98 matches played. 262 goals scored. 24 teams from 12 countries. The 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite is the 44th edition of Asia’s biggest club football tournament, running from August 12, 2025, to April 25, 2026.
Al-Hilal dominated the West Region league stage with 22 points from 8 games, while Machida Zelvia surprised everyone to top the East Region.
The West Region Round of 16 has been postponed due to the Iran conflict, but the East Region knockouts are already underway. One final. One winner. Jeddah on April 25.
AFC Champions League Elite 2026 Tournament Details
The 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite brings together 24 clubs from 12 associations across Asia. The tournament winner earns a spot in the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
Here are the key details about the tournament:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite |
| Edition | 44th edition |
| Organised by | Asian Football Confederation (AFC) |
| Teams | 24 teams from 12 associations |
| League Stage | September 15, 2025, to February 18, 2026 |
| Finals Venue | King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| Final Date | April 25, 2026 |
| Defending Champions | Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) |
The quarter-finals onwards will be played as single-match knockout ties in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Both the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium will host the final stages of the competition.
Tournament Format
The 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite uses a league stage and knockout format. The 24 teams are split into two regions, West and East, with 12 teams in each.
Here is a quick breakdown of how the tournament works:
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Regions | West Region (12 teams) and East Region (12 teams) |
| League Stage | Each team plays 8 matchdays in a single league table per region |
| Qualification | The top 8 teams from each region advance to the Round of 16 |
| Round of 16 | Two-legged ties within each region |
| Quarter-Finals Onwards | Single-match knockout ties in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| Final | April 25, 2026, at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium |
The top 8 teams from each regional league table advance to the Round of 16. From the quarter-finals onward, all remaining matches are played as single knockout games at neutral venues in Jeddah.
Participating Teams
24 clubs from 12 associations compete across the West and East Regions. Saudi Arabia leads the West with strong representation, while Japan dominates the East with three teams in the league stage.
Here are all the participating teams by region:
| West Region | East Region |
|---|---|
| Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) | Machida Zelvia (Japan) |
| Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) | Vissel Kobe (Japan) |
| Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) | Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan) |
| Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) | Ulsan HD (South Korea) |
| Sharjah (UAE) | Gangwon FC (South Korea) |
| Al Wahda (UAE) | FC Seoul (South Korea) |
| Al Sadd (Qatar) | Shanghai Port (China) |
| Al-Gharafa (Qatar) | Shanghai Shenhua (China) |
| Al-Duhail (Qatar) | Buriram United (Thailand) |
| Tractor (Iran) | Melbourne City (Australia) |
| Nasaf (Uzbekistan) | Johor Darul Ta’zim (Malaysia) |
| Al-Shorta (Iraq) | Chengdu Rongcheng (China) |
Saudi Arabia has three teams in the West Region, and Al-Hilal has been the standout performer, finishing top of the table with 22 points and conceding only 6 goals across 8 league matches.
Full Match Schedule
The 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite runs from August 12, 2025, to April 25, 2026. Here is the complete match schedule covering every stage from the qualifying play-offs all the way through to the final in Jeddah.
| Date | Stage | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 2025 | Qualifying Play-Off (West) | Al-Duhail | 3-2 | Sepahan |
