The 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite) was the 43rd edition of Asia's premier club football tournament, organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the first since it was rebranded as the AFC Champions League Elite. The revamped format, along with the rebranding, saw 24 teams playing eight games against different opponents in the brand new league phase.
The finals was played in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from 25 April to 3 May 2025. The tournament winner, Al-Ahli, qualified for the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. Additionally, they entered the league stage of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite, as they had not qualified through domestic performance.
Al-Ain were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the league stage.
Association team allocation The associations were allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking which was published after the 2022 competitions were completed.
Participation for 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite Participating Not participating
+West Region (12 teams)RankMemberassociationPointsSlotsLeaguestagePlay-off 1 193.79530 2 475.95021 3 572.01821 4 664.1291 5 945.00610 61036.90110TotalParticipating associations: 611314
+East Region (12 teams)RankMemberassociationPointsSlotsLeaguestagePlay-off 1 291.82130 2 388.92530 3 757.63021 4 849.47011 51133.38010 61329.95110TotalParticipating associations: 611213
Teams In the following table, the number of appearances and last appearance count since the 2002–03 season, when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League. Entry roundWest RegionEast RegionLeague stageTeamQualifying method TeamQualifying method Al-Ain2023–24 AFC Champions League winners18th Vissel Kobe2023 J1 League champions3rd Al-Hilal2023–24 Saudi Pro League champions2023–24 King's Cup winners20th Kawasaki Frontale2023 Emperor's Cup winners11th Al-Nassr2023–24 Saudi Pro League runners-up8th Yokohama F. Marinos2023 J1 League runners-up7th Al-Ahli2023–24 Saudi Pro League third place14th Ulsan HD2023 K League 1 champions12th Al-Sadd2023–24 Qatar Stars League champions2024 Emir of Qatar Cup winners19th Pohang Steelers2023 Korean FA Cup winners10th Al-Rayyan2023–24 Qatar Stars League runners-up13th Gwangju FC2023 K League 1 third place1st Persepolis2023–24 Persian Gulf Pro League champions12th Shanghai Port2023 Chinese Super League champions8th Esteghlal2023–24 Persian Gulf Pro League runners-up12th Shanghai Shenhua2023 Chinese FA Cup winners10th Al-Wasl2023–24 UAE Pro League champions 2023–24 UAE President's Cup winners4th Buriram United2023–24 Thai League 1 champions12th Pakhtakor2023 Uzbekistan Super League champions20th Central Coast Mariners2023–24 A-League Men regular season premiers2023–24 AFC Cup winners6th Al-Shorta2023–24 Iraq Stars League champions6th Johor Darul Ta'zim2023 Malaysia Super League champions 10th Play-off round Al-Gharafa2023–24 Qatar Stars League third place13th Shandong Taishan2023 Chinese Super League runners-up12th Bangkok United2023–24 Thai FA Cup winners 5th Preliminary round Sepahan2023–24 Hazfi Cup winners15th Shabab Al-Ahli2023–24 UAE Pro League runners-up12th Notes
Schedule The schedule of the competition was as follows. All matches were played on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, apart from the quarter-finals and final. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final were played at a centralised venue in Jeddah.
StageRoundDraw dateWest regionEast regionPreliminary stagePreliminary round 1No draw6 August 2024Preliminary round 213 August 2024League stageMatchday 116 August 202416–17 September 202417–18 September 2024Matchday 230 September–1 October 20241–2 October 2024Matchday 321–22 October 202422–23 October 2024Matchday 44–5 November 20245–6 November 2024Matchday 525–26 November 202426–27 November 2024Matchday 62–3 December 20243–4 December 2024Matchday 73–4 February 202511–12 February 2025Matchday 817–18 February 202518–19 February 2025Round of 16No draw3–4 and 10–11 March 20254–5 and 11–12 March 2025FinalsQuarter-finals 17 March 202525–27 April 2025Semi-finals29–30 April 2025Final3 May 2025 at King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
Notes
Qualifying play-offs
The two winners of the play-off round (one from West Region and one from East Region) advanced to the league stage to join the 22 direct entrants. The losers of the qualifying play-offs entered the group stage of the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two. Preliminary round
Play-off round
League stage
West Region Table
Results
East Region Table
Results
Knockout stage
Bracket
Round of 16 A total of 16 teams qualified for the knockout stage, with eight teams in each region.
Finals The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, all as single-legged ties, were held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from 25 April to 3 May 2025. Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Top scorers
RankPlayerTeamTotal1 Salem Al-Dawsari Al-Hilal 1321111102 Riyad Mahrez Al-Ahli12111219 Jasir Asani Gwangju FC 312124 Cristiano Ronaldo Al-Nassr1122118 Anderson Lopes Yokohama F. Marinos1211126 Aleksandar Mitrović Al-Hilal13116 Roberto Firmino Al-Ahli2111 Ivan Toney Al-Ahli22119 Akram Afif Al-Sadd111115 Arif Aiman Johor Darul Ta'zim2111 Matías Vargas Shanghai Port113 Note Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs and matches voided by AFC are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4)
See also 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two 2024–25 AFC Challenge League 2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League 2025 AFC eChampions League Elite (esports)
References
External links , the-AFC.com
AFC Champions League Elite -- 2024-25 Competition Regulations (Archive1, , Archive3)
AFC Club Competitions -- Entry Regulations (Archived1, , Archive3)
AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2025 Match Schedule (Archive1, , Archive3)
List of Licensed Clubs -- AFC Club Competitions - 2024-25 (Archived1, , Archive3)
AFC Equipment Regulations (Edition 2023) (Archived) Commercial Delivery Guidelines 2024-2025 (ACL Elite, ACL Two, AWCL) (Archived)