The 2022 Asian Champions League is to be decided in 2023 with a major split in the match schedule for teams from East and West zones.
The Asian Football Confederation cited two reasons for the new plan, which will result in the 2022 final being played in February 2023 - travel challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and the unusual scheduling of the World Cup in Qatar during November and December.
Improvements to the proposed ACL program are intended to help national teams prepare for the marquee Asian Club competition to be played during September and October without any games.
"Asian teams that are likely to qualify for (the World Cup) are expected to plan comprehensive preparations for the competition, and facilitate such tune-ups to tide over the uncertain situation and unforeseen risks." The need to create was felt,” the AFC said.
Asia are looking for better results in their home World Cup after advancing none of their five teams from the group stage at the 2018 tournament in Russia.
The AFC has now proposed a Champions League schedule in which the Eastern Region - including teams from Australia, China, Japan and South Korea - will play through to the semi-finals and produce the final by August.
West Zone, including teams from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iran, is now set to play in the group stage in April and will resume in the knockout rounds in the last-16 stage in February next year.
All games are set to be played at centralized venues to limit international travel during the pandemic.
"Travel procedures around Asia have become more challenging with new travel restrictions and protocols introduced by many countries in efforts to contain the spread of the Omron variant," the AFC said.
The two-leg, home-and-away final is scheduled for February 19 and 26 next year.
Single leg elimination games are proposed for the first knockout round at the central venue.
The AFC said the new schedule must be approved by its executive committee, and a group-stage draw is scheduled for Monday.
The new schedule means the FIFA Club World Cup for the 2022 continental champions will be played even deeper next year.
The upcoming edition for the 2021 continental champions, which includes Chelsea and Palmeiras, is scheduled for February 3-12 in the United Arab Emirates.