2025–26 AFC Champions League Two

2025–26 AFC Champions League Two
Tournament details
DatesQualifying:
13 August 2025
Competition proper:
16 September 2025 – 16 May 2026
TeamsCompetition proper: 32 (from 24 associations)

The 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two is the 22nd edition of the Asia's second-tier club football tournament, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the second under the AFC Champions League Two title.[1][2]

It features 32 teams in the group stage.[3] The winner will be given an indirect preliminary stage slot for the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite, if they have not already qualified through their domestic performance.[4]

Sharjah are the reigning champions. They were unable to defend their title as they are instead participating in the AFC Champions League Elite league stage.

Association team allocation

The associations are allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking which was published after the 2023–24 competitions were completed.[5][6] Slots are subject to later re-balancing based on the 2024–25 competition results.

Participation for 2025–2026 AFC Champions League Two
Participating
Not participating
Notes
  1. ^
    AFC Licensing (AFC): Association did not have a licensed club.[7]
  2. ^
    Thailand (THA): The indirect slot of North Korea that did not enter was redistributed to the highest eligible Member Association.[8] The Thai team with the additional indirect slot received a bye in the play-off round due to an insufficient number of participating teams.

Teams

The number of appearances and last appearance include the AFC Cup as the predecessor of the AFC Champions League Two.

Notes
  1. ^
    China (CHN): As 2024 Chinese FA Cup winners Shanghai Port qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, the spot reserved for the Chinese FA Cup winners was transferred to the fourth-placed team in the 2024 Chinese Super League.
  2. ^
    Iraq (IRQ): As 2024–25 Iraq FA Cup winners Duhok failed to obtain an AFC license,[7] their AFC Champions League Two group stage spot was passed to the 2024–25 Iraq Stars League runners-up.
  3. ^
    Japan (JPN): As 2024 Emperor's Cup winners Vissel Kobe qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, the spot reserved for the Emperor's Cup winners was transferred to the fourth-placed team in the 2024 J1 League.
  4. ^
    Malaysia (MAS): As 2024 Malaysia FA Cup winners Johor Darul Ta'zim qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, the spot reserved for the Malaysia FA Cup winners was transferred to the runners-up of the 2024–25 Malaysia Super League.
  5. ^
    Qatar (QAT): As regular season third place, Al-Gharafa, qualified for the Champions League Elite via winning the 2025 Emir of Qatar Cup, the spot reserved for the third-placed team was transferred to the fourth-placed team in the 2024–25 Qatar Stars League.
  6. ^
    Saudi Arabia (KSA): As 2024–25 Saudi King's Cup winners Al-Ittihad qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, the spot reserved for the King's Cup winners was transferred to the third-placed team in the 2024–25 Saudi Pro League.
  7. ^
    Singapore (SGP): As 2024–25 Singapore Cup winners Lion City Sailors qualified for the Champions League Two via their league position, the spot reserved for the Singapore Cup winners was transferred to the runners-up in the 2024–25 Singapore Premier League.
  8. ^
    Turkmenistan (TKM): As Arkadag won the 2024–25 AFC Challenge League, 2024 Ýokary Liga, and 2024 Turkmenistan Cup, and since Turkmenistan has no ACL Two direct slot based on its regional ranking, one additional ACL Two direct slot was allocated to Turkmenistan for Arkadag and the spot reserved for Ýokary Liga champions was transferred to the runners-up, Ahal.
  9. ^
    United Arab Emirates (UAE): As 2024–25 UAE President's Cup winners Shabab Al Ahli and Sharjah qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position and winning the previous edition of this competition respectively, the spot reserved for the UAE President’s Cup was transferred to the third-placed team in the 2024–25 UAE Pro League. The spot originally reserved for the third-placed team was then transferred to the fourth-placed team.

Schedule

The schedule of the competition is as follows.[10] All matches will be played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, apart from the final which will take place on a Sunday.

Stage Round Draw date West Region East Region
Preliminary Stage Preliminary stage 1 No draw[a] 13 August 2025
Group stage Matchday 1 15 August 2025 16–17 September 2025 17–18 September 2025
Matchday 2 30 September and 1 October 2025 1–2 October 2025
Matchday 3 21–22 October 2025 22–23 October 2025
Matchday 4 4–5 November 2025 5–6 November 2025
Matchday 5 25–29 November 2025
28–29 October 2025 for Bahrain clubs 		26–27 November 2025
Matchday 6 23–24 December 2025 10–11 December 2025
Knockout stage Round of 16 16 December 2025 10–11 and 17–18 February 2026 11–12 and 18–19 February 2026
Quarter-finals 3–4 and 10–11 March 2026 4–5 and 11–12 March 2026
Semi-finals 7 and 14 April 2026 8 and 15 April 2026
Final 16 May 2026 (Neutral venue)

Qualifying play-offs

The three winners of the play-off round (two from West Region and one from East Region) will advance to the group stage to join the 29 direct entrants. The losers of the qualifying play-offs will enter the group stage of the 2025–26 AFC Challenge League.

