AFC Champions League Draw

Earlier this week, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) held the draw for the 2010 Champions League. Considering that the final was held just a month ago, these guys don’t waste any time getting ready for next year.The top 3 J1 clubs (Kashima, Kawasaki, Gamba Osaka) are automatically included, as will be the winner of the Emperor’s Cup. There’s also four teams from China and South Korea, and as the groups are drawn by area (16 teams from East Asia, 16 from the West), each Japanese team will play one Korean and one Chinese team.

The remaining 4 teams include two from Australia’s A League, one from Indonesia, and the winner of an upcoming playoff between teams from Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.

The draw was not good to Kawasaki, who will face Australian champions Melbourne Victory, Chinese Super League winners Beijing Guoan, and K-League runners-up Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma. For me, it’s a chance to plan some soccer road trips. I’ve never been to Beijing, so perhaps I can venture over when Frontale visits. The schedule is not set yet (although the game days are known), but I’ll be watching closely to see where I might be heading early next year.

Best,

Sean