As the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup would already be held by that time, the AFC confirmed on 23 December 2022 that Al-Hilal would be their representative at the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup as the reigning champions from the 2021 AFC Champions League.

Urawa Red Diamonds defeated Al-Hilal 2–1 on aggregate in the final to win their third title.

[29] The original schedule of the competition, as planned in 2019 before the pandemic, included a two-legged knockout stage.

[30] In June 2021, a minor revision was made to the schedule of the preliminary and play-off stages: matches were moved one week earlier in January.

[32] On 13 January 2022, the AFC announced the second revised schedule of the competition, with the knockout stage of the West Region pushed back to February 2023, and a two-legged format restored for the final.

The draw for the group stage was held on 17 January 2022 at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

[33] The round of 16 was played over one leg, with the matchups determined by the combination tables based on which group runners-up qualified.

Note: Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs and matches voided by AFC are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4).