The AFC decides to increase the number of “elite” clubs to 32 teams

The AFC Competitions Committee has recommended a series of strategic improvements to the continent’s most prominent club tournament, the 2024-2025 AFC Champions League, led by a move to a 32-team system starting from the 2026-2027 season.

These reforms underscore the AFC’s commitment to continuing to promote inclusivity and excellence across the continent, as well as introducing a more robust qualification pathway to the knockout rounds.

Expanding the league stage starting from the 2026-2027 season

This aspect is the focus of this development, as the number of participating clubs will increase from 24 to 32 teams. Under the new structure, the tournament will continue to be divided equally into the East and West regions, with 16 teams for each region. This expansion aims to provide elite clubs with the opportunity to compete with the continent’s best teams, while stimulating higher standards of professionalism and performance in local leagues across Asia.

Qualification criteria for the round of 16 – seasons following the 2026-2027 edition

The qualification criteria for the round of 16 will also be amended, and will be applied after the 2026-2027 season, in order to increase the importance of the league stage. According to the new system, the clubs that occupy the first to sixth positions in each region will qualify directly to the round of 16. In a striking change from previous systems, the clubs that finish the stage in positions from seventh to tenth will not leave the competition, but will move to a new playoff stage within the knockout rounds.

Play-off rounds supplement

The highest-ranked team in each match within this playoff stage – specifically those in seventh and eighth place – gets home preference, as a reward for its results in the league stage. The winners of these matches qualify to complete the contract for those qualifying for the round of 16, ensuring that all positions remain important until the final round.

Due to the current congestion in the global competitions calendar, this decisive stage will not be implemented in the 2026-2027 season, but will be introduced in subsequent seasons.

This latest expansion reinforces the AFC’s commitment to providing a more comprehensive and commercially viable continental platform, as it contributes to expanding the representation of elite football on the continent, ensuring that the elite AFC Champions League remains at the forefront of the global football scene, and provides a distinctive sporting experience for fans and all stakeholders.

It is noteworthy that all decisions need to be approved by the Executive Office of the AFC before they enter into force.