32 Teams to Compete in 2026-2027 Elite AFC Champions League

The 2026-2027 AFC Champions League Elite marks the 45th edition of Asia's premier club competition organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the third under the "Elite" branding.

Saudi Arabia has been provisionally awarded hosting rights for the tournament's final stages through 2029, as part of the AFC's strategic plan to enhance the competition's organizational and marketing profile.

The champion of the 2026-2027 edition will secure direct qualification to the group stage of the 2027-2028 AFC Champions League Elite, along with spots in the 2027 Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.

This season will see a historic expansion to 32 clubs in the group stage, following the AFC's announcement on April 24, 2026, to increase the number of participating teams from 24 to 32, aiming to elevate competition levels and broaden club participation across Asia.

It is the first time since the 2019 edition that the tournament will feature 32 teams, offering greater competitive depth and wider representation of national associations on the continental stage.

Al-Ahli enters the new season as the defending champion, having retained the trophy for the second consecutive year by winning the 2026 edition, maintaining its strong presence and dominance in recent years.

Below is an overview of the qualified teams for the 2026-2027 AFC Champions League Elite and details on the tournament format.

Start Dates for the 2026-2027 AFC Champions League Elite

The competition will commence with the qualifying playoff matches on August 11, 2026, according to the newly introduced tournament schedule.

The main and most critical phase, the group stage, will begin on September 14, 2026, continuing until the final match scheduled for May 1, 2027.

Tournament	Start Date	End Date
2026-2027 AFC Champions League Elite	September 14, 2026	May 1, 2027

Competition Format for the 2026-2027 Season

The AFC has implemented strategic changes to the Champions League Elite structure to enhance competitiveness and development, based on recommendations from its Competitions Committee.

The most significant adjustment is expanding the tournament to 32 teams starting with the 2026-2027 season.

Under the new system, the 32 clubs will be equally divided between the West and East zones, with 16 teams each. Following the group stage, the top six teams from each zone will qualify directly for the round of 16.

Teams finishing between seventh and tenth place will have an additional opportunity to advance through a newly introduced knockout playoff round, called the "Playoff Round," allowing them to compete for remaining round of 16 spots instead of being eliminated immediately after the group stage.

The AFC clarified that seventh and eighth place teams will enjoy home advantage for their playoff matches. Winners from these playoffs will complete the round of 16 lineup, a format designed to heighten excitement and maintain competitive intensity through the final group stage rounds.

However, the playoff round will not be implemented during the 2026-2027 season due to a congested international calendar and multiple global tournaments scheduled during that period.

The AFC confirmed that the playoff phase will be fully introduced in subsequent seasons as part of a gradual transition plan to maximize the benefits of the new competition format and elevate the tournament's status within Asia.

Qualified Clubs for the 2026-2027 AFC Champions League Elite

Team allocations for the tournament are based on the AFC's national association rankings, in line with the new format effective from the 2026-2027 season.

The competition will feature 32 teams split evenly between the West and East zones, each with 16 clubs, ensuring broader representation of Asian clubs in the continent's premier club event.

In the West zone, 16 slots are allocated: 13 direct group stage spots and 3 via playoffs. Saudi Arabia holds the largest share with five places—four direct and one playoff spot. The United Arab Emirates has four slots, three direct and one playoff.

Qatar receives three direct entries, Iran two direct, Uzbekistan one direct plus one playoff, Iraq one direct, and Jordan one playoff slot.

In the East zone, there are also 16 slots: 13 direct and 3 playoff. Japan leads with five places—four direct and one playoff. South Korea has four slots—three direct and one playoff.

Thailand is allocated three direct places, China two direct, Australia one direct plus one playoff, Malaysia one direct, and Vietnam one playoff slot.

Additionally, two extra slots will be awarded based on the winners of AFC continental competitions: one to the AFC Champions League 2 champion and another based on ranking criteria.

The following tables list the clubs officially qualified for the 2026-2027 AFC Champions League Elite group stage and those set to compete in the playoff round.

West Zone

Country	Qualified Teams
Saudi Arabia	Al-Ahli
	Al-Nassr
	Al-Hilal
	Al-Qadsiah
United Arab Emirates	Shabab Al Ahli
	Al Ain
	Al Wasl
Qatar	Al Sadd
	Al-Gharafa
	Al-Shamal
Iran	Tractor
	Esteghlal
Uzbekistan	Navbahor Namangan
Iraq	Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Playoff Round
Saudi Arabia	Al-Ittihad
United Arab Emirates	Al-Jazira
Uzbekistan	Pakhtakor
Jordan	Al-Hussein

East Zone

Country	Qualified Teams
Japan	Vissel Kobe
	Kashima Antlers
	Kashiwa Reysol
	Kyoto Sanga
South Korea	Jeonbuk Hyundai
	Pohang Steelers
	Daejeon Hana Citizen
China	Shanghai Port
	Beijing Guoan
Thailand	Buriram United
	Port FC
	Ratchaburi
Australia	Newcastle Jets
Malaysia	Johor Darul Ta'zim
Playoff Round
Japan	Gamba Osaka
South Korea	Gangwon FC
Australia	Adelaide United
Vietnam	Công An Hà Nội