India reduced to one AFC slot for 2027-28 after steep fall in Asian club rankings
India have slipped to 15th place in the AFC Club Competitions Rankings.
Indian football’s decline at the continental level has now come with a heavy price. After several seasons of disappointing results in Asian competitions, India have slipped to 15th place in the AFC Club Competitions Ranking, leading to a massive reduction in the country’s allocation for the 2027-28 season.
For the first time in years, Indian clubs will no longer have representation in the top two tiers of Asian club football. Instead, the country has been handed only one slot in the AFC Challenge League, which is currently the third-tier continental competition under the Asian Football Confederation’s revamped structure.
AFC Slot allocation for 2027-28
The AFC’s latest slot allocation list for the 2027-28 season highlights just how far Indian club football has fallen in Asia. Traditional West Asian powerhouses like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran and Qatar continue to dominate the continental structure with multiple places across the AFC Champions League Elite and ACL Two.
Meanwhile, emerging football nations such as Jordan, Iraq and Uzbekistan have managed to strengthen their positions through consistent performances in recent years. India, however, now sit 15th in the West Region rankings and have been reduced to only one indirect slot in the AFC Challenge League, Asia’s third-tier club competition.
| Rank | Country | AFC 2027-28 Allocation | Total Slots |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saudi Arabia | 3 ACL Elite Direct, 2 ACL Elite Indirect, 1 ACL2 Direct | 6 |
| 2 | United Arab Emirates | 3 ACL Elite Direct, 1 ACL Elite Indirect, 1 ACL2 Direct | 5 |
| 3 | Iran | 3 ACL Elite Direct, 1 ACL2 Direct | 4 |
| 4 | Qatar | 2 ACL Elite Direct, 1 ACL2 Direct | 3 |
| 5 | Uzbekistan | 1 ACL Elite Direct, 1 ACL Elite Indirect, 1 ACL2 Direct | 3 |
| 6 | Jordan | 1 ACL Elite Direct, 1 ACL2 Direct | 2 |
| 7 | Iraq | 1 ACL Elite Indirect, 1 ACL2 Direct | 2 |
| 8 | Bahrain | 1 ACL2 Direct, 1 ACL2 Indirect | 2 |
| 9 | Oman | 1 ACL2 Direct, 1 ACL2 Indirect | 2 |
| 10 | Kuwait | 1 ACL2 Direct, 1 ACL2 Indirect | 2 |
| 11 | Turkmenistan | 1 ACL2 Indirect, 1 AFC Challenge League Direct | 2 |
| 12 | Tajikistan | 1 ACL2 Indirect, 1 AFC Challenge League Direct | 2 |
| 13 | Kyrgyzstan | 1 AFC Challenge League Direct | 1 |
| 14 | Lebanon | 1 AFC Challenge League Indirect | 1 |
| 15 | India | 1 AFC Challenge League Indirect | 1 |
India’s allocations for 2026-27
Before the fresh reduction for the 2027-28 cycle, India had already suffered a significant downgrade in its AFC allocations for the 2026-27 season.
The AFC had initially awarded India two slots in the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2), including one direct group-stage berth and one playoff qualification spot. However, complications surrounding the league structure and eligibility rules created further problems.
Under AFC regulations, member associations must satisfy minimum criteria regarding domestic competition structure, including the number of matches played by clubs in the country’s top division. The benchmark currently stands at 27 league matches per team.
Because Indian clubs failed to meet that requirement amid continuing uncertainty over the ISL season and scheduling issues, India’s direct ACL2 group-stage place is expected to be downgraded into another qualifying slot.
As things stand, India have only two preliminary-stage berths in the AFC Champions League Two for the 2026-27 season instead of a guaranteed group-stage presence.
Those two slots will be occupied by the winners of the ISL and the AIFF Super Cup. East Bengal secured qualification after lifting the 2025-26 ISL title and ending a 22-year wait for a national league crown. Meanwhile, FC Goa booked their continental berth after defending the Super Cup title.
India’s recent performance in Asia
India’s poor coefficient ranking is not the result of one bad season. Instead, it reflects a steady decline over multiple campaigns where clubs consistently failed to compete against stronger Asian opposition. The 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two campaign proved especially damaging.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant began their campaign with a defeat against Ahal FC before the situation worsened dramatically. The club later withdrew from an away fixture against Tractor FC in Iran because of security concerns in the region. The AFC subsequently disqualified the Kolkata giants from the competition and imposed financial sanctions.
FC Goa also struggled badly during their ACL2 campaign. Drawn alongside stronger opposition including Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, the Gaurs failed to win a single match and exited the tournament early after a series of defeats.
The warning signs had already appeared during the 2024-25 season when Indian clubs struggled under the AFC’s new competition format. Mohun Bagan failed to progress from their ACL2 group, while East Bengal dropped into the AFC Challenge League after being eliminated in the qualifying rounds.
Even before the restructuring, Indian clubs found it difficult to leave a mark in Asia. Mumbai City FC endured a disastrous AFC Champions League campaign in 2023-24, losing all six group-stage matches while conceding 17 goals. Odisha FC showed some promise in the AFC Cup by reaching the inter-zone playoff semifinals, but isolated runs were not enough to maintain India’s standing.
Why has India lost AFC slots for 2027-28?
India dropped to 15th place in the AFC Club Competitions Ranking because of poor performances by Indian clubs in Asian tournaments over recent seasons.
Which AFC competition will Indian clubs play in during 2027-28?
Indian clubs will only participate in the AFC Challenge League, which is Asia’s third-tier club competition.
How many AFC slots does India have for 2026-27?
India currently have two preliminary-stage slots in the AFC Champions League Two for the 2026-27 season.
Which Indian clubs qualified for Asia in 2026-27?
East Bengal qualified by winning the ISL title, while FC Goa secured qualification after winning the AIFF Super Cup.
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A sports journalist for over 4 years, Triyasha has been covering Indian Football and Kanbaddi meticulously, She specialises in in-depth knowledge of the game, the players and the footballing infrastructure and heritage in India.