AFC set to expand AFC Champions League Elite to 32 teams from 2026/27 season
AFC pushes for a playoff system in the AFC Champions League Elite.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Competitions Committee has recommended a series of strategic enhancements to the Continent’s premier club competition, the AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite), headlined by a move to a 32-team format beginning in the 2026/27 season.
The reforms underscore the AFC’s commitment to further promote inclusivity and excellence across the Continent whilst introducing a more rigorous qualification pathway to the Knockout Stage.
Expansion of the League Stage from the 2026/27 season
Central to this evolution is the expansion of the League Stage of AFC Champions League Elite from 24 to 32 participating clubs. Under the new structure, the competition will continue to be divided equally with 16 teams each in the East and West Regions. This increase in scale is intended to provide opportunities for elite clubs to compete against the Continent’s best, while simultaneously incentivising higher standards of professionalism and performance within domestic leagues across Asia.
Qualification to the Round of 16 – Beyond the 2026/27 season
The progression criteria following the League Stage – to be implemented after the 2026/27 season – will also be revised to heighten the stakes of the opening round. Upon the conclusion of the League Stage, the clubs ranked first through sixth in each Region will earn direct qualification to the Round of 16. In a significant departure from previous formats, clubs that finish seventh to 10th will not be eliminated but will instead progress to a newly established Knockout Stage Playoff.
Knockout Stage Playoff
To reward superior performance during the League Stage, the higher-ranked club in each pairing—specifically the seventh-and eighth-ranked teams—will retain home-ground advantage. The winners of these Playoff encounters will then secure the remaining berths in the Round of 16, ensuring that every position in the League Stage remains consequential until the final matchday.
Due to the current congested global competitions calendar, the Knockout Stage Playoff will not be implemented for the 2026/27 season; it is currently slated for introduction in subsequent seasons.
This latest expansion reinforces the AFC’s dedication to delivering a more inclusive and commercially viable Continental platform. By broadening the geographical representation of elite football, the AFC ensures that the ACL Elite remains at the forefront of the global footballing landscape, providing fans and stakeholders with a premier sporting spectacle.
All decisions need to be ratified by the AFC Executive Committee before taking effect.
What is the new format proposed for the ACL Elite?
The AFC has recommended expanding the competition from 24 to 32 teams starting from the 2026/27 season. The 32 teams will be split equally into East and West regions, with 16 clubs in each.
How will qualification to the Round of 16 work?
The top six teams from each region will qualify directly for the Round of 16. The teams finishing 7th to 10th will compete in a newly introduced Knockout Stage Playoff for the remaining Round of 16 spots.
Will the playoff system begin in 2026/27?
No, the playoff round will not be implemented in the 2026/27 season due to a congested calendar.
With inputs from the Asian Football Confederation website…
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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.