2025–26 AFC Champions League Two

2025–26 AFC Champions League Two
Tournament details
DatesQualifying:
13 August 2025
Competition proper:
16 September 2025 – 16 May 2026
TeamsCompetition proper: 32
Total: 35 (from 23 associations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played84
Goals scored231 (2.75 per match)
Attendance540,915 (6,439 per match)
Top scorer(s) Anderson Lopes (Lion City Sailors)
Denilson (Ratchaburi)
Brenner (Nam Định)
Trent Buhagiar (Tampines Rovers)
5 goals each
All statistics correct as of 11 December 2025.

The 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two is the 22nd edition of the Asia's second-tier club football tournament, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the second under the AFC Champions League Two title.[1][2]

It features 32 teams in the group stage.[3] The winner will be given an indirect preliminary stage slot for the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite, if they have not already qualified through their domestic performance.[4]

Sharjah are the reigning champions. They were unable to defend their title as they are instead participating in the AFC Champions League Elite league stage.

Association team allocation

The associations are allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking which was published after the 2023–24 competitions were completed.[5][6] Slots are subject to later re-balancing based on the 2024–25 competition results.

Participation for 2025–2026 AFC Champions League Two
Participating
Not participating
Notes
  1. ^
    AFC Licensing (AFC): Association did not have a licensed club.[7]
  2. ^
    Thailand (THA): The indirect slot of North Korea that did not enter was redistributed to the highest eligible Member Association.[8] The Thai team with the additional indirect slot received a bye in the play-off round due to an insufficient number of participating teams.

Teams

The number of appearances and last appearance include the AFC Cup as the predecessor of the AFC Champions League Two.

