AFC Champions League Elite 2025-26

The 44th edition of Asian football's biggest club tournament, the AFC Champions League, is making a comeback in 2025-26 with a new name and format. It will now be known as the AFC Champions League Elite, the highest tier of club football in Asia. The tournament will not only give the continent's best teams a chance to compete against each other, but will also give its winner an opportunity to make their mark on the global stage.

Tournament Format and Teams

In this new edition, a total of 24 teams will participate, hailing from 12 different football associations. The teams will be divided into two zones - West Zone and East Zone. Some teams will qualify directly for the league stage, while some will have to go through the play-off round. This new format promises to make the tournament even more competitive and exciting.

Schedule and Important Dates

The tournament will begin with the qualifying rounds in August 2025. After this, the main competition will run from September 2025 to April 2026. It will be a long and grueling season, in which teams will have to show their full potential. The final match will be played in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, where the next champion of Asian club football will be crowned.

Big prizes for the winner

The team that wins this tournament will not only get the trophy but also several important prizes

Direct entry into the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

A place in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.

A place in the league stage of the next season 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite.