The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee convened on Monday to announce a sweeping overhaul of the Asian club football framework. Under the guidance of President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the virtual meeting unveiled transformative changes set to take effect from the 2024-25 season.
The pinnacle tier will bear the name AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE), positioned above the AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) and the AFC Challenge League (ACGL), constituting the second and third echelons respectively.
Incorporating a total of 76 clubs, the tri-tiered competitions will comprise 24 teams contending in ACLE, 32 in ACL2, and the remaining 20 in ACGL.
Dramatic news also emanated from the AFC as it greenlit the most substantial prize money increase in the annals of Asian club football. Triumph in the AFC Champions League will now command a staggering USD 12 million, an astonishing 200 percent rise from the previous USD 4 million. Meanwhile, the runner-up will seize USD 4 million, marking a doubling from the preceding USD 2 million.
Shaikh Salman voiced his exuberance for these visionary initiatives, affirming their potential to propel both men’s and women’s Asian club football into a new and historic era. The President asserted the AFC’s unwavering commitment to nurturing world-class competitions as a means to elevate teams and players, a crucial facet of the overarching mission to foster development across all Member Associations.
A groundbreaking stride towards gender parity and inclusivity was also revealed through the announcement of the Women’s Champions League. Introduced as an initial invitational tournament, this innovative concept supersedes the AFC Women’s Club Championship, which debuted in 2019. Shaikh Salman emphasized the strategic significance of the Women’s Champions League, envisioning it as a catalyst for empowering women within Asian football, dismantling societal barriers, and fortifying gender equality.
Representing India, Gokulam Kerala emerges as a beacon of promise in the Women’s Champions League. Despite an impediment in the form of a ban on the All India Football Federation that curtailed its championship campaign the previous year, the Indian Women’s League 2023 victor is poised to illuminate the forthcoming edition of the tournament.
This transformative reconfiguration marks a historic juncture for Asian club football, embodying the AFC’s resolute dedication to excellence, inclusivity, and the advancement of the beautiful game across all spectrums.
