AFC sets August 18 draw for expanded 32-team Asian Champions League Elite

DIWANIYAH, Iraq — KUALA LUMPUR — The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has scheduled the draw for the 2026-27 Asian Champions League Elite in Kuala Lumpur on August 18, the confederation announced. The tournament will feature 32 clubs for the first time, split into 16 teams each in West and East divisions. Saudi Arabia and Japan each received an additional play-off spot. Saudi Arabia will field five clubs: defending champion Al-Ahli, Roshn League winner Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Ittihad. West division clubs will be divided into four pots. Each team will face eight different opponents, four at home and four away, with a protection rule preventing clubs from the same country from being drawn against each other. The top eight teams from each pot in the West division will advance to the round of 16, scheduled for March 1-17, 2027. From the quarterfinals onward, the tournament will move to a centralized finals format in Saudi Arabia from April 23 to May 1, 2027.