| 12 Aug 2025 | Qualifying Play-Off (East) | Chengdu Rongcheng | 3-0 | Bangkok United |
| 15-16 Sep 2025 | Matchday 1 (West) | Sharjah | 4-3 | Al-Gharafa |
| 15-16 Sep 2025 | Matchday 1 (West) | Al Wahda | 2-1 | Al-Ittihad |
| 15-16 Sep 2025 | Matchday 1 (West) | Al-Ahli | 4-2 | Nasaf |
| 15-16 Sep 2025 | Matchday 1 (West) | Al-Shorta | 1-1 | Al Sadd |
| 15-16 Sep 2025 | Matchday 1 (West) | Shabab Al Ahli | 1-1 | Tractor |
| 15-16 Sep 2025 | Matchday 1 (West) | Al-Hilal | 2-1 | Al-Duhail |
| 16-17 Sep 2025 | Matchday 1 (East) | Melbourne City | 0-2 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| 16-17 Sep 2025 | Matchday 1 (East) | Gangwon FC | 2-1 | Shanghai Shenhua |
| 16-17 Sep 2025 | Matchday 1 (East) | Machida Zelvia | 1-1 | FC Seoul |
| 16-17 Sep 2025 | Matchday 1 (East) | Buriram United | 2-1 | Johor Darul Ta’zim |
| 16-17 Sep 2025 | Matchday 1 (East) | Ulsan HD | 2-1 | Chengdu Rongcheng |
| 16-17 Sep 2025 | Matchday 1 (East) | Shanghai Port | 0-3 | Vissel Kobe |
| 29-30 Sep 2025 | Matchday 2 (West) | Nasaf | 2-3 | Al-Hilal |
| 29-30 Sep 2025 | Matchday 2 (West) | Al-Gharafa | 2-0 | Al-Shorta |
| 29-30 Sep 2025 | Matchday 2 (West) | Tractor | 0-0 | Al Wahda |
| 29-30 Sep 2025 | Matchday 2 (West) | Al-Duhail | 2-2 | Al-Ahli |
| 29-30 Sep 2025 | Matchday 2 (West) | Al Sadd | 1-1 | Sharjah |
| 29-30 Sep 2025 | Matchday 2 (West) | Al-Ittihad | 0-1 | Shabab Al Ahli |
| 30 Sep – 1 Oct 2025 | Matchday 2 (East) | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1-1 | Shanghai Port |
| 30 Sep – 1 Oct 2025 | Matchday 2 (East) | FC Seoul | 3-0 | Buriram United |
| 30 Sep – 1 Oct 2025 | Matchday 2 (East) | Chengdu Rongcheng | 1-0 | Gangwon FC |
| 30 Sep – 1 Oct 2025 | Matchday 2 (East) | Johor Darul Ta’zim | 0-0 | Machida Zelvia |
| 30 Sep – 1 Oct 2025 | Matchday 2 (East) | Vissel Kobe | 1-0 | Melbourne City |
| 30 Sep – 1 Oct 2025 | Matchday 2 (East) | Shanghai Shenhua | 1-1 | Ulsan HD |
| 20-21 Oct 2025 | Matchday 3 (West) | Al Wahda | 3-1 | Al-Duhail |
| 20-21 Oct 2025 | Matchday 3 (West) | Sharjah | 0-5 | Tractor |
| 20-21 Oct 2025 | Matchday 3 (West) | Al-Shorta | 1-4 | Al-Ittihad |
| 20-21 Oct 2025 | Matchday 3 (West) | Al-Ahli | 4-0 | Al-Gharafa |
| 20-21 Oct 2025 | Matchday 3 (West) | Shabab Al Ahli | 4-1 | Nasaf |
| 20-21 Oct 2025 | Matchday 3 (West) | Al-Hilal | 3-1 | Al Sadd |
| 21-22 Oct 2025 | Matchday 3 (East) | Melbourne City | 2-1 | Buriram United |
| 21-22 Oct 2025 | Matchday 3 (East) | Ulsan HD | 1-0 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| 21-22 Oct 2025 | Matchday 3 (East) | Chengdu Rongcheng | 0-2 | Johor Darul Ta’zim |
| 21-22 Oct 2025 | Matchday 3 (East) | Shanghai Port | 0-2 | Machida Zelvia |
| 21-22 Oct 2025 | Matchday 3 (East) | Gangwon FC | 4-3 | Vissel Kobe |
| 21-22 Oct 2025 | Matchday 3 (East) | Shanghai Shenhua | 2-0 | FC Seoul |
| 3-4 Nov 2025 | Matchday 4 (West) | Nasaf | 1-2 | Al Wahda |
| 3-4 Nov 2025 | Matchday 4 (West) | Tractor | 1-0 | Al-Shorta |
| 3-4 Nov 2025 | Matchday 4 (West) | Al-Duhail | 4-1 | Shabab Al Ahli |
| 3-4 Nov 2025 | Matchday 4 (West) | Al-Gharafa | 1-2 | Al-Hilal |
| 3-4 Nov 2025 | Matchday 4 (West) | Al Sadd | 1-2 | Al-Ahli |
| 3-4 Nov 2025 | Matchday 4 (West) | Al-Ittihad | 3-0 | Sharjah |
| 4-5 Nov 2025 | Matchday 4 (East) | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1-0 | Gangwon FC |
| 4-5 Nov 2025 | Matchday 4 (East) | Machida Zelvia | 1-2 | Melbourne City |
| 4-5 Nov 2025 | Matchday 4 (East) | FC Seoul | 0-0 | Chengdu Rongcheng |
| 4-5 Nov 2025 | Matchday 4 (East) | Buriram United | 2-0 | Shanghai Port |
| 4-5 Nov 2025 | Matchday 4 (East) | Vissel Kobe | 1-0 | Ulsan HD |
| 4-5 Nov 2025 | Matchday 4 (East) | Johor Darul Ta’zim | 3-1 | Shanghai Shenhua |
| 24-25 Nov 2025 | Matchday 5 (West) | Nasaf | 0-1 | Tractor |
| 24-25 Nov 2025 | Matchday 5 (West) | Shabab Al Ahli | 2-0 | Al-Gharafa |
| 24-25 Nov 2025 | Matchday 5 (West) | Al-Duhail | 4-2 | Al-Ittihad |
| 24-25 Nov 2025 | Matchday 5 (West) | Al-Ahli | 0-1 | Sharjah |
| 24-25 Nov 2025 | Matchday 5 (West) | Al Wahda | 3-1 | Al Sadd |
