AFC Champions League Elite East Zone 16 Teams Revealed: Japan 5 Teams + Thailand 3 Strong, Port 1st Pot, Guoan 3rd Pot

On the evening of August 11 Beijing time, following Hanoi Police's 2-0 victory over Adelaide United and Gamba Osaka's 1-0 win over Gangwon, the 16 teams for the East Zone of the AFC Champions League Elite were determined. The Japanese league has as many as 5 teams, while South Korea and Thailand have 3 each.

This edition of the AFC Champions League Elite includes 2 CSL teams. Last season's CSL champion Shanghai Port is placed in the first pot, while last season's FA Cup champion Beijing Guoan is in the third pot. The league stage draw will be held on August 18 Beijing time in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.

In the previous edition of the AFC Champions League Elite, the three CSL participants—Chengdu Rongcheng, Shanghai Port, and Shanghai Shenhua—were all eliminated in the league stage, failing to reach the knockout rounds.

Appendix: The 16 teams in the East Zone of the AFC Champions League Elite

CSL: Shanghai Port, Beijing Guoan

Japan: Kashima Antlers, Vissel Kobe, Kashiwa Reysol, Kyoto Sanga, Gamba Osaka

South Korea: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Daejeon Hana Citizen, Pohang Steelers

Thailand: Buriram United, Port FC, Ratchaburi

Australia: Newcastle Jets

Malaysia: Johor Darul Ta'zim

Vietnam: Hanoi Police

AFC Champions League Elite East Zone Official Draw Pots

Pot 1: Kashima Antlers, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Buriram United, Shanghai Port

Pot 2: Newcastle Jets, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Vissel Kobe, Daejeon Hana Citizen

Pot 3: Port FC, Beijing Guoan, Kashiwa Reysol, Pohang Steelers

Pot 4: Ratchaburi, Kyoto Sanga, Gamba Osaka, Hanoi Police