to 3 or 4 May 2016, but was not played as scheduled. It was awarded 3–0 to Al-Jaish by the AFC Disciplinary Committee on 13 May 2016, as it found Ahli Al-Khaleel as the relevant party for causing the cancellation of the match.[11][12]
^ abcdefTeams from Iraq were not allowed to host their home matches in their country due to security concerns.
^ abcdefTeams from Syria were not allowed to host their home matches in their country due to security concerns.
^The Shabab Al-Dhahiriya v Al-Wahda match was required by the AFC to be played at a neutral venue due to restriction of Syrians entering Palestine.[13] However, Shabab Al-Dhahiriya were unable to secure a neutral venue and the match was forfeited.[11]
^ abThe Ahli Al-Khaleel v Al-Jaish match was initially postponed due to the Syrians' inability to obtain the necessary entry visas for Jordan. It was required by the AFC to be played on 3 or 4 May 2016 at a neutral venue due to restriction of Syrians entering Palestine.[13] However, Ahli Al-Khaleel were unable to secure a neutral venue and the match was forfeited.[11]
Naft Al-Wasat
Al-Jaish
Al-Hidd (Winner Play-off 1)
Al-Wehdat[†]
Shabab Al-Dhahiriya
Tripoli (Winner Play-off 2)
Al-Orouba
Istiklol
Altyn Asyr
Kitchee[†]
Yangon United[†]
Johor Darul Ta'zim[†]
New Radiant
Mohun Bagan[†]
Ceres
Tampines Rovers[†]
Lao Toyota FC
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi (Winner qualifying round Group B)[‡]
