Country-wise slots for AFC Asian club competitions 2024-25 season

AFC announced a restructuring of its men’s club competitions last year.

In August 2023, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced its plans to restructure the men’s football competitions as well as the launch of a new Women’s Champions League.

The new format for the men’s club competitions will see 76 participating clubs compete across three tiers instead of the current two-tier structure featuring the AFC Champions League Elite starting from the 2024-25 season.

The AFC’s top-tier men’s club competition will be rebranded as the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE), which will see the continent’s top 24 clubs compete. The second-tier men’s club competition will be named AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2), with 32 clubs divided into eight groups of four teams each. 

The third-tier competition, meanwhile, will be known as the AFC Challenge League (ACGL), with the 20 competing clubs divided into five groups. 

This major revamp by the AFC is being seen as a strategic move, which guarantees increased participation from various leagues across the continent, as well as increased revenue for the AFC and its member associations. 

With that being said, let us now take a look at how country-wise slots have been divided for representation in the AFC competitions. 

East Region

The eastern region consists of a total of 22 teams. The various slots have been divided based on the AFC club competitions rankings.Note: Indirect spot means a spot in the preliminary phases of a competition, whereas a direct spot means a place. 

Japan

With an AFC club competition ranking of No. 2, Japan tops the list in the east conference and are thus granted three direct spots in the AFC Champions League Elite and one direct spot in AFC Champions League 2. 

Korea Republic

With an AFC club competitions ranking of No. 3, South Korea earns two direct and one indirect spot in the AFC Champions League Elite and one direct spot in AFC Champions League 2. 

China PR

China PR has earned two direct and one indirect spot in the AFC Champions League Elite and one direct spot in AFC Champions League 2. 

Thailand

Thailand’s eighth rank in AFC club competitions earns them one direct and one indirect spot in the AFC Champions League Elite and one direct spot in AFC Champions League 2. 

Australia

Australia’s A-League takes up one direct spot in the AFC Champions League Elite and one direct spot in AFC Champions League 2. 

Malaysia

Similar to the Aussies, Malaysia also gets one direct spot in the AFC Champions League Elite and one direct spot in AFC Champions League 2. 

Vietnam, Hong Kong, Philippines and Singapore

All four of these nations get one direct spot and one indirect spot in AFC Champions League 2.   

Indonesia 

The Garudas get one indirect entry into the preliminary phases of the AFC Champions League 2 and one direct and two indirect entry into the AFC Challenge League.

Myanmar, Cambodia, Chinese Taipei, Laos, Mongolia, 

These nations get one direct and one indirect spot in the AFC Challenge League.

West Region

The western region consists of a total of 22 teams. The various slots have been divided based on the AFC club competitions rankings.Note: Indirect spot means a spot in the preliminary stages of a competition, whereas a direct spot means a place. 

Saudi Arabia

Being the top-ranked league in the AFC club competitions rankings, The Saudi Pro League gets three direct entries in the AFC Champions League Elite and one direct spot in AFC Champions League 2. 

Qatar, Iran and United Arab Emirates

As the fourth, fifth and sixth highest-ranked league in the AFC club competitions rankings respectively, all three nations get one direct and one indirect spot in the AFC Champions League Elite and one direct spot in AFC Champions League 2. 

Uzbekistan and Iraq

Uzbekistan and Iraq get a direct spot in both the AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League 2.

India, Tajikistan, Bahrain, Jordan

India along with the three above-mentioned nations get one direct spot and one indirect spot in the AFC Champions League 2. 

From India, Mohun Bagan Super Giant will play in the group phases, whereas their rivals East Bengal will compete in the preliminary phases of the AFC Champions League 2. 

Kuwait and Turkmenistan

Both nations will get one indirect spot in the AFC Champions League 2 and one direct spot in the AFC Challenge League.

Lebanon

The Lebanese Premier League will get only one direct entry into the AFC Challenge League.

Syria, Bangladesh, Oman, Palestine, Maldives, Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan

All the above-mentioned nations will only be granted one indirect spot in the AFC Challenge League.

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