The Asian Football Confederation has announced a package of proposals for major structural reforms to the elite AFC Champions League, effective from the 2026-2027 season. These measures aim to enhance competitiveness and increase the marketing value of the competition. The most prominent proposed change is the expansion of participating clubs from 24 to 32 teams, while maintaining the continent's division into West and East zones, with 16 teams in each zone. This expansion is designed to provide greater opportunities for strong Asian clubs and elevate the level of competition in one of the most important continental tournaments. The reforms also include a new, more exciting qualification system. For the seasons following 2026-2027, the top six teams from each zone will qualify directly for the Round of 16. Teams finishing 7th to 10th will compete in a new play-off stage instead of being eliminated directly. This will add more excitement and keep the competition alive until the final rounds of the league phase. Under the new system, 7th and 8th-placed teams will be given the advantage of playing at home in the play-off stage, giving the league standings greater importance and rewarding strong performance. However, the play-off stage will not be implemented for the 2026-2027 season due to congestion in the domestic and continental match schedules. It is expected that these reforms will officially come into effect after being approved by the AFC Executive Committee at its meeting in about 10 days, marking a new era in the history of the AFC Champions League. These changes reflect the AFC's vision for developing the tournament, making it more attractive both technically and commercially by expanding the pool of participants and improving the quality of competition.
