AFC Champions League Elite may expand from 24 to 32 teams

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Competitions Committee has proposed expanding the group stage of Asia’s top club competition, the AFC Champions League Elite, starting from the 2026/27 season.

Photo: AFC

Under the new format, the competition will remain divided into East and West regions, with 16 teams in each. The top six sides in each region will advance directly to the round of 16, while those finishing seventh to tenth will enter a playoff, with the winners progressing to the knockout stage.

Due to an increasingly congested international calendar, there will be no qualifying stage in the 2026/27 season, though it is expected to be introduced in subsequent campaigns.

The reforms aim to expand the tournament’s geographic reach and enhance its commercial appeal, with all decisions subject to approval by the AFC Executive Committee.

Further details on the allocation of participation quotas will be announced in due course.