Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed the participating clubs for the 2025/26 seasons of its three men's competitions, unveiling a robust line-up that underscores the confederation's commitment to enhancing the standard of Asian football.
According to Emirates News Agency, the line-ups for the AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite), AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two), and AFC Challenge League (ACGL) have been finalized based on the AFC Club Competitions 2025/26 slot allocations and licensed club lists. A total of 85 teams from 37 Member Associations (MAs) are set to partake in continental action, reflecting a significant scale of participation across these prestigious tournaments.
The Preliminary Stage will be conducted on 12th-13th August 2025, with the ACL Elite League Stage and ACL Two Group Stage draws scheduled for 15th August. The ACGL Group Stage draw will follow on 28th August. Asia's premier men's club tournament will feature 13 teams from six MAs in the West and East regions. Each region will see 11 clubs entering the League Stage, starting on 15th September, and two clubs gaining indirect slots for the Preliminary Stage.
The ACL Two will host the largest number of participants in AFC's club competitions. The 2025/26 edition will include 29 teams-14 from the West and 15 from the East, including those eliminated from each region's ACL Elite Preliminary Stage-entering the Group Stage. Six additional teams will compete for indirect slots in the Preliminary Stage.
Winners of each Preliminary Stage match will advance to the Group Stage, featuring 16 teams per region and commencing on 16th September. The three losing teams will join the ACGL 2025/26 Group Stage.
A 26-team lineup is set for the ACGL 2025/26, with five entries from the West and three from the East in the Group Stage beginning on 25th October. An additional 10 indirect entries will join the Preliminary Stage from the West, with eight clubs participating from the East. Further match details will be finalized once all club entries are confirmed.