Asian Champions League Elite to expand from 24 teams to 32 in 2026/27

The Asian Football Confederation has recommended a significant expansion of its top club competition, proposing that the AFC Champions League Elite grow from twenty‑four to thirty‑two teams starting in the 2026–27 season. Under the plan, the tournament would be split evenly between East and West, with sixteen clubs in each region to enhance competitiveness and broaden participation across the continent. The AFC also suggested revising the progression system after the league stage to increase the stakes early in the competition.

Teams finishing first through sixth in each region would advance directly to the round of sixteen, while those placed seventh to tenth would enter a newly created knockout playoff for the remaining spots. The higher‑ranked sides, seventh and eighth, would host those ties. Due to an already congested global calendar, the playoff would not debut in 2026–27 but is expected to follow in later editions. All changes await approval from the AFC Executive Committee.