The 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite) was the 44th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the second under the AFC Champions League Elite title.
The round of 16 for the West region and the quarter-finals onwards were played as single-match knockout ties in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium) from 13 to 25 April. The tournament winner qualified for the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. Additionally, the winner entered the league stage of the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite, if not already qualified through their domestic performance.
Al-Ahli were the defending champions, having won their first title in the 2024–25 season. They successfully defended their title following a 1–0 victory after extra time against Machida Zelvia in the final.
Association team allocation The associations were allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking, which was published after the 2023–24 competitions were completed. Slots were subject to later re-balancing based on the 2024–25 competition results.
Participation for 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite Participating Not participating
+West Region (12 teams)RankMemberassociationPointsSlotsLeaguestagePlay-off 1 1103.1480 2 474.8730 3 570.33021 4 668.64011 5 947.25910 61037.11810TotalParticipating associations: 611213
+East Region (12 teams)RankMemberassociationPointsSlotsLeaguestagePlay-off 1 296.99930 2 393.60030 3 757.76421 4 849.54611 51134.70310 61231.33110TotalParticipating 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-Ahli2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite winners15th Vissel Kobe2024 J1 League champions and 2024 Emperor's Cup winners4th Al-Ittihad2024–25 Saudi Pro League champions and 2024–25 King's Cup winners13th Sanfrecce Hiroshima2024 J1 League runners-up6th Al-Hilal2024–25 Saudi Pro League runners-up21st Machida Zelvia2024 J1 League third place1st Shabab Al Ahli2024–25 UAE Pro League champions and 2024–25 UAE President's Cup winners13th Ulsan HD2024 K League 1 champions13th Sharjah2024–25 UAE Pro League runners-up2024–25 AFC Champions League Two title holder7th Gangwon FC2024 K League 1 runners-up1st Al Wahda2024–25 UAE Pro League third place13th FC Seoul2024 K League 1 fourth place9th Al Sadd2024–25 Qatar Stars League champions20th Shanghai Port2024 Chinese Super League champions and 2024 Chinese FA Cup winners9th Al-Gharafa2025 Emir of Qatar Cup winners14th Shanghai Shenhua2024 Chinese Super League runners-up11th Tractor2024–25 Persian Gulf Pro League champions7th Buriram United2024–25 Thai League 1 champions2024–25 Thai FA Cup champions13th Nasaf2024 Uzbekistan Super League champions9th Melbourne City2024–25 A-League Men regular season runners-up3rd Al-Shorta2024–25 Iraq Stars League champions7th Johor Darul Ta'zim2024–25 Malaysia Super League champions11th Qualifying play-off participants Al-Duhail2024–25 Qatar Stars League runners-up12th Chengdu Rongcheng2024 Chinese Super League third place1st Sepahan2024–25 Persian Gulf Pro League runners-up16th Bangkok United2024–25 Thai League 1 runners-up6th Notes.
Schedule The quarter-finals for the West region were postponed due to the impacts from the 2026 Iran War.
The schedule of the competition was as follows.
+Schedule for 2025–26 AFC Champions League EliteStageRoundDraw dateWest regionEast regionPreliminary stagePreliminary roundNo draw12 August 2025League stageMatchday 1 15 August 202515–16 September 202516–17 September 2025Matchday 229–30 September 202530 September–1 October 2025Matchday 320–21 October 202521–22 October 2025Matchday 43–4 November 20254–5 November 2025Matchday 524–25 November 202525–26 November 2025Matchday 622–23 December 20259–10 December 2025Matchday 79–10 February 202610–11 February 2026Matchday 816–17 February 202617–18 February 2026Round of 16No draw13–14 April 20263–11 March 2026FinalsQuarter-finals 18 March 202616–18 April 2026Semi-finals20–21 April 2026Final25 April 2026 at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah
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 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two.
West Region
East Region
League stage
The league phase draw took place on 15 August 2025 (at ), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
West Region
East Region
Knockout stage
Bracket
Round of 16
Finals The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, all as single-legged ties, are being held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between 16 and 25 April 2026.
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Top scorers
RankPlayerTeamTotal1 Rafa Mújica Al Sadd3111282 Adil Boulbina Al-Duhail11316 Houssem Aouar Al-Ittihad2314 Karim Benzema Al-Ittihad / 1214 Al Hilal1111 Marcos Leonardo Al Hilal121 Enzo Millot Al-Ahli211 Riyad Mahrez Al-Ahli1111 Roberto Firmino Al Sadd1111 Krzysztof Piątek Al-Duhail1111 Breno Cascardo Shabab Al Ahli112 Felipe121 Yoshinori Muto Vissel Kobe1111 Yuki Soma Machida Zelvia121
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 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two 2025–26 AFC Challenge League 2025–26 AFC Women's Champions League
Notes
References
External links AFC Champions League Elite – 2025–26 Competition Regulations AFC Calendar 2025–26 (Updated on 4 Aug 2025) (Archive1)