Australian soccer clubs have entered Asian and Oceania competitions (AFC Champions League, OFC Champions League and the now defunct Oceania Cup Winners' Cup) since 1987 where Adelaide City entered the competition as the Australian representative. Since 2007, Australian clubs have participated in this league. For their first five competitions, the A-League was given two spots in the league- one for the champions (grand final winners) and one for the premiers (regular season winners- or the losing grand finalist if the champions and premiers were the same team). For the 2012 competition, another half a spot was added, with the highest placed team on the A-League table which has not already qualified for the AFC Champions League entering a playoff to enter the competition.
The Western Sydney Wanderers are the only Australian side to win the competition, while Adelaide United are the only Australian side to have made the final and lost.
For the 2013 competition the AFC reduced the number of A-League qualification spots to 1.5. The Premiers (regular season winners) directly qualified for the Asian Champions League. The Champions (winners of grand final) entered a play off to qualify for the competition. The AFC ruled that the A-League did not meet the criteria for full participation in the tournament, including the lack of promotion and relegation within a tiered league system was a major reason, and that the A-league was not run as a separate entity to the FFA.
From the 2014 AFC Champions League until the 2016 edition, the allocation of two spots in the group stage and one qualifying play-off spot returned and in 2017, the qualifying play-off spot dropped back to a place in the preliminary round 2.
From the 2023–24 AFC Champions League season, Australian clubs will be allocated one spot in the group stage, and two spots in the 2023–24 AFC Cup group stage.
Australian soccer clubs have entered Asian and Oceania competitions (AFC Champions League, OFC Champions League and the now defunct Oceania Cup Winners' Cup). Australian clubs have also taken part in the FIFA Club World Cup and the Pan-Pacific Championship which however, were not won by any Australian club.
Who qualifies for AFC competitions
CompetitionWho qualifiesAFC Champions League group stageA-League Men PremiersAFC Cup group stageA-League Men 2nd placeAustralia Cup winners
From 2023–24 onwards CompetitionWho qualifiesAFC Champions League Elite group stageA-League Men PremiersAFC Champions League Two group stageAustralia Cup winners
Winners of Asian, Oceania and worldwide competitions from Australia Team Number of Wins Year(s) Adelaide City 1 1987 Central Coast Mariners 1 2023–24 Hakoah Sydney City East 1 1987 South Melbourne 1 1999 Sydney FC 1 2005 Western Sydney Wanderers 1 2014 Wollongong Wolves 1 2001
Asian, Oceania and world competition winners AFC Champions League AFC Cup OFC Champions League Cup Winners' Cup 2014 – Western Sydney Wanderers 2023–24 – Central Coast Mariners 2005 – Sydney FC 1987 – Hakoah Sydney City East 2001 – Wollongong Wolves 1999 – South Melbourne 1987 – Adelaide City
Full Australian record for Australian soccer clubs
AFC Champions League Elite/AFC Champions League
Australian teams have won the competition 1 time and been in the final on 2 occasions as of 1 November 2014.
Year Team Progress Score Opponents Venue(s) 1967–2006 Non-AFC member2007 Adelaide United 3rd in group stage – Gach Dong Tam Long An, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, Shandong Luneng Taishan Sydney FC 2nd in group stage – Persik Kediri, Shanghai Shenua, Urawa Red Diamonds2008 Adelaide United Final 0–5 Gamba Osaka 0–3 at Osaka Expo '70 Stadium0–2 at Hindmarsh Stadium Melbourne Victory 2nd in group stage – Chonburi, Chunnam Dragons, Gamba Osaka2009 Central Coast Mariners 4th in group stage – Kawasaki Frontale, Pohang Steelers, Tianjin Teda Newcastle Jets Round of 16 0–6 Pohang Steelers Pohang Steel Yard2010 Adelaide United Round of 16 2–3 (a.e.t.) Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Hindmarsh Stadium Melbourne Victory 4th in group stage – Beijing Guoan, Kawasaki Frontale, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma2011 Melbourne Victory 4th in group stage – Gamba Osaka, Jeju United, Tianjin Teda Sydney FC 3rd in group stage – Kashima Antlers, Shanghai Shenua, Suwon Samsung Bluewings2012 Adelaide United Quarterfinals 4–5 Bunyodkor 2–2 at Hindmarsh Stadium2–3 (a.e.t.) at JAR Stadium Brisbane Roar 3rd in group stage – Beijing Guoan, FC Tokyo, Ulsan Hyundai Central Coast Mariners 3rd in group stage – Nagoya Grampus, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, Tianjin Teda2013 Brisbane Roar Qualifying play-off 0–0 (a.e.t.) (0–3 p) Buriram United Buriram Stadium Central Coast Mariners Round of 16 1–5 Guangzhou Evergrande 1–2 at Central Coast Stadium0–3 at Tianhe Stadium2014 Central Coast Mariners 4th in group stage – Beijing Guoan, FC Seoul, Sanfrecce Hiroshima Melbourne Victory 3rd in group stage – Guangzhou Evergrande, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Yokohama F. Marinos Western Sydney Wanderers Winners 1–0 Al Hilal 1–0 at Parramatta Stadium0–0 at King Fahd International Stadium2015 Brisbane Roar 3rd in group stage – Beijing Guoan, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Urawa Red Diamonds