In the penultimate round of the Premier League on October 27, Hibiscus drew 1-1 away to West Coast, locking up the third place in the league in the early rounds and advancing to the AFC Champions League for the first time in the team's history.
Dating back to March 2018, Chengdu Rongcheng (formerly known as Chengdu Xingcheng) was officially incorporated.In January 2021, the club completed a name change ceremony, officially changing its name to Chengdu Rongcheng.
Between 2018 and 2019, Chengdu Rongcheng made a three-stage jump in the league, leaping from the Champions League to the First Division.In 2021, the team managed to advance to the Chinese Super League and finished fifth in the 2022 season and fourth last season.
Chengdu Rongcheng set a target of finishing the season in third place in the league, while also successfully reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup. However, whether Rongcheng will play in the AFC Elite League or the AFC Second Division next season remains to be revealed in the FA Cup final next month.
According to the rules of the Premier League, the winner qualifies directly for the AFC Elite League, the runner-up qualifies for the Play-Offs, while the third-place finisher advances directly to the second tier of the AFC Champions League. However, the FA Cup winners are also eligible for the AFC Elite League. If the FA Cup winners overlap with the top three finishers in the league, the third place in the league will qualify for the play-offs, while the fourth place will directly participate in the second-tier league.
This season's FA Cup final will be played between Seaport and Taishan. Given that Seaport has already locked up the top two spots, the outcome of the final will have a direct impact on the allocation of AFC Champions League qualification:
If the harbor wins the championship
Third place in the Chinese Super League, qualifying for the elite AFC Champions League play-offs
Fourth place in the Chinese Super League, qualifying for the second tier of the AFC Champions League
If Tarzan wins the championship
Taishan, qualifies for elite AFC Champions League
Third place in the Chinese Super League, qualifying for the second tier of the AFC Champions League
