Al Ahed FC (LBN), Al Futuwa (SYR), Jabal Al Mukaber Club (PLE), Al Nahda (OMA)

Champions in 2019, Lebanon's Al Ahed will target another extended run but can expect to be challenged all the way for the one automatic slot to the West Zonal semi-finals by Syria's Al Futuwa, Jabal Al Mukaber Club of Palestine and Oman's Al Nahda.

Group B
Al Wehdat (JOR), Kuwait SC (KUW), Al Kahrbaa SC (IRQ), Al Ittihad Al-Ahli of Aleppo (SYR)

Kuwait SC will be seeking a record fourth title but standing in their way will be Jordan's Al Wehdat, Al Kahrbaa of Iraq and Syria's Al Ittihad Al-Ahli of Aleppo, who were the 2010 AFC Cup champions. 

Group C
Al Zawraa (IRQ), Al Riffa (BHR), Nejmeh SC (LBN), Al Arabi (KUW)

There are no clear favourites in Group C although Bahrain's Al Riffa made the West Zonal final in 2022 while Kuwait's Al Arabi were semi-finalists as Iraq's Al Zawraa and Lebanon's Nejmeh SC will be confident of advancing.

The three group winners and best placed runners-up will advance to the West Zonal semi-finals. 

Three of the four teams to compete at the same stage last year are back again, with India's Odisha FC the odd ones out. Fellow Indian side Mohun Bagan Super Giant advanced to the 2022 Inter-Zone semi-finals from an exciting group stage and the same can be expected again with only the top side to advance. 

Group E
FC Ravshan (TJK), Altyn Asyr FC (TKM), FC Abdysh-Ata (KGZ), FC Merw (TKM)

Altyn Asyr FC, the 2018 finalists, will be determined to make good after they fell short last season with their campaign ending in the group stage but the Turkmenistan side can expect to be tested by FC Ravshan of Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic's FC Abdysh-Ata and fellow Yokary Liga side FC Merw, whose confidence would have been boosted after navigating the qualifying round. Only the group winners will advance to the next stage. 

Group F
Dynamic Herb Cebu FC (PHI), Macarthur FC (AUS), Shan United (MYA), Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM)

The presence of Macarthur FC adds spice to Group F of the ASEAN Zone, with the Australian side set to test the credentials of Dynamic Herb Cebu FC of the Philippines, Myanmar's Shan United and Cambodia's Phnom Penh Crown FC, whose campaign ended in the group stage in 2022. 

Group G
Terengganu FC (MAS), Bali United (IDN), Stallion Laguna FC (PHI), Central Coast Mariners (AUS)

Central Coast Mariners are the second Australian side competing in this season's AFC Cup and it promises to be an exciting tussle with Malaysia's Terengganu FC, Bali United of Indonesia and Stallion Laguna FC of the Philippines equally confident of their chances. 

Group H
Haiphong FC (VIE), Hougang United (SGP), Sabah FC (MAS), PSM Makassar (IDN)

Indonesia's PSM Makassar will be aiming to go one better after missing out on a place in the 2022 Inter-Zone semi-finals following their defeat to Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur City in the ASEAN Zonal final. Standing in their way are Vietnam's Haiphong FC, who just missed out on the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 group stage, Hougang United of Singapore and Sabah FC of Malaysia. 

 

Group I
CPK (MAC), Tainan City FC (TPE), FC Ulaanbaatar (MNG), Taichung Futuro FC (TPE)

Macau's CPK and Tainan City of Chinese Taipei will target a better run after their 2022 campaign ended in the group stage with Mongolia's FC Ulaaanbaatar and Taichung Futuro FC expected to be equally confident given the return of the home and away format this year.

Only the group winners will advance to the Inter-Zone semi-finals.