Entry round West Region East Region
Group stage Team Qualifying method App. (last) Team Qualifying method App. (last)
Sepahan 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite qualifying round loser 2nd (2024–25) Bangkok United 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite qualifying round loser 2nd (2024–25)
Al-Nassr 2024–25 Saudi Pro League third place[9][Note KSA] 1st Gamba Osaka 2024 J1 League fourth place[Note JPN] 1st
Al Wasl 2024–25 UAE Pro League fourth place[Note UAE] 1st Pohang Steelers 2024 Korean FA Cup winners 1st
Al Ahli 2024–25 Qatar Stars League fourth place[Note QAT] 1st Beijing Guoan 2024 Chinese Super League fourth place[Note CHN] 1st
Esteghlal 2024–25 Hazfi Cup winners 1st BG Pathum United 2024–25 Thai League 1 third place 1st
Andijon 2024 Uzbekistan Cup winners 1st Ratchaburi 2024–25 Thai League 1 fourth place 1st
Al-Zawraa 2024–25 Iraq Stars League runners-up[Note IRQ] 6th (2023–24) Macarthur FC 2024 Australia Cup winners 2nd (2023–24)
Al-Hussein 2024–25 Jordanian Pro League champions 3rd (2024–25) Selangor 2024–25 Malaysia Super League runners-up[Note MAS] 7th (2024–25)
Al-Wehdat 2024–25 Jordan FA Cup winners 14th (2024–25) Nam Định 2024–25 V.League 1 champions 2nd (2024–25)
Al-Muharraq 2024–25 Bahraini Premier League champions 8th (2021) Công An Hà Nội 2024–25 Vietnamese Cup winners 1st
Al Khaldiya 2024–25 Bahraini King's Cup winners 3rd (2024–25) Tai Po 2024–25 Hong Kong Premier League champions 3rd (2019)
Mohun Bagan SG[Note IND] 2024–25 Indian Super League champions 8th (2023–24) Eastern 2024–25 Hong Kong FA Cup winners 5th (2024–25)
Istiklol 2024 Tajikistan Higher League champions 8th (2024–25) Lion City Sailors 2024–25 Singapore Premier League champions
2024–25 Singapore Cup winners 		12th (2024–25)
Arkadag 2024–25 AFC Challenge League winners 1st Tampines Rovers 2024–25 Singapore Premier League runners-up[Note SGP] 16th (2024–25)
Kaya–Iloilo 2024–25 Philippines Football League champions 6th (2024–25)
Qualifying play-off Goa 2025 Super Cup winners 1st Persib 2024–25 Liga 1 champions 3rd (2024–25)
Ahal 2024 Ýokary Liga runners-up[Note TKM] 6th (2021) Manila Digger 2024–25 Philippines Football League runners-up 1st
Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda 2024 Tajikistan Cup winners 2nd (2013)
Al-Seeb 2024–25 Oman Professional League champions 2nd (2022)
Notes
  1. ^
    China (CHN): As 2024 Chinese FA Cup winners Shanghai Port qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, the spot reserved for the Chinese FA Cup winners was transferred to the fourth-placed team in the 2024 Chinese Super League.
  2. ^
    India (IND): Considered to have withdrawn during the league stage.[10]
  3. ^
    Iraq (IRQ): As 2024–25 Iraq FA Cup winners Duhok failed to obtain an AFC license,[7] their AFC Champions League Two group stage spot was passed to the 2024–25 Iraq Stars League runners-up.
  4. ^
    Japan (JPN): As 2024 Emperor's Cup winners Vissel Kobe qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, the spot reserved for the Emperor's Cup winners was transferred to the fourth-placed team in the 2024 J1 League.
  5. ^
    Malaysia (MAS): As 2024 Malaysia FA Cup winners Johor Darul Ta'zim qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, the spot reserved for the Malaysia FA Cup winners was transferred to the runners-up of the 2024–25 Malaysia Super League.
  6. ^
    Qatar (QAT): As regular season third place, Al-Gharafa, qualified for the Champions League Elite via winning the 2025 Emir of Qatar Cup, the spot reserved for the third-placed team was transferred to the fourth-placed team in the 2024–25 Qatar Stars League.
  7. ^
    Saudi Arabia (KSA): As 2024–25 Saudi King's Cup winners Al-Ittihad qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, the spot reserved for the King's Cup winners was transferred to the third-placed team in the 2024–25 Saudi Pro League.
  8. ^
    Singapore (SGP): As 2024–25 Singapore Cup winners Lion City Sailors qualified for the Champions League Two via their league position, the spot reserved for the Singapore Cup winners was transferred to the runners-up in the 2024–25 Singapore Premier League.
  9. ^
    Turkmenistan (TKM): As Arkadag won the 2024–25 AFC Challenge League, 2024 Ýokary Liga, and 2024 Turkmenistan Cup, and since Turkmenistan has no ACL Two direct slot based on its regional ranking, one additional ACL Two direct slot was allocated to Turkmenistan for Arkadag and the spot reserved for Ýokary Liga champions was transferred to the runners-up, Ahal.
  10. ^
    United Arab Emirates (UAE): As 2024–25 UAE President's Cup winners Shabab Al Ahli and Sharjah qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position and winning the previous edition of this competition respectively, the spot reserved for the UAE President’s Cup was transferred to the third-placed team in the 2024–25 UAE Pro League. The spot originally reserved for the third-placed team was then transferred to the fourth-placed team.

Schedule

The schedule of the competition is as follows.[11] All matches will be played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, apart from the final which will take place on a Sunday.

Stage Round Draw date West Region East Region
Preliminary Stage Preliminary stage 1 No draw[a] 13 August 2025
Group stage Matchday 1 15 August 2025 16–17 September 2025 17–18 September 2025
Matchday 2 30 September and 1 October 2025 1–2 October 2025
Matchday 3 21–22 October 2025 22–23 October 2025
Matchday 4 4–5 November 2025 5–6 November 2025
Matchday 5 28–29 October 2025[b]
25–29 November 2025 		26–27 November 2025
Matchday 6 23–24 December 2025 10–11 December 2025
Knockout stage Round of 16 30 December 2025 10–11 and 17–18 February 2026 11–12 and 18–19 February 2026
Quarter-finals 3–4 and 10–11 March 2026 4–5 and 11–12 March 2026
Semi-finals 7 and 14 April 2026 8 and 15 April 2026
Final 16 May 2026
Notes
  1. ^ Pre-determined format
  2. ^ for Bahraini clubs

Qualifying play-offs

The three winners of the play-off round (two from West Region and one from East Region) will advance to the group stage to join the 29 direct entrants. The losers of the qualifying play-offs will enter the group stage of the 2025–26 AFC Challenge League.

