The new AFC Champions League format explained - ESPN

The 2024-25 season marks a new era in Asian club competition -- as the Asian Football Confederation rolls out a major revamp for the first time since 2002.

Previously, the AFC Champions League represented the continent's top level with the AFC Cup being a second-tier competition.

But starting this season, the AFC will hold three club competitions -- which it has not done since 2014.

Here, we take a closer look at the changes for the upcoming campaign, which kicks off on Sept. 16.

What is the new AFC Champions League?

The new top tier of Asian football will be known as the AFC Champions League Elite and sees a reduction of 40 competing teams in the tournament proper to just 24.

Previously, teams were divided into groups of four with the ten groups winners and six best-performing runners-up advancing to the knockout round -- split evenly between the East and West regions.

Now, each region's 12 teams will all jostle for position on a single table -- playing eight games in total in the league stage which was determined by a draw back in August.

It means that teams will not face every other club in their respective region. The top eight from both sides of the draw will then advance to the round of 16.

The format mirrors changes that will also be implemented in Europe this season with a departure from group play to a combined standing, although the UEFA Champions League will not have regional segregation and have its 36 teams all ranked on the same table.

Does this mean less nations will be represented in the ACL Elite?

Yes. Previously, 20 AFC member associations were guaranteed a representation in the group stage but only 12 will now feature -- meaning nations such as Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, Hong Kong and India will all miss out until they climb higher in the confederation's club competitions ranking.

Only Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Australia and Malaysia will be represented in the East, while the West will feature clubs form Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Iraq.

Will the East and West continue to be separated until the final?

No. The East and West will be segregated up till the round of 16 but, thereafter, they will most certainly cross paths -- with the quarterfinals intentionally devised to produce "cross-regional pairings" to be determined by another draw.

How does the new 'finals' work?

While teams previously played home-and-away ties all the way through to the final, the new 'finals' will games from the quarterfinals onwards held in a centralised venue -- which will be hosted in Saudi Arabia this season.

The hope is that it will create a tournament-type atmosphere and add to the drama and excitement as the quarterfinals, semifinals and final over the whirlwind span of ten days.

This previously happened in the coronavirus-affected 2020 campaign and, while it was borne out of necessity back then, the response to a host nation holding multiple games in the final stages of the tournament received positive response.

Apart from the round of 16, which will still have two-legged affairs, all ties from the quarterfinals will be single matches.

This season's 'finals' will take place from April 25 to May 4.

What's happened to the AFC Cup then?

The second-tier of AFC club competition will now be known as the AFC Champions League Two.

Previously split into five zones (ASEAN, East, West, Central and South), the ACL Two will see teams divided into just East and West as per the ACL Elite.

The format of the ACL Two is similar to the previous ACL format but with less teams, meaning a straightforward group stage that will see the top two in each advance to the round of 16.

Unlike the ACL Elite, there will be no centralised venue for the knockout stage and teams will play in home-and-away ties until the single-match final.

The most noteworthy change to the second tier sees the inclusion of lower-ranked teams from traditional powerhouses like Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia. This means that teams from less-established nations such as Singapore and Vietnam will still get a chance to test themselves against stronger clubs like Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

And what is the third competition?

Having been cancelled after 2014 as more member associations were allowed participation in the AFC Cup, the AFC President's Cup effectively returns in the form of AFC Challenge League.

This tournament will be contested by Asia's "developing nations", featuring the likes of Myanmar, Chinese Taipei, Nepal and Bhutan.

Three group winners and the best-performing runners-up in the West will advance to the quarterfinals, along with the winners and runners-up from the two groups in the East.

Thereafter, the eight remaining clubs will be drawn to face off in home-and-away ties until a single-match final.