emirates7 - The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially announced the list of clubs set to compete in its three men’s tournaments for the 2025/26 season.
The participating teams for the AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite), AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two), and AFC Challenge League (ACGL) were selected based on the finalized slot allocations and licensed clubs for the upcoming season.
In total, 85 clubs from 37 Member Associations (MAs) will take part in the competitions, including those involved in the Preliminary Stage. This broad participation reflects the AFC’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-level tournaments and raising the standard of football across Asia.
Preliminary Stage matches will be played on 12th and 13th August 2025. The draw for the ACL Elite League Stage and the ACL Two Group Stage is scheduled for 15th August, followed by the ACGL Group Stage draw on 28th August.
The top-tier ACL Elite will host 13 teams from six MAs in both the West and East regions. Each region will contribute 11 teams directly to the League Stage—set to begin on 15th September—and two more clubs through the Preliminary Stage.
ACL Two will feature the most teams among the three competitions. For 2025/26, 29 teams will go directly into the Group Stage—14 from the West and 15 from the East (including those that exit the ACL Elite Preliminary Stage). An additional six clubs will compete for Group Stage spots through the Preliminary Stage.
Winners of these Preliminary ties will join the Group Stage—16 teams per region—kicking off on 16th September. The three losing teams will transition to the ACGL Group Stage.
The 2025/26 ACGL will include 26 teams, with five clubs from the West and three from the East already set for the Group Stage beginning 25th October.
Meanwhile, 10 more West Region teams and eight from the East will compete in the ACGL Preliminary Stage, with match details to be confirmed once all entries are finalized.
The participating teams for the AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite), AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two), and AFC Challenge League (ACGL) were selected based on the finalized slot allocations and licensed clubs for the upcoming season.
In total, 85 clubs from 37 Member Associations (MAs) will take part in the competitions, including those involved in the Preliminary Stage. This broad participation reflects the AFC’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-level tournaments and raising the standard of football across Asia.
Preliminary Stage matches will be played on 12th and 13th August 2025. The draw for the ACL Elite League Stage and the ACL Two Group Stage is scheduled for 15th August, followed by the ACGL Group Stage draw on 28th August.
The top-tier ACL Elite will host 13 teams from six MAs in both the West and East regions. Each region will contribute 11 teams directly to the League Stage—set to begin on 15th September—and two more clubs through the Preliminary Stage.
ACL Two will feature the most teams among the three competitions. For 2025/26, 29 teams will go directly into the Group Stage—14 from the West and 15 from the East (including those that exit the ACL Elite Preliminary Stage). An additional six clubs will compete for Group Stage spots through the Preliminary Stage.
Winners of these Preliminary ties will join the Group Stage—16 teams per region—kicking off on 16th September. The three losing teams will transition to the ACGL Group Stage.
The 2025/26 ACGL will include 26 teams, with five clubs from the West and three from the East already set for the Group Stage beginning 25th October.
Meanwhile, 10 more West Region teams and eight from the East will compete in the ACGL Preliminary Stage, with match details to be confirmed once all entries are finalized.