AFC Champions League 2026/27

The AFC Champions League Elite stands as the premier club football competition in Asia, governed by the Asian Football Confederation. It occupies the highest position in the Asian football pyramid, sitting above the second-tier AFC Champions League Two and the AFC Challenge League. The tournament underwent a significant rebranding for the 2024–25 season to distinguish its top-tier status from the newly established second division.

The format features a league stage rather than traditional groupings, with 32 teams split into 16 in the West and 16 in the East. Teams play eight matches against opponents from their own region. The top eight from each region advance to a two-legged Round of 16, which remains strictly regional. Quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final are single-leg matches held at a centralized neutral venue, allowing cross-regional matchups only from the quarter-finals onwards. This structure is designed to manage travel logistics and competitive balance in a vast geographic area.

Al-Hilal holds the record for the most titles with four victories, including wins in 1991, 1999–2000, 2019, and 2021. The current reigning champion is Al-Ahli, who secured the 2024–25 edition by defeating Kawasaki Frontale 2–0 in the final. Qualification is based on domestic league performance and AFC country rankings, with no promotion or relegation within the tournament itself.

The competition traces its lineage to the Asian Champion Club Tournament, which began in 1967. The modern iteration was founded in 2002, merging the Asian Club Championship and the Asian Cup Winners' Cup. Clubs such as Gamba Osaka, Al Faisaly, Esteghlal FC, Al Seeb, Al Shabab, and Gangwon FC participate in the current season. The tournament differs from European or South American equivalents through its strict regional split during the league and early knockout stages.