AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25: Unveiling Asia’s Premier Football Spectacle

A purple trophy with elegant curves and patterns, accompanied by the text "AFC Champions League Elite" in a bold, futuristic font.

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed the lineup for the debut season of the AFC Champions League Elite™. The 2024/25 season will feature 27 elite teams from 12 Member Associations (MAs) divided into West and East regions. This prestigious tournament aims to showcase the best Asian football with a format designed to maximize competition and entertainment.

Preliminary Stage Showdowns

The road to the League Stage begins with the Preliminary Stage, set from August 6 to 13. Five clubs will battle for the remaining slots:

West Region

Qatar’s Al Gharafa will face the tie winner between a representative club from the Islamic Republic of Iran and United Arab Emirates’ Shabab Al Ahli.

East Region

China PR’s Shandong Taishan FC will square off against Thailand’s Bangkok United.

The losing teams from these matches will not exit the tournament entirely but will enter the AFC Champions League Two™ Group Stage.

League Stage Format

Starting September 16, 2024, the League Stage will see 24 clubs divided into two leagues of 12 teams each, representing the West and East regions. Each team will play 8 matches within its region—four at home and four away. This format ensures robust competition with high-quality football throughout the season.

Club Allocations and Rankings

The AFC has allocated slots to clubs based on their MAs’ rankings:

West Region Clubs

1. Saudi Arabia: Al Hilal SFC, Al Nassr, Al Ahli Saudi FC
2. Qatar: Al Sadd (Direct), Al Gharafa (Indirect), Al Rayyan
3. Islamic Republic of Iran: Persepolis FC, Esteghlal FC, TBC
4. United Arab Emirates: Al Ain FC*, Shabab Al Ahli, Al Wasl FC
5. Uzbekistan: FC Pakhtakor
6. Iraq: TBC

East Region Clubs

1. Japan: Vissel Kobe, Kawasaki Frontale, Yokohama F. Marinos
2. Korea Republic: Ulsan HD FC, Gwangju FC, FC Pohang Steelers
3. China PR: Shanghai Port FC, Shandong Taishan FC, Shanghai Shenhua FC
4. Thailand: Buriram United, Bangkok United
5. Australia: Central Coast Mariners
6. Malaysia: Johor Darul Ta’zim FC

Gwangju FC and Al Ain FC qualify directly for the League Stage as holders of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24.

AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25

West
RankMember AssociationDirectIndirect
1Saudi ArabiaAl Hilal SFC
Al Nassr
Al Ahli Saudi FC
2QatarAl Sadd
Al Rayyan
Al Gharafa
3Islamic Republic of IranPersepolis FC
Esteghlal FC
TBC
4United Arab EmiratesAl Ain FCShabab Al Ahli
5UzbekistanFC Pakhtakor
6IraqTBC

AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 holders

East
RankMember AssociationDirectIndirect
1JapanVissel Kobe
Kawasaki Frontale
Yokohama F. Marinos
2Korea RepublicUlsan HD FC
FC Pohang Steelers
Gwangju FC
3China PRShanghai Port FC
Shanghai Shenhua FC
Shandong Taishan FC
4ThailandBuriram UnitedBangkok United
5AustraliaCentral Coast Mariners
6MalaysiaJohor Darul Ta’zim FC

Gwangju will qualify directly for the League Stage

Financial Incentives

The financial stakes are high in the ACL Elite. Clubs entering the League Stage are guaranteed a minimum of USD 800,000, and the champions stand to earn at least USD 12 million, making this competition prestigious and highly rewarding financially.

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Official Draw and Knockout Stages

The official draw for the League Stage will take place on August 16, 2024. From there, the top eight teams from each league will advance to the double-legged Round of 16, scheduled from March 3 to 12, 2025. The quarter-finals will be hosted by a single-member association, with Saudi Arabia confirmed as the host for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons. These matches will feature single-legged ties, culminating in the Final between April 25 and May 4, 2025.

A Global Football Extravaganza

The ACL Elite is expected to captivate over 1 billion football fans across Asia’s biggest cities. With significant financial backing and the best teams from the continent, the competition promises high-octane matches and unforgettable moments. The shift from the traditional Group Stage to the League Stage format ensures each game is competitive, offering fans top-quality football consistently.

The AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 is set to become the pinnacle of Asian football, bringing together the continent’s best clubs in a fiercely competitive and highly rewarding tournament. As the countdown to August begins, football fans worldwide eagerly anticipate a season filled with skill, strategy, and spectacular plays. Stay linked for more updates, and get ready to witness history in the making.

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