The 2023 Hana 1Q K League 1 title is sewn up, Ulsan Hyundai made it back-to-back titles at the tail-end of October with a win over Daegu FC. So what's left to play for in Final A? Simply put, qualification to the AFC Champions League Elite and a brand new, second-tier competition the AFC Champions League 2.

The K League champions qualify for the 2024-2025 AFC Champions League Elite, the Asian Football Confederation's new, top-tier competition while the FA Cup winners could too, depending on what the federations decide. The K League 1 runners-up will qualify for a playoff to then earn a place in the Group Stage. Ulsan Hyundai as K League 1 champions are already through to the Group Stage. Pohang Steelers, who won the 2023 Korean FA Cup on Saturday 4th November 2023, could be too.

If the FA Cup winners do earn a place in the ACLE then this complicates things as should Pohang seal second place as well, it could then impact which other teams qualify for ACLE and which ones qualify for ACL 2. This could open the door for Gwangju FC to qualify for the ACLE even if they do finish third.

Prior to Pohang's FA Cup triumph, a third-place finish in K League 1 would've meant earning a spot in the very first AFC Champions League 2. But Pohang winning the FA Cup looks to be good news for the likes of Incheon United, Daegu FC, and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors too, despite the Green Warriors losing to the Steelers in the FA Cup final as it means Dan Petrescu's men could finish third and qualify for ACLE or fourth and qualify for ACL2.

Teams that qualify for the ACL2 will be joined by the teams that finish third in the J.League, the Chinese Super League, the Thai League 1 runners-up, the Australia Cup winners, and V League 1 champions among others. Think of it as a Europa League of Asia with ACLE being the UCL Champions League.

With nine points still up for grabs, mathematically Jeonbuk could still finish second or third; Incheon and Daegu could finish third or fourth. No place in the table from second down to sixth is set in stone. This sets up an enthralling end to the season with Incheon looking to qualify for continental football for the second year in a row while Daegu still harbour hopes of returning after a one-year absence.