| 24-25 Nov 2025 | Matchday 5 (West) | Al-Hilal | 4-0 | Al-Shorta |
| 25-26 Nov 2025 | Matchday 5 (East) | Melbourne City | 2-0 | Johor Darul Ta’zim |
| 25-26 Nov 2025 | Matchday 5 (East) | Gangwon FC | 1-3 | Machida Zelvia |
| 25-26 Nov 2025 | Matchday 5 (East) | Shanghai Port | 1-3 | FC Seoul |
| 25-26 Nov 2025 | Matchday 5 (East) | Chengdu Rongcheng | 1-1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| 25-26 Nov 2025 | Matchday 5 (East) | Ulsan HD | 0-0 | Buriram United |
| 25-26 Nov 2025 | Matchday 5 (East) | Shanghai Shenhua | 0-2 | Vissel Kobe |
| 22-23 Dec 2025 | Matchday 6 (West) | Sharjah | 0-1 | Al-Hilal |
| 22-23 Dec 2025 | Matchday 6 (West) | Tractor | 2-1 | Al-Duhail |
| 22-23 Dec 2025 | Matchday 6 (West) | Al-Shorta | 0-5 | Al-Ahli |
| 22-23 Dec 2025 | Matchday 6 (West) | Al-Gharafa | 1-0 | Al Wahda |
| 22-23 Dec 2025 | Matchday 6 (West) | Al Sadd | 4-2 | Shabab Al Ahli |
| 22-23 Dec 2025 | Matchday 6 (West) | Al-Ittihad | 1-0 | Nasaf |
| 9-10 Dec 2025 | Matchday 6 (East) | Vissel Kobe | 2-2 | Chengdu Rongcheng |
| 9-10 Dec 2025 | Matchday 6 (East) | Machida Zelvia | 3-1 | Ulsan HD |
| 9-10 Dec 2025 | Matchday 6 (East) | Buriram United | 2-2 | Gangwon FC |
| 9-10 Dec 2025 | Matchday 6 (East) | Johor Darul Ta’zim | 0-0 | Shanghai Port |
| 9-10 Dec 2025 | Matchday 6 (East) | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1-0 | Shanghai Shenhua |
| 9-10 Dec 2025 | Matchday 6 (East) | FC Seoul | 1-1 | Melbourne City |
| 9-10 Feb 2026 | Matchday 7 (West) | Nasaf | 1-1 | Al-Shorta |
| 9-10 Feb 2026 | Matchday 7 (West) | Al Wahda | 0-0 | Al-Ahli |
| 9-10 Feb 2026 | Matchday 7 (West) | Shabab Al Ahli | 0-0 | Al-Hilal |
| 9-10 Feb 2026 | Matchday 7 (West) | Al-Duhail | 1-1 | Sharjah |
| 9-10 Feb 2026 | Matchday 7 (West) | Tractor | 0-2 | Al Sadd |
| 9-10 Feb 2026 | Matchday 7 (West) | Al-Ittihad | 7-0 | Al-Gharafa |
| 10-11 Feb 2026 | Matchday 7 (East) | Vissel Kobe | 2-0 | FC Seoul |
| 10-11 Feb 2026 | Matchday 7 (East) | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 2-1 | Johor Darul Ta’zim |
| 10-11 Feb 2026 | Matchday 7 (East) | Shanghai Shenhua | 0-2 | Machida Zelvia |
| 10-11 Feb 2026 | Matchday 7 (East) | Chengdu Rongcheng | 0-1 | Buriram United |
| 10-11 Feb 2026 | Matchday 7 (East) | Ulsan HD | 1-2 | Melbourne City |
| 10-11 Feb 2026 | Matchday 7 (East) | Gangwon FC | 0-0 | Shanghai Port |
| 16-17 Feb 2026 | Matchday 8 (West) | Sharjah | 1-2 | Nasaf |
| 16-17 Feb 2026 | Matchday 8 (West) | Al-Ahli | 4-3 | Shabab Al Ahli |
| 16-17 Feb 2026 | Matchday 8 (West) | Al-Hilal | 2-1 | Al Wahda |
| 16-17 Feb 2026 | Matchday 8 (West) | Al-Shorta | 3-2 | Al-Duhail |
| 16-17 Feb 2026 | Matchday 8 (West) | Al Sadd | 1-4 | Al-Ittihad |
| 16-17 Feb 2026 | Matchday 8 (West) | Al-Gharafa | 0-2 | Tractor |
| 17-18 Feb 2026 | Matchday 8 (East) | Machida Zelvia | 3-2 | Chengdu Rongcheng |
| 17-18 Feb 2026 | Matchday 8 (East) | FC Seoul | 2-2 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| 17-18 Feb 2026 | Matchday 8 (East) | Buriram United | 2-0 | Shanghai Shenhua |
| 17-18 Feb 2026 | Matchday 8 (East) | Johor Darul Ta’zim | 1-0 | Vissel Kobe |
| 17-18 Feb 2026 | Matchday 8 (East) | Shanghai Port | 0-0 | Ulsan HD |
| 17-18 Feb 2026 | Matchday 8 (East) | Melbourne City | 0-0 | Gangwon FC |
| 3 Mar 2026 | R16 Leg 1 (East) | Melbourne City | 1-1 | Buriram United |
| 3 Mar 2026 | R16 Leg 1 (East) | Gangwon FC | 0-0 | Machida Zelvia |
| 4 Mar 2026 | R16 Leg 1 (East) | FC Seoul | TBD | Vissel Kobe |
| 4 Mar 2026 | R16 Leg 1 (East) | Johor Darul Ta’zim | TBD | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| 10 Mar 2026 | R16 Leg 2 (East) | Machida Zelvia | TBD | Gangwon FC |
| 10 Mar 2026 | R16 Leg 2 (East) | Buriram United | TBD | Melbourne City |
| 11 Mar 2026 | R16 Leg 2 (East) | Vissel Kobe | TBD | FC Seoul |
| 11 Mar 2026 | R16 Leg 2 (East) | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | TBD | Johor Darul Ta’zim |
| TBD | R16 (West) – Postponed | Al Sadd | TBD | Al-Hilal |
| TBD | R16 (West) – Postponed | Al-Duhail | TBD | Al-Ahli |
