It determined that year's club champion of association football in Asia.

Júbilo Iwata of Japan won the final and became Asian champions for the first time.

2 FC Irtysh were ejected from the competition for using two ineligible players.

1 Selangor FA were entered after Penang, who had beaten them for the championship, withdrew due to excessive travel costs.

5 Finance and Revenue were drawn against the representatives of Indonesia, where the 1997/98 season was abandoned and the championship withheld due to political and economic turmoil in the country.