Central Coast Mariners Qualifying play-off 1–3 Guangzhou R&F Central Coast Stadium Western Sydney Wanderers 3rd in group stage – FC Seoul, Guangzhou Evergrande, Kashima Antlers2016Adelaide United Qualifying play-off 1–2 Shandong Luneng Hindmarsh Stadium Melbourne Victory Round of 16 2–3 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1–1 at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium1–2 at Jeonju World Cup Stadium Sydney FC Round of 16 3–3 (a) Shandong Luneng 1–1 at Jinan Olympic Sports Center Stadium2–2 at Sydney Football Stadium2017Adelaide United 3rd in group stage – Gamba Osaka, Jeju United, Jiangsu SuningBrisbane Roar 4th in group stage – Kashima Antlers, Muangthong United, Ulsan HyundaiWestern Sydney Wanderers4th in group stage – FC Seoul, Shanghai SIPG, Urawa Red Diamonds2018Brisbane Roar Preliminary round 2 2–3 Ceres-Negros Queensland Sport and Athletics CentreMelbourne Victory 3rd in group stage – Kawasaki Frontale, Shanghai SIPG, Ulsan HyundaiSydney FC3rd in group stage– Kashima Antlers, Shanghai Shenua, Suwon Samsung Bluewings2019Melbourne Victory4th in group stage– Daegu, Guangzhou Evergrande, Sanfrecce HiroshimaNewcastle JetsQualifying play-off1–4 Kashima AntlersKashima Soccer StadiumSydney FC4th in group stage– Kawasaki Frontale, Shanghai SIPG, Ulsan Hyundai2020Melbourne VictoryRound of 160–3 Ulsan HyundaiEducation City StadiumPerth Glory4th in group stage– FC Tokyo, Shanghai Shenhua, Ulsan HyundaiSydney FC4th in group stage– Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Shanghai SIPG, Yokohama F. Marinos2022 Melbourne VictoryQualifying play-off3–4 (a.e.t.) Vissel KobeNoevir Stadium KobeMelbourne City2nd in group stage– BG Pathum United, Jeonnam Dragons, United CitySydney FC4th in group stage– Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Yokohama F. Marinos2023–24 Melbourne City2nd in group stage– Buriram United, Ventforet Kofu, Zhejiang2024–25 Central Coast Mariners11th in league stage– Buriram United, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Kawasaki Frontale, Shandong Taishan, Shanghai Port, Shanghai Shenhua, Vissel Kobe, Yokohama F. Marinos2025–26Melbourne City FCRound of 161–1 (a.e.t.) (2–4 p) Buriram United1–1 at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium0–0 at Buriram Stadium (a.e.t.) (2–4 p)
AFC Champions League Two/AFC Cup YearTeamProgressScoreOpponentsVenue(s)2023–24Central Coast MarinersWinners1–0 Al AhedSultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, OmanMacarthur FCZonal final2–3 (a.e.t.) Central Coast MarinersCampbelltown Sports Stadium2024–25Sydney FCSemi-finals1–2 Lion City Sailors0–2 at Jalan Besar Stadium1–0 at Sydney Football Stadium2025–26Macarthur FCRound of 162–4 Bangkok United2–0 at Pathum Thani Stadium2–2 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium
OFC Champions League Australian teams have won the competition 4 times and been in the final on 4 occasions as of 10 June 2005.
Year Team Progress Score Opponents Venue(s) 1987 Adelaide City Winners 1–1 (4–1 p) University-Mount Wellington Hindmarsh Stadium 1999 South Melbourne Winners 5–1 Nadi Prince Charles Park 2001 Wollongong Wolves Winners 1–0 Tafea Lloyd Robson Stadium 2005 Sydney FC Winners 2–0 AS Magenta Stade Pater
Oceania Cup Winners' Cup Year Team Progress Score Opponents Venue(s) 1987 Sydney City Winners 2–0 North Shore United Fuji Film Stadium
Performance summary by competition
AFC Champions League Elite/AFC Champions League GS: Group stage, LS: League stage, R16: Round of 16, QF: Quarter-Finals, SF: Semi-Finals, RU: Runners-Up, W: Winners, TeamQualified200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202223–2424–2525–2626–27Western Sydney Wanderers3 timesWGSGSAdelaide United5 timesGSRUR16QFGSMelbourne Victory8 timesGSGSGSGSR16GSGSR16Sydney FC7 timesGSGSR16GSGSGSGSCentral Coast Mariners5 timesGSGSR16GSLSNewcastle Jets2 timeR16LSBrisbane Roar3 timesGSGSGSPerth Glory1 timeGSMelbourne City3 timesGSGSR16
AFC Champions League Two/AFC Cup TeamQualified23–2424–2525–26Central Coast Mariners1 timeWMacarthur FC2 timesZFR16Sydney FC1 timeSF
FIFA Club World Cup Year Team Progress Score Opponents Venue(s)2000South Melbourne4th in group stageN/A Manchester United, Necaxa, Vasco da GamaMaracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil2005Sydney FC5th2–1 Al AhlyNational Stadium. Tokyo, Japan2008Adelaide United5th1–0 Al AhlyInternational Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan2014Western Sydney Wanderers6th2–2 (4–5 p) ES SétifStade de Marrakech. Marrakesh, Morocco
Pan-Pacific Championship Year Team Progress Score Opponents Venue(s)2008Sydney FCSemi-finals0–3 Houston DynamoAloha Stadium, Halawa, United States
See also Chinese clubs in the AFC Champions League Indian football clubs in Asian competitions Indonesian football clubs in Asian competitions Iranian clubs in the AFC Champions League Iraqi clubs in the AFC Champions League Japanese clubs in the AFC Champions League Myanmar clubs in the AFC Champions League Qatari clubs in the AFC Champions League Saudi Arabian clubs in the AFC Champions League South Korean football clubs in Asian competitions Thai clubs in the AFC Champions League Vietnamese clubs in the AFC Champions League
References
External links AFC Champions League official website AFC Champions League on RSSSF