<div><img style="" class="img-responsive" src="https://www.qsl.qa/sites/default/files/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%AD%D9%8A%D…; alt="Alt" title="" /></div>
<p>The group-stage draw ceremony of the 2018 AFC Champions League will be held at the AFC Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday, 6th December.</p><p>Qatar’s Al Duhail, Al Sadd and Al Rayyan qualified for the tournament proper, while Al Gharafa have to win play-off should they make it to the group stage.</p><p>League champions Al Duhail and Emir’s Cup winners Al Sadd were to originally represent Qatar, but Al Rayyan too received a direct berth after the AFC decided to increase the country’s direct slots to three.</p><p>Ismail Ahmed and Mohammed Bashir will represent Al Duhail at the draw, while Mohammed Gholam, Ahmad Al Ansari and Abdullah Al Berik comprise the Al Sadd delegation. </p><p>Mathker Al Shafi will represent Al Rayyan. Al Gharafa’s representatives are Saad Al Shammari and Taha Al Muhaiza.</p><p>The 32 teams will be drawn into eight groups of four sides — four groups each in the West Region (Groups A-D) and East Region (Groups E-H). Teams from the same association cannot be drawn into one group.</p><p>The group stage will be played on a home-and-away <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round-robin_tournament">round-robin</a&gt; basis. The winners and runners-up of each group advance to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_AFC_Champions_League_knockout_stage"… stage</a>.</p>