AFC Champions League Elite
Asian football's premier club competition.
24 teams • 119 matches • 2025/2026 season
Standings
West Zone
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Qualification |  Al-Hilal Saudi FC | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 6 | +11 | 22 | LWDWW |
| 2Qualification |  Al-Ahli Jeddah | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 9 | +12 | 17 | WWWWW |
| 3Qualification |  Tractor Sazi | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 4 | +8 | 17 | LWLWW |
| 4Qualification |  Al-Ittihad FC | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 9 | +13 | 15 | LWWWW |
| 5Qualification |  Al Wahda FC | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 14 | LLDLW |
| 6Qualification |  Shabab Al Ahli Dubai | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 11 | LWWLD |
| 7Qualification |  Al-Duhail SC | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 8 | LLDLW |
| 8Qualification |  Al Sadd | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 16 | -4 | 8 | LWLWW |
| 9 |  Sharjah FC | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 16 | -8 | 8 | LDLWL |
| 10 |  Al-Gharafa | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 21 | -14 | 6 | LLWLL |
| 11 |  Al Shorta | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 20 | -14 | 5 | WDLLL |
| 12 |  Nasaf | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 17 | -8 | 4 | WDLLL |
East Zone
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Qualification |  Machida Zelvia | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 17 | LWWWD |
| 2Qualification |  Vissel Kobe | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 7 | +7 | 16 | LWWWL |
| 3Qualification |  Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 15 | WLDWW |
| 4Qualification |  Buriram United | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 14 | LWDWW |
| 5Qualification |  Melbourne City | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 14 | LDDWD |
| 6Qualification |  Johor Darul Takzim FC | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 11 | LLWWL |
| 7Qualification |  FC Seoul | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 9 | +1 | 10 | LLDLD |
| 8Qualification |  Gangwon FC | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 11 | -2 | 9 | LDDDD |
| 9 |  Ulsan Hyundai FC | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 9 | DLLDL |
| 10 |  Chengdu Better City | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 6 | LLDDD |
| 11 |  Shanghai Shenhua | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 4 | LLLLL |
| 12 |  SHANGHAI SIPG | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 11 | -9 | 4 | DDDLL |
Upcoming matches
Latest results
Semi-finals
Quarter-finals
Buriram United2Shabab Al Ahli Dubai3Shabab Al Ahli DubaiMachida Zelvia1Al-Ittihad FC0Al-Ittihad FCAl-Ahli Jeddah2Johor Darul Takzim FC1Johor Darul Takzim FCAl Sadd3Vissel Kobe3Vissel KobeRound of 16
Al-Ittihad FC1Al Wahda FC0Al Wahda FCTractor Sazi0Shabab Al Ahli Dubai3Shabab Al Ahli DubaiAl-Hilal Saudi FC3Al Sadd3Al SaddAl-Ahli Jeddah1Al-Duhail SC0Al-Duhail SCSanfrecce Hiroshima1Johor Darul Takzim FC0Johor Darul Takzim FCVissel Kobe2FC Seoul1FC SeoulBuriram United0Melbourne City0Melbourne CityMachida Zelvia1Gangwon FC0Gangwon FCJohor Darul Takzim FC3Sanfrecce Hiroshima1Sanfrecce HiroshimaFC Seoul0Vissel Kobe1Vissel KobeGangwon FC0Machida Zelvia0Machida ZelviaMelbourne City1Buriram United1Buriram UnitedLeague Phase East - 8
SHANGHAI SIPG0Ulsan Hyundai FC0Ulsan Hyundai FCMelbourne City0Gangwon FC0Gangwon FCBuriram United2Shanghai Shenhua0Shanghai ShenhuaJohor Darul Takzim FC1Vissel Kobe0Vissel KobeFC Seoul2Sanfrecce Hiroshima2Sanfrecce HiroshimaMachida Zelvia3Chengdu Better City2Chengdu Better CityLeague Phase West - 8
Al-Gharafa0Tractor Sazi2Tractor SaziAl Sadd1Al-Ittihad FC4Al-Ittihad FCAl Shorta3Al-Duhail SC2Al-Duhail SCAl-Hilal Saudi FC2Al Wahda FC1Al Wahda FCSharjah FC1Nasaf2NasafAbout 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.