Expire Date Condition not Working ACF WordPress

Question

I am trying to Add the Condition if Expire date is smaller than the current date expired in the post. But the condition not working please check the code below.

    <?php if (!empty($apply_from)) { ?>
                    <li>
                        <?php 
                    $expire = get_field('expire_date');
                    $date = date('Ymd');
                            if($expire < $date) { 
                    ?>
                            <p>Expired</p>
    
                        <?php
                        } else { 
echo $expire_date; 
                        }   
                            ?>
                    
                    </li>
                    <?php 
                                
                            }
                            ?>