Sharjah 24: The Asian Football Confederation unveiled the initial list of clubs participating in the inaugural AFC Champions League Elite Championship for the 2024-2025 season. Among them are Al Ain, Al Wasl, and Shabab Al Ahli representing the UAE through qualifiers.
The tournament features 27 clubs from 12 national federations, with 6 from the eastern and 6 from the western regions. Preliminary round matches are set to begin in August.
Al Ain, the defending champions of the AFC Champions League, and Al Wasl, winners of the ADNOC Professional League, headline the direct qualifiers to the group stage. Meanwhile, Shabab Al Ahli will vie in the preliminary qualifiers alongside 5 other clubs from August 6 to 13. Additional spots in the league stage will be filled by two teams, with the rest moving to the AFC Champions League 2.
The new format introduces a significant change in the group stage, where 24 clubs will be split into two leagues of 12 teams each, spanning the western and eastern regions. Each team will play eight matches—four home and four away—against opponents within their region.
The official draw for the league stage is scheduled for August 16, 2024. The top eight teams from each league will advance to the round of 16, slated for March 3-12, 2025. The final rounds will be held in Saudi Arabia from April 25 to May 4, 2025, featuring quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.
AFC announced financial support for all participating clubs, with each group stage participant receiving a minimum of $800,000. Additional funding is contingent on final standings, with the champion set to earn at least $12 million.
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