The AFC Champions League Elite is Asia's premier club competition, restructured in 2024-25 into a 24-team format split into West and East regions, with a league phase feeding knockout rounds and a centralised finals stage at a single host venue. Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia are the competition's most successful club. The tournament's defining challenge is geographic: the confederation spans from Japan and Australia to the Gulf, and the regional split exists because continent-wide travel would otherwise be unmanageable. Competitive weight has shifted markedly toward Saudi and Gulf clubs following recent investment, while Japanese and South Korean sides continue to compete on the strength of coaching and development rather than spending. The champion qualifies for the global club championship.
No AFC Champions League fixtures are scheduled in the next seven days. The 2026/2027 season runs from 11 August 2026 to 16 February 2027.