Team 1ScoreTeam 2
West Region
Goa India2–1Oman Al-Seeb
Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda Tajikistan1–2Turkmenistan Ahal
East Region
Persib Indonesia2–1Philippines Manila Digger

West Region

Goa India2–1Oman Al-Seeb
  • Dražić 24'
  • Siverio 52'
 AFC Report
GSA Report
  • Nasser 60'
Attendance: 12,314
Referee: Zhang Lei (China)
Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda Tajikistan1–2Turkmenistan Ahal
  • Atsam 64'
 AFC Report
GSA Report
  • Gürgenow 62'
  • Mirzoýew 82'
Attendance: 6,350
Referee: Choi Hyun-jai (South Korea)

East Region

Persib Indonesia2–1Philippines Manila Digger
 AFC Report
GSA Report
  • Joof 66'
Attendance: 5,844

Group stage

Main article: 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two group stage

The group stage draw took place on 15 August 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[11]

Location of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two group stage teams
Brown: Group A; Cyan: Group B; Orange: Group C; Yellow: Group D; Pink: Group E;
Green: Group F; Blue: Group G; Red: Group H
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
30km
19miles
Locations of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two teams in Central Thailand

West Region

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification WAS EST MUH ALW
1 United Arab Emirates Al Wasl 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to round of 16 — 17 Sep 5 Nov 24 Dec
2 Iran Esteghlal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 Nov — 1 Oct 22 Oct
3 Bahrain Al-Muharraq 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 Oct 24 Dec — 17 Sep
4 Jordan Al-Wehdat 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Oct 5 Nov 29 Oct —
First match(es) will be played: 17 September 2025. Source:
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AHL AND ARK KHA
1 Qatar Al Ahli 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to round of 16 — 24 Dec 22 Oct 17 Sep
2 Uzbekistan Andijon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Oct — 26 Nov 22 Oct
3 Turkmenistan Arkadag 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 Nov 17 Sep — 24 Dec
4 Bahrain Al Khaldiya 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 Oct 5 Nov 1 Oct —
First match(es) will be played: 17 September 2025. Source:
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SEP ALH MBG AHA
1 Iran Sepahan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to round of 16 — 25 Nov 30 Sep 4 Nov
2 Jordan Al-Hussein 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 Sep — 21 Oct 23 Dec
3 India Mohun Bagan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 Dec 4 Nov — 16 Sep
4 Turkmenistan Ahal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 Oct 30 Sep 25 Nov —
First match(es) will be played: 16 September 2025. Source:
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification NSR ZWR IST GOA
1 Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to round of 16 — 24 Dec 17 Sep 5 Nov
2 Iraq Al-Zawraa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Oct — 5 Nov 26 Nov
3 Tajikistan Istiklol 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 Nov 22 Oct — 1 Oct
4 India Goa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 Oct 17 Sep 24 Dec —
First match(es) will be played: 17 September 2025. Source:
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

East Region

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BJG MAC TPF HNP
1 China Beijing Guoan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to round of 16 — 11 Dec 6 Nov 18 Sep
2 Australia Macarthur 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Oct — 27 Nov 6 Nov
3 Hong Kong Tai Po 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 Oct 18 Sep — 11 Dec
4 Vietnam Công An Hà Nội 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 Nov 23 Oct 2 Oct —
First match(es) will be played: 18 September 2025. Source:
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification GOS TND RPM EAS
1 Japan Gamba Osaka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to round of 16 — 22 Oct 11 Dec 17 Sep
2 Vietnam Nam Định 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 Nov — 17 Sep 11 Dec
3 Thailand Ratchaburi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Oct 27 Nov — 22 Oct
4 Hong Kong Eastern 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 Nov 2 Oct 5 Nov —
First match(es) will be played: 17 September 2025. Source:
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group G

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BKU SEL LCS PSB
1 Thailand Bangkok United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to round of 16 — 26 Nov 23 Oct 1 Oct
2 Malaysia Selangor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 Sep — 10 Dec 6 Nov
3 Singapore Lion City Sailors 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Nov 1 Oct — 26 Nov
4 Indonesia Persib 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 Dec 23 Oct 18 Sep —
First match(es) will be played: 18 September 2025. Source:
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group H

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification PHS BGP KAY BGT
1 South Korea Pohang Steelers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to round of 16 — 27 Nov 2 Oct 6 Nov
2 Thailand BG Pathum United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 Sep — 6 Nov 11 Dec
3 Philippines Kaya–Iloilo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 Dec 23 Oct — 18 Sep
4 Singapore Tampines Rovers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 Oct 2 Oct 27 Nov —
First match(es) will be played: 18 September 2025. Source:
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers


See also

Notes

  1. ^ Pre-determined format

References

  1. ^ "Asian Champions League to relaunch with fewer teams and more prize money in 2024–25 season". AP News. August 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "History beckons for AFC Cup 2023/24 contenders as final edition of popular competition kicks off". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  3. ^ "AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women's Champions League". the-AFC.
  4. ^ "More Member Associations to benefit from inclusive AFC Champions League". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 23 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  5. ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original on 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  6. ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2024". FootyRankings. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  7. ^ a b "List of Licensed Clubs - AFC Club Competitions 2025/26" (PDF). 5 June 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  8. ^ "FC Club Competitions – Entry Regulations" (PDF). 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  9. ^ "SAFF approves mechanism for participation of Saudi clubs in AFC competitions". Saudi Gazette.
  10. ^ "AFC Competitions Calendar (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026)" (PDF). the-AFC. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  11. ^ "ACLTwo Group Stage showdowns to be revealed". AFC. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
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