AFC Champions League Elite
FIFA Region
AFC
Season
2025-2026
Location
Asia/Australia
Abbreviation
AFCCL
Summary
The 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite (AFCCL) is Asia's premier club football tournament where 26 top premier league/1st division club teams from 12 AFC participating F/As (football associations) are represented. The 2025-2026 winner will play in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
The 2025-2026 AFCCL Team Allocation table details club team slots earned by each F/A for the 2025-2026 AFC competitions . Overall F/A rankings are based on the AFC F/A Rankings published on 18 May 2025.
Al-Ahli Saudi SFC (KSA1) are the defending AFCCL champion.
More Info...
2025-2026 AFCCL Team Allocation
| AFC | AFCCL Stage | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F/A | Rank | Group | Playoff | Prelim | ||
| Saudi Arabia | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Japan | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Korea Republic | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| United Arab Emirates | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Qatar | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Iran | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Thailand | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| China PR | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Uzbekistan | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Australia | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Malaysia | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Iraq | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Competition Structure
| Stage | # Teams | New Teams Entering This Round | Teams From Previous Round | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Round | 4 | 1 team each from China PR, Iran, Qatar and Thailand | 4 Knockout matches, most goals advance | |
| League Stage | 24 | East Region: 3 teams each from Japan, Korea Republic; 2 teams from China PR; 1 team each from Australia, Malaysia, Thailand; West Region: 3 teams each from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates; 2 teams from Qatar; 1 team each from Iran, Iraq, Uzbekistan | 2 winners from Preliminary Round | 2 groups (Regions) of 12 with Home/Away matches (played at centralized venues) against each team in group, top 8 teams in each region advance |
| Round of 16 | 16 | None | top 8 teams each from East and West regions, 8 group runners-up | 8 sets of Home/Away matches, highest aggregate goals advances |
| Quarterfinals | 8 | None | 8 winners from Round of 16 | 4 sets of Home/Away matches, highest aggregate goals advances |
| Semifinals | 4 | None | 4 winners from Quarterfinals | 2 sets of Home/Away matches, highest aggregate goals advances |
| Final | 2 | None | 2 winners from Semifinals | 1 match played at a neutral site |
Round of 16
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| Aggregate | Shabab Al Ahli Club (UAE1) | 00 | Tractor Sazi Tabriz FC (IRN1) |
| 02.03.26 |  | Tractor Sazi Tabriz FC | Rashid Stadium |
| 09.03.26 | | Shabab Al Ahli Club | Yadegar-e-Emam Stadium |
| Aggregate | Al-Duhail SC (QAT1) | 00 | Al-Ahli Saudi SFC (KSA1) |
| 02.03.26 |  | Al-Ahli Saudi SFC | Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium |
| 09.03.26 | | Al-Duhail SC | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| Aggregate | Melbourne City (AUS1) | 00 | Buriram United FC (THA1) |
| 03.03.26 |  | Buriram United FC | AAMI Park |
| 10.03.26 | | Melbourne City | Chang Arena |
| Aggregate | Gangwon FC (KOR1) | 00 | FC Machida Zelvia (JPN1) |
| 03.03.26 |  | FC Machida Zelvia | Gangneung Stadium |
| 10.03.26 | | Gangwon FC | Machida GION Stadium |
| Aggregate | Al-Wahda FC (UAE1) | 00 | Al-Ittihad FC (KSA1) |
| 03.03.26 |  | Al-Ittihad FC | Al-Nahyan Stadium |
| 10.03.26 | | Al-Wahda FC | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| Aggregate | Al-Sadd SC (QAT1) | 00 | Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) (KSA1) |
| 03.03.26 |  | Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium |
| 10.03.26 | | Al-Sadd SC | Kingdom Arena |
| Aggregate | FC Seoul (KOR1) | 00 | Vissel Kobe (JPN1) |
| 04.03.26 |  | Vissel Kobe | Sangam Stadium |
| 11.03.26 | | FC Seoul | Noevir Stadium Kobe |
| Aggregate | Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS1) | 00 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN1) |
| 04.03.26 |  | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Sultan Ibrahim Stadium |
| 11.03.26 | | Johor Darul Ta'zim | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
Group Stage
| Group East | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | FC Machida Zelvia (JPN1) | 8 | 5 -2-1 | 17 | - | 15 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 2 -1-1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 6 |
| 2 | Vissel Kobe (JPN1) | 8 | 5 -1-2 | 16 | - | 14 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 -0-2 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| 3 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN1) | 8 | 4 -3-1 | 15 | - | 10 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 -2-1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 4 | Buriram United FC (THA1) | 8 | 4 -2-2 | 14 | - | 10 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | 2 | 5 | -3 |
