The AFC club competitions ranking is a ranking system launched by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2014. It was initially launched by the AFC to provide an informative ranking, rather than to determine the number of places each country would be allocated in its club competitions.
In 2024, the AFC announced changes in the format for ranking the three revamped Club competitions – AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE), AFC Champions League Two (ACL2), AFC Challenge League (ACGL) – which would come into effect from the 2024–25 season. Using a weighted formula, the current structure takes into account the results of clubs from each member association from the past eight seasons.
Following the conclusion of the inaugural AFC Women's Champions League, the AFC introduced a ranking system for women's club competitions. This ranking system takes into account the results of clubs from each member association (70%), and each member associations FIFA Women's World Ranking (30%). This system came into effect from the 2025–26 season.
Men's ranking The men's club competitions ranking (former member association ranking, or MA ranking) is used to rank associations and determine the total number of clubs from each association that will participate in the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE), AFC Champions League Two (ACL2), and AFC Challenge League (ACGL). The ranking is provisional, as all teams participating in AFC club competition must pass club licensing requirements and be confirmed by the AFC prior to entry. If clubs are unable to meet said requirements, their spot will be redistributed to another club in their member association. If no clubs from a member association are able to meet the necessary licensing requirements, the AFC may redistribute the qualification position to another member association or adjust the structure of its competition to reflect the total number of teams participating.
Due to the 2020 AFC Cup being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia and Australia, the AFC announced that all points from the 2020 AFC Champions League and AFC Cup would be excluded from all ranking calculations. The AFC later reaffirmed this decision in 2022, when the ranking system was adjusted to take into account the results of the previous eight seasons.
Calculation principle From the 2024–25 season onwards, clubs are awarded points based on their performance and bonus points. Performance points are awarded based on the results of each club in AFC club competitions. In the AFC Champions League Elite, three points are awarded for each win by a club, and one for a draw (in the qualifying rounds teams receive 0.3 points for a win and 0.15 points for a draw). Clubs participating in the Champions League Two and Challenge League will be awarded two-thirds and one-third of the ACLE points respectively. As is the case in the UEFA men's association coefficient, results determined by extra time do count in determining the allocation of points, but results determined by penalty shootouts do not affect the allocation of points, other than for bonus points given for qualification into the latter rounds.
Bonus points are awarded to clubs based on their qualification into later rounds of the competition. Clubs can receive a maximum of 10.5 bonus points in the ACLE, 7 in the ACL2, and 5 in the ACGL. Clubs eliminated in the qualifying rounds of the ACGL are awarded 0.5 participation points.
At the end of each season, the total number of points awarded to each member association is based on the average performance of all clubs participating in AFC Club competitions. Performance pointsScoreACLEACL2ACGLWins in qualifying rounds0.30.20.15Draws in qualifying rounds0.150.10.075Wins in Group stage/League phase onwards321.5Draws in Group stage/League phase onwards10.6660.5Bonus pointsScore ACLE ACL2 ACGL Group stage/League phase participation 3 2 1.5 Elimination in qualifying rounds –– 0.5 Round of 16 participation 3 2–Quarter-finals participation1.511.5 Semi-finals and Final participation 1.5 10.75 New Performance points for West Region for 2025–26 season Performance pointsScoreACLEACL2ACGLWins in Group stage/League phase onwards321.5Draws in Group stage/League phase onwards10.6660.5
Current rankings 2026–27 season The ranking below takes into account of each association's performance in Asian competitions over the past eight seasons, with the 2026–27 season underway. The final ranking at the end of the 2026–27 season will be used to determine the slot allocation for the 2028–29 AFC club competitions.
