Kuala lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Competitions Committee has recommended several strategic enhancements to the AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite), with a key development being the expansion to a 32-team format starting from the 2026/27 season.
According to Emirates News Agency, the reforms highlight the AFC's commitment to promoting inclusivity and excellence across the continent, introducing a more rigorous qualification pathway to the Knockout Stage. The League Stage will now feature 32 participating clubs, split equally between the East and West Regions. This expansion aims to provide more opportunities for elite clubs to compete against the continent's top teams, while encouraging higher standards of professionalism and performance within domestic leagues across Asia.
The progression criteria following the League Stage will also be revised to increase the stakes of the opening round. After the League Stage concludes, the top six clubs in each Region will secure direct qualification to the Round of 16. A significant change in the format allows clubs finishing seventh to 10th to advance to a newly created Knockout Stage Playoff, rather than being eliminated.
To reward superior performance, the higher-ranked club in each pairing-the seventh and eighth-ranked teams-will have home-ground advantage during the Playoff. The winners of these encounters will earn the remaining spots in the Round of 16, ensuring that every position in the League Stage remains important until the final matchday. However, due to the current congested global competitions calendar, the Knockout Stage Playoff will not be implemented for the 2026/27 season and is planned for introduction in subsequent seasons.
