SYDNEY, March 11: The AFC Champions League kicks off on Wednesday with 29 teams from 14 countries vying for the title and the chance to represent Asia in this year’s FIFA World Club championship.

The defending champions, Urawa Reds of Japan, have been given an automatic place in the quarter-finals but the remaining 28 sides will have to battle it out the other seven spots.

They have split into seven groups, four from West Asia and three from East Asia, who will play each other home and away over the next three months. Only the group winners will advance to the knockout stage.

The stakes are always high but this year’s tournament has been given added importance because of the AFC’s plans to change the format in 2009 in an attempt to raise the overall playing standards.

The AFC wants to introduce stricter qualifying criteria and has put all countries and clubs on notice by stripping Indonesia of their two spots this season for failing to finish their domestic competition in time.

The AFC disqualified two-time champions Esteghlal Tehran before last year’s Champions League for failing to fulfil player registration requirements.

The competition has undergone various format changes since it began in 1967 but has historically been dominated by teams from four countries: South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

But the inclusion of Australia has added a new dimension to the competition.

Australia’s decision to ditch Oceania and join Asia in search of better competition initially drew criticism from some parts of Asia.

There were concerns the Australian teams would dominate Asia but their failure in last year’s Champions League and Asian Cup quickly put their fears to rest.

The two Australian teams have both been given difficult draws this year with A-League champions Melbourne Victory in Group G with Korean FA Cup holders Chunnam Dragons, Thailand’s Chonburi FC and Japan’s Gamba Osaka.

A-League runners-up Adelaide are in Pool E with Korean champions Pohang Steelers while Group F is shaping as a battle between J-League winners Kashima Antlers and Chinese champions Beijing Guoan.

The most fascinating match up in the West Asia is in Pool A where last year’s runners-up, Sepahan of Iran, are drawn alongside Saudi Arabia’s two-time champions Al Ittihad.—Reuters