As of 17 September 2026, the ranking is as follows:
Ranking Member association Club points Total Activeteams 2018201920212022ACLEACL2ACGLTotalWest RegionW111 — Saudi Arabia 10.00026.35020.95019.07527.10034.54231.1004.578114.6326/63+21+006W244 — United Arab Emirates 8.1007.63314.4008.08325.50016.40019.5504.33370.4315/53+11+005W355 — Iran 18.85011.50014.22513.2509.30013.27416.1023.88960.8283/33+01+004W466 — Qatar 19.85015.9007.30013.5008.10014.70115.8963.50059.3024/42+01+003W5910 +1 Uzbekistan 9.4009.0008.96010.05711.25010.3336.7604.52247.2513/31+11+00W61212 — Jordan 7.6337.9674.8936.0005.41512.00012.5552.33338.5462/21+01+002W71313 — Iraq 8.6338.3003.2507.4507.4738.50011.0863.50037.5132/20+11+00W81617 +1 Oman 1.5831.4330.0006.7959.7809.0006.7222.33327.5442/201+10W91716 –1 Bahrain 1.6332.5005.5105.2157.0207.5837.2072.33327.1742/2W102018 –2 Kuwait 0.0003.4337.0704.1603.1658.0759.5721.76726.4623/3W112121 — Turkmenistan 7.5835.2673.1252.6403.4637.4506.4942.95024.7072/200+11+0W122324 +1 Kyrgyzstan 0.1502.4330.8350.56511.8304.6006.1581.05020.3280/2W132425 +1 Lebanon 3.9336.9332.6701.5254.8404.5005.8061.50019.9172/2001+01W142526 +1 India 4.4173.2173.6774.7973.4536.5001.3382.18318.3332/2 0 0 0+1W152623 –3 Tajikistan 4.4333.0004.9702.4932.2303.2765.7741.60017.4892/2W162728 +1 Bangladesh 1.4336.9332.7903.7604.7301.5002.4332.10015.655 1/2W173131 — Syria 2.0003.1331.7852.8901.4002.5001.0001.65010.010 2/2W183335 +2 Bhutan 0.1500.1000.1000.1000.1003.6002.5441.6007.035 1/1W193534 –1 Maldives 4.3000.0000.2002.0302.6401.5000.5000.5006.606 0/1W203636 — Palestine 0.1502.9670.8350.6100.1002.5000.0000.0004.085 0W214040 — Afghanistan 0.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.5000.5000.5001.350 0/1W224139 –2 Nepal 0.0000.6670.2000.1000.2000.5000.0000.0000.9670W234342 –1 Sri Lanka 0.0000.3500.1000.2000.0000.0000.0000.0000.301 0W244443 –1 Yemen 0.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.000 0W244443 –1 Pakistan 0.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000East RegionE122 — Japan 13.85021.80017.87520.08821.35027.97030.3754.817103.3416/63+21+006E233 — South Korea 18.35013.60022.75015.80022.35014.76214.3334.08376.2375/53+11+005E377 — Thailand 16.2005.0508.50011.1108.56714.87516.2083.16753.4474/43+01+004E489 +1 Australia 7.3002.6000.0007.90010.59312.79617.6673.22244.7443/3 2+0 1+0 03E51011 +1 Malaysia 3.6334.4504.0009.6776.21315.51112.0833.00041.3092/21+11+00E6118 –3 China 16.20017.3500.8000.50011.90010.2507.3835.33341.0083/3 1+0 1+0 02E71415 +1 Vietnam 3.26710.7526.0005.3005.40011.3338.6673.11335.2412/2 0+1 1+0 0E81514 –1 Singapore 5.6174.1330.0003.2533.64014.83314.5002.33334.0082/201+10E91819 +1 Cambodia 2.2501.0000.0002.0705.62011.00010.1003.00027.1412/2E101920 +1 Indonesia 4.1005.0450.0003.9603.5607.20411.0332.95026.7592/2E112222 — Hong Kong 3.3003.6507.3336.5874.9003.3334.3332.33322.3982/200+10+1E122827 –1 Philippines 5.8434.7822.6000.3000.6003.6675.8751.50015.2872/2E132929 — Chinese Taipei 0.0000.3332.0000.0005.1456.0503.6001.65014.465 2/2000+11E143030 — Myanmar 4.0621.6000.0000.0001.6407.1502.0501.60012.1722/2E153232 — Mongolia 0.1000.1000.0000.1005.0802.2003.6001.0509.736 0/2E163433 –1 North Korea 7.43311.0670.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0006.6570E173737 — Laos 0.1500.3330.0000.0000.1001.6501.5500.5003.463 0/1E183838 — Macau 4.0000.0000.0000.0001.3700.0000.0000.0002.1590E193941 +2 Brunei 0.0000.0000.0000.0000.1000.0000.5001.6002.120 1/1E204243 +1 East Timor 0.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.5000.5000/1E214443 –1 Guam 0.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.000 0E214443 –1 Not an AFC member0.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000
2025–26 season The final ranking at the end of the 2025–26 season will be used to determine the slot allocation for the 2027–28 AFC club competitions.
