AFC Champions League Elite
FIFA Region
AFC
Season
2026-2027
Location
Asia/Australia
Abbreviation
AFCCL
Summary
The 2026-2027 AFC Champions League Elite (AFCCL) is Asia's premier club football tournament where 36 top premier league/1st division club teams from 14 AFC participating F/As (football associations) are represented. The 2026-2027 winner will play in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2027 FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
The 2026-2027 AFCCL Elite Team Allocation table details club team slots earned by each F/A for the 2026-2027 AFC Elite. Overall F/A rankings are based on each association's performance in Asian competitions over the past eight seasons.
Al-Ahli Saudi SFC (KSA1) are the defending AFCCL Elite champion.
More Info...
2026-2027 AFC Champions League Elite
Team Allocation
Team Allocation
| F/A | AFC Rank | Group | Prelim |
|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Japan | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Korea Republic | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| United Arab Emirates | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Qatar | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Iran | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Thailand | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| China PR | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Uzbekistan | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| Australia | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| Malaysia | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Iraq | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Jordan | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| Vietnam | 14 | 0 | 1 |
Competition Structure
| Stage | # Teams | New Teams Entering This Round | Teams From Previous Round | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Round | 8 | 1 team each from Australia, Japan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabi, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam | 4 Knockout matches, most goals advance | |
| League Stage | 32 | (SEE GROUP COLUMN OF TEAM ALLOCATION TABLE) | 4 winners from Preliminary Round | 2 groups (Regions) of 16 with Home/Away matches (played at centralized venues) against each team in group, top 8 teams in each region advance |
| Round of 16 | 16 | None | top 8 teams each from East and West regions, 8 group runners-up | 8 sets of Home/Away matches, highest aggregate goals advances |
| Quarterfinals | 8 | None | 8 winners from Round of 16 | 4 sets of Home/Away matches, highest aggregate goals advances |
| Semifinals | 4 | None | 4 winners from Quarterfinals | 2 sets of Home/Away matches, highest aggregate goals advances |
| Final | 2 | None | 2 winners from Semifinals | 1 match played at a neutral site |
League Stage
| Group East | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | Kashima Antlers FC (JPN1) | 3 | 3 -0-0 | 9 | - | 11 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | Vissel Kobe (JPN1) | 3 | 3 -0-0 | 9 | - | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Gamba Osaka (JPN1) | 3 | 2 -1-0 | 7 | - | 8 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 4 | Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS1) | 3 | 2 -1-0 | 7 | - | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Beijing Guoan FC (CHN1) | 3 | 2 -1-0 | 7 | - | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Kyoto Sanga FC (JPN1) | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | - | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 7 | Kashiwa Reysol (JPN1) | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | - | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| 8 | Shanghai Port FC (CHN1) | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | - | 9 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| 9 | Daejeon Citizen FC (KOR1) | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | - | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Jeonbuk Motors (KOR1) | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | - | 4 | 5 | -1 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 |
| 11 | Công An Hà Nội (VIE1) | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | - | 4 | 7 | -3 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -2 |
| 12 | Buriram United FC (THA1) | 3 | 0 -2-1 | 2 | - | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 2 | 0 -2-0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 13 | Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC (THA1) | 3 | 0 -1-2 | 1 | - | 4 | 7 | -3 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 14 | Pohang Steelers (KOR1) | 3 | 0 -0-3 | 0 | - | 1 | 8 | -7 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | -5 |
| 15 | Port FC (THA1) | 3 | 0 -0-3 | 0 | - | 2 | 10 | -8 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | -7 |
| 16 | Newcastle Jets FC (AUS1) | 3 | 0 -0-3 | 0 | - | 4 | 15 | -11 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 3 | 12 | -9 |
Round of 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 15.09.26 |  | 71 | Newcastle Jets FC | Kashima Soccer Stadium |
 | 41 | Công An Hà Nội | Panasonic Stadium Suita |
