HONG KONG: The Asian Football Confederation announced that Saudi Arabia will serve as the host for the inaugural and subsequent two editions of the Asian Champions League Elite finals, marking the commencement of the revamped elite club competition across the continent next season. Starting in September of the upcoming year, the competition will feature the top 24 clubs from the region, split into two leagues of 12 each in the East and West.
Teams will engage in home-and-away matches to secure spots in the round of 16. Eight victorious clubs will progress to a centralized final stage, where they will vie for success in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the ultimate match, all formatted as single-leg fixtures.
This significant shift in club competitions in Asia also accompanies a substantial increase in the top prize for the continent’s premier club event, soaring from $4 million to $12 million.
Saudi Arabia clinched hosting rights for the initial two years of the finals, prevailing over a competing bid from the Iraq Football Association. The decision was reached based on an evaluation of infrastructure and accommodation standards, according to the AFC’s statement. Additionally, the Saudis have provisionally secured hosting rights for an additional three years, pending an AFC assessment of the initial seasons.
This event joins Saudi Arabia’s roster of hosting endeavours, including the imminent FIFA Club World Cup and their exclusive bid to host the 2034 World Cup finals. The country has already been entrusted with organizing the 2027 Asian Cup finals, while Riyadh is slated to oversee the 2034 Asian Games.
