AFC Champions League Elite
Asian football's premier club competition.
24 teams • 119 matches • 2025/2026 season
The AFC Champions League Elite is Asian football's premier club competition, organized by the Asian Football Confederation. Find the standings, results, fixtures, and stats for the current season.
Standings
East Zone
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Machida Zelvia | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 17 |
| 2 |  Vissel Kobe | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 7 | +7 | 16 |
| 3 |  Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 15 |
| 4 |  Buriram United | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 14 |
| 5 |  Melbourne City | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 14 |
| 6 |  Johor Darul Takzim FC | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 11 |
| 7 |  FC Seoul | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 9 | +1 | 10 |
| 8 |  Gangwon FC | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 11 | -2 | 9 |
| 9 |  Ulsan Hyundai FC | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 9 |
| 10 |  Chengdu Better City | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 6 |
| 11 |  Shanghai Shenhua | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 4 |
| 12 |  SHANGHAI SIPG | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 11 | -9 | 4 |
West Zone
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Al-Hilal Saudi FC | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 6 | +11 | 22 |
| 2 |  Al-Ahli Jeddah | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 9 | +12 | 17 |
| 3 |  Tractor Sazi | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 4 | +8 | 17 |
| 4 |  Al-Ittihad FC | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 9 | +13 | 15 |
| 5 |  Al Wahda FC | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 14 |
| 6 |  Shabab Al Ahli Dubai | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 11 |
| 7 |  Al-Duhail SC | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 8 |
| 8 |  Al Sadd | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 16 | -4 | 8 |
| 9 |  Sharjah FC | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 16 | -8 | 8 |
| 10 |  Al-Gharafa | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 21 | -14 | 6 |
| 11 |  Al Shorta | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 20 | -14 | 5 |
| 12 |  Nasaf | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 17 | -8 | 4 |
Upcoming matches
Latest results
Final
Machida ZelviaSemi-finals
Shabab Al Ahli DubaiAl-Ahli JeddahQuarter-finals
Shabab Al Ahli DubaiAl-Ittihad FCJohor Darul Takzim FCVissel KobeRound of 16
Al Wahda FCShabab Al Ahli DubaiAl SaddAl-Duhail SCFC SeoulJohor Darul Takzim FCMelbourne CityGangwon FCParticipating Teams
Melbourne CityBuriram UnitedAl-Hilal Saudi FCAl SaddAl-Ittihad FCAl Wahda FCTractor SaziShabab Al Ahli DubaiAl-Ahli JeddahAl-Duhail SCGangwon FCShanghai ShenhuaJohor Darul Takzim FCMachida ZelviaUlsan Hyundai FCSanfrecce HiroshimaChengdu Better CitySharjah FCFC SeoulAl-GharafaAl ShortaSHANGHAI SIPGVissel KobeNasafTop Scorers
Cards
Most popular teams
Related competitions
About the AFC Champions League Elite
History
The competition began in 1967 as the "Asian Champion Club Tournament," before becoming the "AFC Champions League" in 2002, following the merger of the Asian Club Championship, the Asian Cup Winners' Cup, and the Asian Super Cup. It adopted its current name, "AFC Champions League Elite," from the 2024-25 season onward, as part of a format overhaul. Al-Hilal are the competition's most decorated club in history with 4 titles. In the 2025-26 edition, Al-Ahli Jeddah retained their title by beating Machida Zelvia 1-0 (after extra time) in the final played on 25 April 2026 in Jeddah, becoming the first club to successfully defend the title under the "Elite" name.
Trophy roll
- Al-Hilal — 4 titles in total, the competition's most decorated club in history.
- Al-Ahli Jeddah — Winners of the 2024-25 and 2025-26 editions, the first club to retain the title since the 2024 reform.
- Machida Zelvia — Runners-up in the 2025-26 edition, beaten by Al-Ahli Jeddah.
Competition format
The AFC Champions League Elite features 24 clubs split into two geographic zones, West and East, of 12 teams each. Each club plays eight opponents from its own zone during the league phase.
At the end of this phase, the top eight teams from each zone qualify for the Round of 16, played over two legs, before the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final are played as single matches at a centralized venue.
Qualification for the FIFA Club World Cup
The AFC Champions League Elite winner qualifies for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, and also earns a spot in the following edition's league phase if not already qualified through their domestic league.
Frequently asked questions
Which club has won the most AFC Champions League titles?
Al-Hilal, with 4 titles in total.
Who won the 2025-26 edition?
Al-Ahli Jeddah, who beat Machida Zelvia 1-0 (after extra time) in the final on 25 April 2026 in Jeddah, retaining their title.
Since when has the competition existed?
Created in 1967, it became the AFC Champions League in 2002, then the AFC Champions League Elite from the 2024-25 season.
How is the league phase structured?
24 clubs are split into two zones (West and East) of 12 teams each, with each club playing eight opponents from its own zone.
How does this competition lead to FIFA Club World Cup qualification?
The winner qualifies directly for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Where can I follow AFC Champions League Elite results?
AtlasGoal provides the standings, results, match schedule, statistics, and the latest news for the competition.