| TBD | R16 (West) – Postponed | Shabab Al Ahli | TBD | Tractor |
| TBD | R16 (West) – Postponed | Al Wahda | TBD | Al-Ittihad |
| 16-18 Apr 2026 | Quarter-Finals | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 20-21 Apr 2026 | Semi-Finals | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 25 Apr 2026 | Final | TBD | TBD | TBD |
The full schedule spans 8 months of football from the qualifying round in August 2025 to the final in Jeddah on April 25, 2026. Every result from the league stage is confirmed, while the knockout rounds from the quarter-finals onward remain to be decided on the pitch.
Knockout Stage Schedule
The quarter-finals onwards will all be played in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as single-match knockout ties. Here is the full schedule for the remaining stages of the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite.
| Stage | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Round of 16 (East, 2nd legs) | March 10-11, 2026 | Home grounds |
| Quarter-Finals | April 16-18, 2026 | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| Semi-Finals | April 20-21, 2026 | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| Final | April 25, 2026 | King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah |
The final at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on April 25 will bring together the best club from the West Region and the best from the East Region. The tournament winner qualifies directly for the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
Venue Details
The 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite league stage matches are played at each club’s home ground across Asia. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final are all held at two dedicated venues in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Here is a closer look at the key venues hosting the most important matches in the tournament.
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium is the main venue for the AFC Champions League Elite Finals and will host the final on April 25, 2026. The stadium is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and has a capacity of around 62,000 spectators.
It is one of the largest and most modern football stadiums in Asia, and hosting the final here adds enormous prestige to the occasion.
Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium, Jeddah
The Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium is the second venue in Jeddah hosting the knockout stage matches. It will share the quarter-final and semi-final fixtures alongside King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. Both venues are located in Jeddah, making the city a complete football hub for the final stages of the competition from April 16 to April 25, 2026.
Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan (Qualifying)
The Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, hosted the West Region qualifying play-off between Al-Duhail and Sepahan on August 12, 2025.
The match drew an attendance of 2,936. It is a well-established venue with a long history of hosting major international football fixtures across the region.
Phoenix Hill Football Stadium, Chengdu (Qualifying)
The Phoenix Hill Football Stadium in Chengdu, China, hosted the East Region qualifying play-off between Chengdu Rongcheng and Bangkok United on August 12, 2025.
The match drew a massive crowd of 41,713 fans, making it one of the best-attended matches of the entire qualifying stage and a strong show of support for the home side.
Related Reads:
Conclusion: Asia’s Biggest Club Prize Heads to Jeddah
The 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite has delivered 98 matches and 262 goals across the league stage and is now heading into the business end.
Al-Hilal look the team to beat from the West, while Machida Zelvia have been the East Region’s biggest surprise package. With the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final all set for Jeddah in April, the tournament is ready to deliver its most dramatic chapter yet.
