2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite

2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite

The 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite) will be the 45th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the third under the AFC Champions League Elite title.

The quarter-finals onwards (referred to as the 'AFC Champions League Elite Finals') will be played as single-match knockout ties from 23 April to 1 May 2026. Saudi Arabia have provisionally been awarded the hosting rights for Finals until 2029. The AFC will confirm hosting arrangements after assessing Saudi Arabia's performance as host following the conclusion of the 2026 Finals. The tournament winner will qualify for the 2027 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. Additionally, the winner will enter the league stage of the 2027–28 AFC Champions League Elite, if they have not already qualified through their domestic performance.

Association team allocation

2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite

The associations are allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking which was published after the 2024–25 competitions were completed.

Participation for 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite
	Participating
	Not participating

Teams

2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite

<table><thead><tr><th>Entry round</th><th>West Region</th><th>East Region</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>League stage</td><td>Team</td><td>Qualifying method</td><td>App. (last)</td><td>Team</td><td>Qualifying method</td><td>App. (last)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Saudi Pro League champions</td><td></td><td>Kashima Antlers</td><td>2025 J1 League champions</td><td>11th (2020)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Saudi Pro League runners-up</td><td></td><td></td><td>J1 100 Year Vision League champions</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Saudi Pro League third place</td><td></td><td>Kashiwa Reysol</td><td>2025 J1 League runners-up</td><td>5th (2018)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 UAE Pro League champions</td><td></td><td>Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors</td><td>2025 K League 1 champions</td><td>17th (2023–24)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 UAE Pro League runners-up</td><td></td><td>Daejeon Hana Citizen</td><td>2025 K League 1 runners-up</td><td>2nd (2002–03)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Qatar Stars League champions</td><td></td><td></td><td>2025–26 Thai League 1 champions</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2026 Amir of Qatar Cup winners</td><td></td><td></td><td>2025–26 Thai League 1 runners-up</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Persian Gulf Pro League champions</td><td></td><td>Shanghai Port</td><td>2025 Chinese Super League champions</td><td>10th (2025–26)</td></tr><tr><td>Neftchi</td><td>2025 Uzbekistan Super League champions</td><td>6th (2012)</td><td></td><td>2025–26 A-League Men regular season champions</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Iraq Stars League champions</td><td></td><td>Johor Darul Ta'zim</td><td>2025–26 Malaysia Super League champions and 2025 Malaysia FA Cup winners</td><td>12th (2025–26)</td></tr><tr><td>Preliminary stage</td><td></td><td>2025–26 UAE President's Cup winners</td><td></td><td>Pohang Steelers</td><td>2025 K League 1 fourth place</td><td>11th (2024–25)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Qatar Stars League runners-up</td><td></td><td></td><td>2025–26 Thai FA Cup winners</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Persian Gulf Pro League runners-up</td><td></td><td>Beijing Guoan</td><td>2025 Chinese FA Cup winners</td><td>11th (2021)</td></tr></tbody></table>

The following teams will also qualify to the West or East region unless they have already qualified via their domestic performance.

Entry round	Team	Qualifying method	App. (last)
League stage		2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite champions
Preliminary stage		2025–26 AFC Champions League Two champions