Ranking Member association Club points Total 20172018201920212022ACLEACL2ACGLTotalWest RegionW11 Saudi Arabia 18.60010.00026.35020.95019.07527.10034.54231.100132.5453+21+006W24 United Arab Emirates 11.3508.1007.63314.4008.08325.50016.40019.55079.4703+11+005W35 Iran 16.20018.85011.50014.22513.2509.30013.27416.10271.4493+01+004W46 Qatar 13.40019.85015.9007.30013.5008.10014.70115.89669.3472+01+003W510 Uzbekistan 5.0509.4009.0008.96010.05711.25010.3336.76047.2511+11+00W612 Jordan 4.9007.6337.9674.8936.0005.41512.00012.55543.3301+01+002W713 Iraq 8.9338.6338.3003.2507.4507.4738.50011.08642.1630+11+00W816 Bahrain 3.4671.6332.5005.5105.2157.0207.5837.20729.54801+10W917 Oman 2.2001.5831.4330.0006.7959.7809.0006.72229.412W1018 Kuwait 0.0000.0003.4337.0704.1603.1658.0759.57228.242W1121 Turkmenistan 4.4837.5835.2673.1252.6403.4637.4506.49426.70400+11+0W1223 Tajikistan 12.9004.4333.0004.9702.4932.2303.2765.77422.377W1324 Kyrgyzstan 1.4000.1502.4330.8350.56511.8304.6006.15822.355001+01W1425 Lebanon 0.8333.9336.9332.6701.5254.8404.5005.80621.687 0 0 0+1W1526 India 6.2504.4173.2173.6774.7973.4536.5001.33820.765W1628 Bangladesh 1.3331.4336.9332.7903.7604.7301.5002.43316.313W1731 Syria 5.9332.0003.1331.7852.8901.4002.5001.00011.610W1834 Maldives 4.3004.3000.0000.2002.0302.6401.5000.5008.513W1935 Bhutan 0.1500.1500.1000.1000.1000.1003.6002.5446.149W2036 Palestine 0.2000.1502.9670.8350.6100.1002.5000.0004.862W2139 Nepal 0.0000.0000.6670.2000.1000.2000.5000.0001.134W2240 Afghanistan 0.1500.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.5000.5000.995W2342 Sri Lanka 0.1000.0000.3500.1000.2000.0000.0000.0000.405W2443 Yemen 0.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.000W2443 Pakistan 0.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.000East RegionE12 Japan 21.85013.85021.80017.87520.08821.35027.97030.375120.4103+21+006E23 South Korea 9.95018.35013.60022.75015.80022.35014.76214.33387.3343+11+005E37 Thailand 15.05016.2005.0508.50011.1108.56714.87516.20862.8463+01+004E48 China 24.56716.20017.3500.8000.50011.90010.2507.38349.483 2+0 1+0 03E59 Australia 5.9007.3002.6000.0007.90010.59312.79617.66749.1781+11+00E611 Malaysia 4.3953.6334.4504.0009.6776.21315.51112.08345.1841+01+002E714 Singapore 5.1385.6174.1330.0003.2533.64014.83314.50038.8940+11+00E815 Vietnam 2.8003.26710.7526.0005.3005.40011.3338.66738.02001+10E919 Cambodia 1.6832.2501.0000.0002.0705.62011.00010.10027.850E1020 Indonesia 0.000 4.1005.0450.0003.9603.5607.20411.03327.299E1122 Hong Kong 1.7503.3003.6507.3336.5874.9003.3334.33323.93300+10+1E1227 Philippines 8.1205.8434.7822.6000.3000.6003.6675.87518.590E1329 Chinese Taipei 0.0000.0000.3332.0000.0005.1456.0503.60014.528000+11E1430 Myanmar 1.3004.0621.6000.0000.0001.6407.1502.05012.612E1532 Mongolia 0.0000.1000.1000.0000.1005.0802.2003.6009.804E1633 North Korea 3.4337.43311.0670.0000.0000.0000.0000.0009.537E1737 Laos 0.1500.1500.3330.0000.0000.1001.6501.5503.387E1838 Macau 0.0004.0000.0000.0000.0001.3700.0000.0002.696E1941 Brunei 0.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.1000.0000.5000.600E2043 East Timor 0.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.000E2043 Guam 0.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.000E2043 Not an AFC member0.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.000
Slot allocation The following shows the slot allocation for the 2026–27 AFC club competitions.