List of all teams that will play in AFC Asian Champions League Elite

AFC Asian Champions League Elite League is a new competition format developed by AFC.

The AFC Asian Champions League Elite will hold its first edition in the 2024–25 season when the best clubs from Asia fight for the most prestigious title. This is part of a restructuring by the AFC (Asian Football Confederation), who have created a new three-tier competition pyramid with the ACL Elite standing at the top.

The AFC Asian Champions League Elite will replace the erstwhile AFC Asian Champions League – the last edition of which was won by UAE side Al-Ain. They will be one of the 24 teams that will participate in the first AFC Champions League Elite edition next season and the format of this competition will be similar to the one fans will see in the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League.

Indeed, the ‘group phase’ of the former AFC Asian Champions League will be replaced by a brand new ‘league phase’ format for the upcoming campaign in the AFC Asian Champions League Elite. As a result, 12 teams will be placed in the ‘West Region’ of the bracket. The remainder of the 12 sides will be fighting in the ‘East Region’ of the bracket. Each team will play eight matches, four at home and four away.

Eight teams from each league bracket will move forward to the Round of 16 – which will mark the beginning of the knockout rounds. For the time being, 21 teams have been confirmed to participate in the first edition of the AFC Champions League Elite.

ALSO READ: List of all teams qualified for AFC Asian Champions League 2 2024-25

Saudi Arabia, Japan and South Korea will have three of their clubs directly qualify for the group phase thanks to their superior coefficient points. Qatar, China and Iran could also see three teams represent the country, but only if one of their clubs can win their playoff qualifier before the league phase.

Two teams will progress through the playoff qualifiers, which will be a two-legged affair to take place in August. The representative of Iraq is yet to be confirmed, as the winners of the 2023-24 Iraq Stars League will directly qualify for the group phase.

The teams include Saudi heavyweights like Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli, meaning Cristiano Ronaldo will play in the inaugural AFC Asian Champions League Elite edition too! Japanese heavyweights Vissel Kobe and Yokohama F. Marinos will also take part, as will Qatari sides Al-Sadd and Al-Rayyan. With that being said, here are all the 21 teams confirmed to play in the AFC Champions Elite so far.

West Region

Al-Ain

Al-Hilal

Al-Nassr

Al-Ahli

Al-Sadd

Al-Rayyan

Persepolis

Esteghlal

Al Wasl

Pakhtakor

East Region

Vissel Kobe

Kawasaki Frontale

Yokohama F. Marinos

Ulsan HD

Pohang Steelers

Gwangju

Shanghai Port

Shanghai Shenhua

Buriram United

Central Coast Mariners

Johar Darul Ta’zim

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