Team 1ScoreTeam 2
West Region
Goa 2–1 Al-Seeb
RT Tursunzoda 1–2 Ahal
East Region
Persib 2–1 Manila Digger

West Region

Goa 2–1 Al-Seeb
  • Dražić 24'
  • Siverio 52'
 AFC Report
GSA Report
  • Nasser 60'
Attendance: 12,314
Referee: Zhang Lei (China)
Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda 1–2 Ahal
  • Atsam 64'
 AFC Report
GSA Report
  • Gürgenow 62'
  • Mirzoýew 82'
Attendance: 6,350
Referee: Choi Hyun-jai (South Korea)

East Region

Persib 2–1 Manila Digger
 AFC Report
GSA Report
  • Joof 66'
Attendance: 5,844

Group stage

Main article: 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two group stage

The group stage draw took place on 15 August 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[12]

Location of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two group stage teams
Brown: Group A; Cyan: Group B; Orange: Group C; Yellow: Group D; Pink: Group E;
Green: Group F; Blue: Group G; Red: Group H
30km
19miles
Locations of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two teams in Central Thailand

West Region

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification WAS MUH EST ALW
1 Al Wasl (Q) 5 3 2 0 13 5 +8 11 Advance to round of 16 — 2–2 7–1 24 Dec
2 Al-Muharraq 5 2 1 2 8 5 +3 7 0–1 — 24 Dec 4–0
3 Esteghlal 5 1 2 2 5 10 −5 5 1–1 0–1 — 2–0
4 Al-Wehdat (E) 5 1 1 3 4 10 −6 4 1–2 2–1 1–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 26 November 2025. Source: ACL2
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AHL KHA AND ARK
1 Al Ahli 5 1 4 0 5 4 +1 7 Advance to round of 16 — 0–0 24 Dec 2–2
2 Al Khaldiya 5 1 3 1 3 2 +1 6 1–2 — 0–0 2–0
3 Andijon 5 0 5 0 1 1 0 5 0–0 0–0 — 1–1
4 Arkadag 5 0 4 1 4 6 −2 4 1–1 24 Dec 0–0 —
Updated to match(es) played on 26 November 2025. Source: ACL2
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SEP ALH AHA MBG
1 Sepahan (Q) 4 2 1 1 5 3 +2 7 Advance to round of 16 — 2–0 2–2 30 Sep
2 Al-Hussein (Q) 3 2 0 1 5 3 +2 6 1–0 — 23 Dec 21 Oct
3 Ahal (E) 3 0 1 2 3 7 −4 1 0–1 1–4 — 25 Nov
4 Mohun Bagan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrew[a] 23 Dec 4 Nov 0–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 25 November 2025. Source: ACL2
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Notes:
  1. ^ On 27 September 2025, AFC announced that Mohun Bagan SG were considered to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League Two after they failed to appear for their fixture against Sepahan in Isfahan, citing security concerns. Their single match played was annulled.[13]

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification NSR ZWR IST GOA
1 Al-Nassr (Q) 5 5 0 0 17 1 +16 15 Advance to round of 16 — 24 Dec 5–0 4–0
2 Al-Zawraa 5 3 0 2 7 6 +1 9 0–2 — 2–1 2–1
3 Istiklol 5 2 0 3 5 12 −7 6 0–4 2–1 — 2–0
4 Goa (E) 5 0 0 5 2 12 −10 0 1–2 0–2 24 Dec —
Updated to match(es) played on 26 November 2025. Source: ACL2
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