 | 10 | Kyoto Sanga FC | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
 | 46 | Shanghai Port FC | Ratchaburi Stadium |
 | 31 | Pohang Steelers | Workers' Stadium (Beijing) |
 | 11 | Buriram United FC | Sultan Ibrahim Stadium |
| 16.09.26 |  | 21 | Kashiwa Reysol | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
 | 12 | Vissel Kobe | PAT Stadium |
| 13.10.26 | | 13 | Gamba Osaka | McDonald Jones Stadium |
| 10 | Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 11 | Daejeon Citizen FC | SAIC Motor Pudong Arena |
| 02 | Johor Darul Ta'zim | Pohang Steel Yard |
| 01 | Beijing Guoan FC | Chang Arena |
| 01 | Kashima Antlers FC | Hang Day Stadium |
| 14.10.26 | | 51 | Port FC | SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium |
| 20 | Jeonbuk Motors | Noevir Stadium Kobe |
| 27.10.26 | | 52 | Newcastle Jets FC | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 23 | Công An Hà Nội | SAIC Motor Pudong Arena |
| 30 | Port FC | Sultan Ibrahim Stadium |
| 01 | Vissel Kobe | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| 22 | Jeonbuk Motors | Workers' Stadium (Beijing) |
| 00 | Kashiwa Reysol | Ratchaburi Stadium |
| 28.10.26 | | 30 | Pohang Steelers | Kashima Soccer Stadium |
| 11 | Buriram United FC | Panasonic Stadium Suita |
| 03.11.26 | | Shanghai Port FC | McDonald Jones Stadium |
| Daejeon Citizen FC | SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium |
| Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC | Noevir Stadium Kobe |
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| Beijing Guoan FC | PAT Stadium |
| Kyoto Sanga FC | Hang Day Stadium |
| 04.11.26 | | Gamba Osaka | Pohang Steel Yard |
| Kashima Antlers FC | Chang Arena |
| 24.11.26 | | Kashiwa Reysol | McDonald Jones Stadium |
| Pohang Steelers | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| Beijing Guoan FC | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| Buriram United FC | SAIC Motor Pudong Arena |
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | Ratchaburi Stadium |
| Vissel Kobe | Hang Day Stadium |
| 25.11.26 | | Jeonbuk Motors | Kashima Soccer Stadium |
| Port FC | Panasonic Stadium Suita |
| 01.12.26 | | Công An Hà Nội | SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium |
| Newcastle Jets FC | Noevir Stadium Kobe |
| Shanghai Port FC | Pohang Steel Yard |
| Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC | Workers' Stadium (Beijing) |
| Daejeon Citizen FC | Sultan Ibrahim Stadium |
| Kyoto Sanga FC | Chang Arena |
| 02.12.26 | | Gamba Osaka | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| Kashima Antlers FC | PAT Stadium |
| 09.02.27 | | Johor Darul Ta'zim | McDonald Jones Stadium |
| Jeonbuk Motors | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| Port FC | SAIC Motor Pudong Arena |
| Kashima Antlers FC | Daejeon World Cup Stadium |
| Gamba Osaka | Ratchaburi Stadium |
| Beijing Guoan FC | Hang Day Stadium |
| 10.02.27 | | Buriram United FC | SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium |
| Pohang Steelers | Noevir Stadium Kobe |
| 16.02.27 | | Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC | Kashima Soccer Stadium |
| Daejeon Citizen FC | Panasonic Stadium Suita |
| Newcastle Jets FC | Workers' Stadium (Beijing) |
| Công An Hà Nội | Sultan Ibrahim Stadium |
| Shanghai Port FC | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| Kashiwa Reysol | Pohang Steel Yard |
| Vissel Kobe | Chang Arena |
| Kyoto Sanga FC | PAT Stadium |
| Group West | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | Al-Ain FC (UAE1) | 3 | 3 -0-0 | 9 | - | 10 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | Shabab Al Ahli Club (UAE1) | 3 | 3 -0-0 | 9 | - | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | Al-Ahli Saudi FC (KSA1) | 3 | 2 -1-0 | 7 | - | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 4 | Esteghlal FC (IRN1) | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | - | 7 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) (KSA1) | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | - | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | Al-Shamal SC (QAT1) | 3 | 1 -2-0 | 5 | - | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Al-Qadsiah FC (KSA1) | 3 | 1 -2-0 | 5 | - | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | Al-Ittihad FC (KSA1) | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | - | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 9 | FC Neftchi Fergana (UZB1) | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | - | 3 | 5 | -2 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| 10 | Al-Nassr FC (KSA1) | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | - | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -4 |
| 11 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (IRQ1) | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | - | 2 | 5 | -3 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 12 | Pakhtakor Tashkent FK (UZB1) | 3 | 0 -2-1 | 2 | - | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| 13 | Tractor Sazi Tabriz FC (IRN1) | 3 | 0 -1-2 | 1 | - | 1 | 3 | -2 | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| 14 | Al-Sadd SC (QAT1) | 3 | 0 -1-2 | 1 | - | 1 | 6 | -5 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 |