| 5 | Melbourne City (AUS1) | 8 | 4 -2-2 | 14 | - | 9 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 2 -1-1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 -1-1 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 6 | Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS1) | 8 | 3 -2-3 | 11 | - | 8 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 -2-0 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 -0-3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -2 |
| 7 | FC Seoul (KOR1) | 8 | 2 -4-2 | 10 | - | 10 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 1 -3-0 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | -2 |
| 8 | Gangwon FC (KOR1) | 8 | 2 -3-3 | 9 | - | 9 | 11 | -2 | 4 | 2 -1-1 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 -2-2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 |
| 9 | Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR1) | 8 | 2 -3-3 | 9 | - | 6 | 8 | -2 | 4 | 2 -1-1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 -2-2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 |
| 10 | Chengdu Rongcheng FC (CHN1) | 8 | 1 -3-4 | 6 | - | 7 | 11 | -4 | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 4 | 0 -2-2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 |
| 11 | Shanghai Port FC (CHN1) | 7 | 0 -4-3 | 4 | - | 2 | 9 | -7 | 3 | 0 -1-2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 4 | 0 -3-1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| 12 | Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN1) | 9 | 1 -1-7 | 4 | - | 5 | 15 | -10 | 5 | 1 -1-3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 4 | 0 -0-4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | -6 |
Round of 16 Withdrew | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 16.09.25 | | 02 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | AAMI Park |
| 21 | Shanghai Shenhua FC | Chuncheon Songam Stadium |
| 11 | FC Seoul | Machida GION Stadium |
| 21 | Johor Darul Ta'zim | Chang Arena |
| 17.09.25 |  | 21 | Chengdu Rongcheng FC | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
 | 03 | Vissel Kobe | SAIC Motor Pudong Arena |
| 30.09.25 | | 30 | Buriram United FC | Sangam Stadium |
| 11 | Shanghai Port FC | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 10 | Gangwon FC | Phoenix Hill Football Stadium |
| 00 | FC Machida Zelvia | Sultan Ibrahim Stadium |
| 01.10.25 | | 10 | Melbourne City | Noevir Stadium Kobe |
| 11 | Ulsan Hyundai FC | Shanghai Stadium |
| 21.10.25 | | 21 | Buriram United FC | AAMI Park |
| 10 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| 02 | Johor Darul Ta'zim | Phoenix Hill Football Stadium |
| 02 | FC Machida Zelvia | Shanghai Stadium |
| 22.10.25 | | 43 | Vissel Kobe | Chuncheon Songam Stadium |
| 20 | FC Seoul | Shanghai Stadium |
| 04.11.25 | | 00 | Chengdu Rongcheng FC | Sangam Stadium |
| 12 | Melbourne City | Machida GION Stadium |
| 10 | Gangwon FC | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 20 | Shanghai Port FC | Chang Arena |
| 05.11.25 | | 10 | Ulsan Hyundai FC | Noevir Stadium Kobe |
| 31 | Shanghai Shenhua FC | Sultan Ibrahim Stadium |
| 25.11.25 | | 20 | Johor Darul Ta'zim | AAMI Park |
| 13 | FC Seoul | SAIC Motor Pudong Arena |
| 13 | FC Machida Zelvia | Chuncheon Songam Stadium |
| 11 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Phoenix Hill Football Stadium |
| 26.11.25 | | 00 | Buriram United FC | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| 02 | Vissel Kobe | Shanghai Stadium |
| 09.12.25 | | 22 | Chengdu Rongcheng FC | Noevir Stadium Kobe |
| 31 | Ulsan Hyundai FC | Machida GION Stadium |
| 22 | Gangwon FC | Chang Arena |
| 00 | Shanghai Port FC | Sultan Ibrahim Stadium |
| 10.12.25 | | 11 | Melbourne City | Sangam Stadium |
| 10 | Shanghai Shenhua FC | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 10.02.26 | | 20 | FC Seoul | Noevir Stadium Kobe |
| 21 | Johor Darul Ta'zim | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 02 | FC Machida Zelvia | Shanghai Stadium |
| 01 | Buriram United FC | Phoenix Hill Football Stadium |
| 11.02.26 | | 00 | Shanghai Port FC | Chuncheon Songam Stadium |
| 12 | Melbourne City | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| 17.02.26 | | 22 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Sangam Stadium |
| 32 | Chengdu Rongcheng FC | Machida GION Stadium |
| 20 | Shanghai Shenhua FC | Chang Arena |
| 10 | Vissel Kobe | Sultan Ibrahim Stadium |
| 18.02.26 | | 00 | Gangwon FC | AAMI Park |
| 00 | Ulsan Hyundai FC | SAIC Motor Pudong Arena |
| Group West | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) (KSA1) | 8 | 7 -1-0 | 22 | - | 17 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 4 -0-0 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | Al-Ahli Saudi SFC (KSA1) | 8 | 5 -2-1 | 17 | - | 21 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 3 -0-1 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 -2-0 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 6 |