East Region

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification MAC HNP TPF BJG
1 Macarthur FC 6 4 1 1 13 7 +6 13 Advance to round of 16 — 2–1 2–1 3–0
2 Công An Hà Nội 6 2 2 2 9 7 +2 8 1–1 — 3–0 2–1
3 Tai Po 6 2 1 3 8 14 −6 7 2–1 1–0 — 3–3
4 Beijing Guoan 6 1 2 3 10 12 −2 5 1–2 2–2 3–0 —
Source: ACL2
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification GOS RPM TND EAS
1 Gamba Osaka 6 6 0 0 16 2 +14 18 Advance to round of 16 — 2–0 3–1 3–1
2 Ratchaburi 6 3 0 3 15 8 +7 9 0–2 — 2–0 5–1
3 Nam Định 6 3 0 3 14 7 +7 9 0–1 3–1 — 9–0
4 Eastern 6 0 0 6 2 30 −28 0 0–5 0–7 0–1 —
Source: ACL2
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group G

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification PSB BKU LCS SEL
1 Persib 6 4 1 1 11 6 +5 13 Advance to round of 16 — 1–0 1–1 2–0
2 Bangkok United 6 3 1 2 8 7 +1 10[a] 0–2 — 1–0 1–1
3 Lion City Sailors 6 3 1 2 10 8 +2 10[a] 3–2 1–2 — 4–2
4 Selangor 6 0 1 5 7 15 −8 1 2–3 2–4 0–1 —
Source: ACL2
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Bangkok United 6, Lion City Sailors 0.

Group H

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BGT PHS BGP KAY
1 Tampines Rovers 6 5 1 0 14 5 +9 16 Advance to round of 16 — 1–0 2–1 5–3
2 Pohang Steelers 6 4 1 1 7 2 +5 13 1–1 — 2–0 2–0
3 BG Pathum United 6 2 0 4 5 8 −3 6 0–2 0–1 — 2–1
4 Kaya–Iloilo 6 0 0 6 4 15 −11 0 0–3 0–1 0–2 —
Source: ACL2
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Top scorers

  Team eliminated / inactive for this round / matches voided by AFC
As of 12 December 2025
Rank[14] Player Team MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5 MD6 R16-1 R16-2 QF1 QF2 SF1 SF2 F Total
1 Anderson Lopes Lion City Sailors 4 1 5
Brenner Nam Dinh 2 3
Denilson Ratchaburi 3 2
Trent Buhagiar BG Tampines Rovers 2 1 1 1
3 Hide Higashikawa BG Tampines Rovers 1 1 2 4
Chrigor Selangor 1 1 1 1
Ikhsan Fandi Ratchaburi 1 2 1
Andrew Jung Persib 1 1 1 1
Tana Ratchaburi 1 1 2
9 Muhsen Al-Ghassani Bangkok United 1 1 1 3
Adam Alis Persib 1 2
China Cong An Ha Noi 1 2
João Félix Al-Nassr 1 1 1
Abdulrahman Ghareeb Al-Nassr 1 2
Fábio Lima Al Wasl 2 1
Lennart Thy Lion City Sailors 1 1 1
Michel Renner Tai Po 1 2

See also

References

  1. ^ "Asian Champions League to relaunch with fewer teams and more prize money in 2024–25 season". AP News. August 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "History beckons for AFC Cup 2023/24 contenders as final edition of popular competition kicks off". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  3. ^ "AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women's Champions League". the-AFC.
  4. ^ "More Member Associations to benefit from inclusive AFC Champions League". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 23 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  5. ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original on 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  6. ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2024". FootyRankings. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  7. ^ a b "List of Licensed Clubs - AFC Club Competitions 2025/26" (PDF). 5 June 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  8. ^ "FC Club Competitions – Entry Regulations" (PDF). 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  9. ^ "SAFF approves mechanism for participation of Saudi clubs in AFC competitions". Saudi Gazette.
  10. ^ "AFC axes Mohun Bagan from ACL2, Asia ban likely". The Times of India. 2025-10-01. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  11. ^ "AFC Competitions Calendar (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026)" (PDF). the-AFC. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  12. ^ "ACLTwo Group Stage showdowns to be revealed". AFC. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  13. ^ "#ACLTwo - Preview: Matchday Two". Asian Football Confederation. 29 September 2025.
  14. ^ "AFC Champions League Two – Top Scorers". the-afc.com. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
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