| 15 | Al Wasl FC (UAE1) | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | - | 2 | 5 | -3 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| 16 | Al-Gharafa SC (QAT1) | 3 | 0 -0-3 | 0 | - | 3 | 8 | -5 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -2 |
| 17 | Shanghai Port FC (CHN1) | 0 | 0 -0-0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 -0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 -0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Công An Hà Nội (VIE1) | 0 | 0 -0-0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 -0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 -0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Round of 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 14.09.26 |  | 10 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | Istiqlol Stadion |
 | 30 | Al-Sadd SC | Azadi Stadium |
 | 10 | Tractor Sazi Tabriz FC | Rashid Stadium |
 | 11 | Al-Ittihad FC | Al Bayt Stadium |
 | 11 | Pakhtakor Tashkent FK | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
 | 21 | Al Wasl FC | Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium |
| 15.09.26 |  | 40 | Al-Nassr FC | Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium |
 | 21 | Al-Gharafa SC | Kingdom Arena |
| 12.10.26 | | 11 | Al-Qadsiah FC | Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium |
| 00 | Al-Shamal SC | Yadegar-e-Emam Stadium |
| 13 | Al-Ahli Saudi FC | Za'abeel Stadium |
| 14 | Esteghlal FC | Thani Bin Jassim Stadium |
| 14 | Al-Ain FC | Al-Shaab Stadium |
| 31 | FC Neftchi Fergana | Al Awal Park at King Saud University |
| 13.10.26 | | 02 | Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium |
| 12 | Shabab Al Ahli Club | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| 26.10.26 | | 12 | Al-Ittihad FC | Istiqlol Stadion |
| 21 | Tractor Sazi Tabriz FC | Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium |
| 21 | Al-Gharafa SC | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| 11 | Al-Sadd SC | Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium |
| PSPD | Al Wasl FC | Al Awal Park at King Saud University |
| 10 | Pakhtakor Tashkent FK | Al-Shaab Stadium |
| 27.10.26 | | 20 | Esteghlal FC | Rashid Stadium |
| 31 | Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) | Al Bayt Stadium |
| 02.11.26 | | Al-Nassr FC | Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium |
| Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | Za'abeel Stadium |
| Al-Ahli Saudi FC | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium |
| FC Neftchi Fergana | Yadegar-e-Emam Stadium |
| Al-Qadsiah FC | Thani Bin Jassim Stadium |
| Al-Ain FC | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| 03.11.26 | | Al-Shamal SC | Azadi Stadium |
| Shabab Al Ahli Club | Kingdom Arena |
| 23.11.26 | | Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) | Istiqlol Stadion |
| Al Wasl FC | Yadegar-e-Emam Stadium |
| Esteghlal FC | Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium |
| Al-Ahli Saudi FC | Al Bayt Stadium |
| Pakhtakor Tashkent FK | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| Al-Gharafa SC | Al-Shaab Stadium |
| 24.11.26 | | Al-Qadsiah FC | Rashid Stadium |
| Al-Sadd SC | Al Awal Park at King Saud University |
| 07.12.26 | | Tractor Sazi Tabriz FC | Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium |
| Al-Ittihad FC | Za'abeel Stadium |
| Al-Shamal SC | Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium |
| Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium |
| Al-Ain FC | Kingdom Arena |
| FC Neftchi Fergana | Azadi Stadium |
| 08.12.26 | | Al-Nassr FC | Thani Bin Jassim Stadium |
| Shabab Al Ahli Club | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| 08.02.27 | | Esteghlal FC | Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium |
| Al-Sadd SC | Yadegar-e-Emam Stadium |
| Al-Qadsiah FC | Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium |
| Al-Gharafa SC | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| Al-Shamal SC | Al Awal Park at King Saud University |
| Shabab Al Ahli Club | Al-Shaab Stadium |
| 09.02.27 | | Al-Ahli Saudi FC | Istiqlol Stadion |
| Al-Hilal FC (Riyadh) | Za'abeel Stadium |
| 15.02.27 | | Al Wasl FC | Azadi Stadium |
| Al-Nassr FC | Rashid Stadium |
| Al-Ittihad FC | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium |
| Tractor Sazi Tabriz FC | Thani Bin Jassim Stadium |
| Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | Al Bayt Stadium |
| Al-Ain FC | Al Inma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City |
| Pakhtakor Tashkent FK | Kingdom Arena |
| FC Neftchi Fergana | Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium |
Preliminary Round 1
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
Tue - 11 Aug 2026
 | 02 | Công An Hà Nội (VIE1) | Coopers Stadium |
 | 01 | Gamba Osaka (JPN1) | Gangneung Stadium | |||
| AET | ||||||
| 30 | Al-Hussein SC (JOR1) | Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium |
 | 14 | Al-Ittihad FC (KSA1) | Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium |