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.
Due to the conflict between the United States and Iran, several Round of 16, all Quarterfinal sets of, and all Semifinals sets of Home/Away matches were changed to a single-leg match played in Saudi Arabia.
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 |
Quarterfinals
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
Thu - 16 Apr 2026
 | Vissel Kobe (JPN1) | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium |
Fri - 17 Apr 2026
 | Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS1) | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
Round of 16
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| Aggregate | Melbourne City (AUS1) | 11 | Buriram United FC (THA1) |
| 03.03.26 |  | 11 | Buriram United FC | AAMI Park |
| 10.03.26 | | 00 | Melbourne City | Chang Arena | ||
| Buriram United FC advances on PKs (4-2) | ||||||
| Aggregate | Gangwon FC (KOR1) | 01 | FC Machida Zelvia (JPN1) |
| 03.03.26 |  | 00 | FC Machida Zelvia | Gangneung Stadium |
| 10.03.26 | | 10 | Gangwon FC | Machida GION Stadium |
| Aggregate | FC Seoul (KOR1) | 13 | Vissel Kobe (JPN1) |
| 04.03.26 |  | 01 | Vissel Kobe | Sangam Stadium |
| 11.03.26 | | 21 | FC Seoul | Noevir Stadium Kobe |
| Aggregate | Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS1) | 32 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN1) |
| 04.03.26 | | 31 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Sultan Ibrahim Stadium |
| 11.03.26 | | 10 | Johor Darul Ta'zim | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| Aggregate | Al-Ahli Saudi SFC (KSA1) | 10 | Al-Duhail SC (QAT1) |
| 13.04.26 | | 10 | Al-Duhail SC | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City | ||
| AET | ||||||
| Aggregate | Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) (KSA1) | 33 | Al-Sadd SC (QAT1) |
| 13.04.26 |  | 33 | Al-Sadd SC | Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium | ||
| Al-Sadd SC advances on PKs (4-2) | ||||||
| Aggregate | Tractor Sazi Tabriz FC (IRN1) | 03 | Shabab Al Ahli Club (UAE1) |
| 14.04.26 |  | 03 | Shabab Al Ahli Club | Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium |
| Aggregate | Al-Ittihad FC (KSA1) | 10 | Al-Wahda FC (UAE1) |
| 14.04.26 |  | 10 | Al-Wahda FC | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City | ||
| AET | ||||||
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 |