| 3 | Tractor Sazi Tabriz FC (IRN1) | 8 | 5 -2-1 | 17 | - | 12 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 2 -1-1 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 8 |
| 4 | Al-Ittihad FC (KSA1) | 8 | 5 -0-3 | 15 | - | 22 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 3 -0-1 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 2 -0-2 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 3 |
| 5 | Al-Wahda FC (UAE1) | 8 | 4 -2-2 | 14 | - | 11 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | -1 |
| 6 | Shabab Al Ahli Club (UAE1) | 8 | 3 -2-3 | 11 | - | 14 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 2 -2-0 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 -0-3 | 3 | 7 | 12 | -5 |
| 7 | Al-Duhail SC (QAT1) | 8 | 2 -2-4 | 8 | - | 16 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 2 -2-0 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 0 -0-4 | 0 | 5 | 10 | -5 |
| 8 | Al-Sadd SC (QAT1) | 8 | 2 -2-4 | 8 | - | 12 | 16 | -4 | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | 7 | 9 | -2 | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | -2 |
| 9 | Sharjah FC (UAE1) | 8 | 2 -2-4 | 8 | - | 8 | 16 | -8 | 4 | 1 -0-3 | 3 | 5 | 11 | -6 | 4 | 1 -2-1 | 5 | 3 | 5 | -2 |
| 10 | Al-Gharafa SC (QAT1) | 8 | 2 -0-6 | 6 | - | 7 | 21 | -14 | 4 | 2 -0-2 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 -0-4 | 0 | 3 | 17 | -14 |
| 11 | Al-Shorta SC (IRQ1) | 8 | 1 -2-5 | 5 | - | 6 | 20 | -14 | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | 5 | 12 | -7 | 4 | 0 -1-3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | -7 |
| 12 | FC Nasaf (UZB1) | 8 | 1 -1-6 | 4 | - | 9 | 17 | -8 | 4 | 0 -1-3 | 1 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 4 | 1 -0-3 | 3 | 5 | 10 | -5 |
Round of 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 15.09.25 |  | 43 | Al-Gharafa SC | Sharjah Stadium |
| 21 | Al-Ittihad FC | Al-Nahyan Stadium |
 | 11 | Al-Sadd SC | Al-Shaab Stadium |
| 42 | FC Nasaf | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| 16.09.25 | | 11 | Tractor Sazi Tabriz FC | Rashid Stadium |
| 21 | Al-Duhail SC | Kingdom Arena |
| 29.09.25 | | 23 | Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) | Markaziy Stadion (Qarshi) |
| 00 | Al-Wahda FC | Yadegar-e-Emam Stadium |
| 20 | Al-Shorta SC | Thani Bin Jassim Stadium |
| 22 | Al-Ahli Saudi SFC | Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium |
| 30.09.25 | | 11 | Sharjah FC | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium |
| 01 | Shabab Al Ahli Club | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| 20.10.25 | | 31 | Al-Duhail SC | Al-Nahyan Stadium |
| 05 | Tractor Sazi Tabriz FC | Sharjah Stadium |
| 14 | Al-Ittihad FC | Al-Shaab Stadium |
| 40 | Al-Gharafa SC | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| 21.10.25 | | 41 | FC Nasaf | Rashid Stadium |
| 31 | Al-Sadd SC | Kingdom Arena |
| 03.11.25 | | 12 | Al-Wahda FC | Markaziy Stadion (Qarshi) |
| 10 | Al-Shorta SC | Yadegar-e-Emam Stadium |
| 41 | Shabab Al Ahli Club | Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium |
| 12 | Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) | Thani Bin Jassim Stadium |
| 04.11.25 | | 12 | Al-Ahli Saudi SFC | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium |
| 30 | Sharjah FC | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| 24.11.25 | | 01 | Tractor Sazi Tabriz FC | Markaziy Stadion (Qarshi) |
| 42 | Al-Ittihad FC | Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium |
| 20 | Al-Gharafa SC | Rashid Stadium |
| 01 | Sharjah FC | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| 25.11.25 | | 31 | Al-Sadd SC | Al-Nahyan Stadium |
| 40 | Al-Shorta SC | Kingdom Arena |
| 22.12.25 | | 21 | Al-Duhail SC | Yadegar-e-Emam Stadium |
| 01 | Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) | Sharjah Stadium |
| 05 | Al-Ahli Saudi SFC | Al-Shaab Stadium |
| 10 | Al-Wahda FC | Thani Bin Jassim Stadium |
| 23.12.25 | | 42 | Shabab Al Ahli Club | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium |
| 10 | FC Nasaf | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| 09.02.26 | | 11 | Al-Shorta SC | Markaziy Stadion (Qarshi) |
| 00 | Al-Ahli Saudi SFC | Al-Nahyan Stadium |
| 00 | Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) | Rashid Stadium |
| 11 | Sharjah FC | Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium |
| 10.02.26 | | 02 | Al-Sadd SC | Yadegar-e-Emam Stadium |
| 70 | Al-Gharafa SC | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| 16.02.26 | | 43 | Shabab Al Ahli Club | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| 12 | FC Nasaf | Sharjah Stadium |
| 32 | Al-Duhail SC | Al-Shaab Stadium |
| 21 | Al-Wahda FC | Kingdom Arena |
| 17.02.26 | | 02 | Tractor Sazi Tabriz FC | Thani Bin Jassim Stadium |
| 14 | Al-Ittihad FC | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium |
Preliminary Round 1
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
Tue - 12 Aug 2025
| 30 | Bangkok United FC (THA1) | Phoenix Hill Football Stadium |
| 32 | Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan FC (IRN1) | Khalifa International Stadium |