AFC Champions League is Asia’s premier club football tournament, organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), where elite teams from Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, China and other nations compete for the region’s most prestigious title. Learn about the history, format, participating teams, fixtures, results and predictions for the winners, and embark on an inspiring football journey bóng đá trực tuyến socolive bđá trực tuyến socolive.
History and significance of AFC Champions League
To understand the value of the AFC Champions League, exploring the tournament’s origins and role in promoting Asian football is an important first step lịch thi đấu hôm nay.
Journey of formation
The AFC Champions League began in 1967 as the Asian Club Championship, when Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) won the title after defeating Selangor (Malaysia). The tournament has undergone many changes, from the Asian Super Cup (1995–2002) to its modern format since 2002, inspired by the UEFA Champions League.
Since 2009, the tournament has expanded to 32 teams in the group stage, and from the 2024–25 season, the “Swiss model” format with 24 teams will be used. Saudi Arabia is the most successful nation with 9 titles, while Al-Hilal hold the record with 4 titles (1991, 2000, 2019, 2021).
Meaning of the tournament
The AFC Champions League is a platform for Asian clubs to assert their position and promote the development of football in countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Qatar. The tournament gives smaller teams the chance to challenge the giants, such as Pohang Steelers (South Korea) who defeated Al-Ittihad in 2009.
The winners receive $4 million and a place in the FIFA Club World Cup, raising their profile globally. The tournament also acts as a cultural bridge, showcasing the diversity of Asian football, from the technical style of Japan to the resilience of West Asia.
Competition format and participating teams
Understanding how the tournament is organized and the teams involved will help you follow the AFC Champions League in a complete and engaging way.
Competition format
From the 2024–25 season, the AFC Champions League will adopt a new format with 24 teams, divided into two zones (East Asia and West Asia), each zone with 12 teams. The group stage (League Stage) uses the “Swiss model”: each team plays 8 matches (4 home, 4 away) against randomly drawn opponents. The top 8 teams from each zone advance to the regional knockout round (round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals).
The two regional champions will contest the final in a single match at a neutral venue. If the knockout stage is tied, the match will go to extra time and penalties. The 2025–26 season is scheduled to run from 17 September 2025 to 25 May 2026. VAR will be used from the knockout stage onwards.
Team Participation
The tournament features 24 teams from 47 AFC associations, who qualify through their domestic leagues or AFC rankings. Strong teams such as Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) are usually favourites to win the title. The 2024–25 season will see Al-Hilal win the title after a 2–1 win over Ulsan HD (South Korea) at the King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, on 25 May 2025.
Southeast Asian teams like Buriram United (Thailand) and Hanoi FC (Vietnam) bring diversity. In total, 14 countries have had champions, with 29 teams having reached the final.
Season schedule and results
Understanding the schedule and milestones helps fans feel the excitement and glorious history of the AFC Champions League.
Match schedule
The 2025–26 AFC Champions League will begin with the group stage from 17 September 2025, the zonal knockout stages from 18 February 2026, and the finals on 25 May 2026 at a neutral venue (to be announced). The 2024–25 season will run from 16 September 2024 to 25 May 2025, with Al-Hilal winning the tournament. The full schedule will be published on AFC.com in June 2025.
Matches are streamed live on beIN Sports, ESPN, DAZN or YouTube (AFC channel). Schedules are available on Livesoccertv.com. Prominent stadiums such as Azadi (Iran) and Saitama (Japan) are often used.
Achievements and statistics
Saudi Arabia leads the way with nine titles, followed by South Korea (six) and Japan (four). Al-Hilal is the most successful team with four titles, followed by Urawa Red Diamonds and Pohang Steelers (three). Lee Dong-gook (South Korea) holds the all-time scoring record with 37 goals.
The 2024–25 season saw Al-Hilal seal the title with Salem Al-Dawsari scoring the winning goal. In total, 47 teams from 14 countries reached the final, with 29 winning. Full statistics are available on AFC.com and Sofascore.
Predicting the 2025–26 season winner
Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), with their impressive form and a strong squad including Neymar and Mitrovic, are the top contenders for the 2025–26 season. Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), with their technical style and experience, are also formidable opponents, especially after winning the title in 2022.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) and Shanghai Port (China) have the potential to cause a surprise thanks to their heavy investment. Posts on X favor Al-Hilal due to their consistency (12 games unbeaten in 2024–25). Al-Hilal are predicted to win the final 2-1 against Urawa, thanks to their ball control (60% average possession last season).
Conclude
AFC Champions League is Asia’s premier club football competition, bringing fun, inspiration and the opportunity to explore the region’s football culture. By staying informed, participating in discussions and discovering team stories, you will enjoy the AFC Champions League to the fullest. Get ready for the 2025–26 season to experience a meaningful and brilliant football journey!