[{"id":817,"name":"AFC Champions League","gender":null,"type":null,"format":null,"createdAt":"2024-11-05T10:42:42.148Z","updatedAt":"2025-04-24T13:12:37.376Z","stb_id":"afc-champions-league","position":"46","locale":"en","description":"# AFC Champions League Elite: Asia's Premier Football Tournament\\n\\n## Introduction\\n\\nThe **AFC Champions League Elite** stands as the pinnacle of club football competition across the Asian continent. Formerly known simply as the AFC Champions League until its 2024 rebranding, this prestigious tournament represents the highest level of club competition organized by the **Asian Football Confederation** (AFC). The competition brings together the elite football clubs from various Asian countries, creating a battlefield where the continent's finest talents showcase their skills on an international stage.\\n\\nThe AFC Champions League Elite has steadily grown in prominence and is widely recognized as Asia's equivalent to Europe's UEFA Champions League. With increasing viewership figures and expanding commercial partnerships, the tournament serves as a crucial platform for raising the profile of Asian club football on the global stage. AFC Champions League statistics demonstrate its importance in the development of football across the region, with participating clubs experiencing enhanced reputation and financial benefits.\\n\\n## History\\n\\n**Founded in 1967** as the Asian Club Championship, the competition has undergone several transformative phases throughout its existence. The tournament's origins were humble, initially featuring only domestic league champions from AFC member nations. This early format continued for over three decades until a significant restructuring occurred at the turn of the millennium.\\n\\nThe year **2002** marked a pivotal moment in AFC Champions League history, as the tournament underwent a comprehensive rebrand and format change. This transformation involved merging three separate competitions: the original Asian Club Championship, the Asian Cup Winners' Cup, and the Asian Super Cup. The consolidation created a more streamlined and prestigious continental competition, officially adopting the AFC Champions League name.\\n\\nThe most recent chapter in AFC Champions League development came in 2024, when the tournament was renamed the AFC Champions League Elite. This rebranding reflects the competition's status as the premier club football tournament in Asia and signals the AFC's ambition to further elevate the quality and prestige of the competition.\\n\\nThroughout its existence, the tournament has featured numerous legendary Asian football clubs and players, helping to raise standards across the continent while providing a showcase for emerging football talents.\\n\\n## Competition Format\\n\\n**The AFC Champions League Elite** features a distinctive format that balances geographical considerations with competitive integrity. The tournament currently includes **24 elite teams** divided between East and West regions of Asia, reflecting the vast geographical expanse of the continent and minimizing excessive travel demands during the early stages.\\n\\nThe competition structure follows a hybrid model beginning with a league stage followed by knockout rounds. This AFC Champions League format ensures teams play multiple matches, providing fair opportunity for advancement while creating numerous high-stakes encounters that captivate fans across the continent.\\n\\nQualification for the tournament follows a merit-based system, with entry slots allocated to member associations based on their AFC rankings. These slots are typically filled by domestic league champions, cup winners, and high-placing clubs from the strongest AFC member nations. This tiered qualification structure ensures the tournament features the highest quality teams while still providing pathways for clubs from developing football nations.\\n\\nThe AFC Champions League rules award significant benefits to the eventual champion, who earns qualification to both the FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, creating additional opportunities for Asian clubs to compete on the global stage.\\n\\n## Famous Teams\\n\\n**Al-Hilal** of Saudi Arabia stands as the most decorated club in AFC Champions League history, having claimed a record four championships throughout the tournament's existence. The Riyadh-based club has established itself as a continental powerhouse, making an unprecedented 18 tournament appearances and reaching nine finals. This remarkable consistency has made \"Al-Hilal\" one of the most recognizable brands in Asian football.\\n\\nSouth Korean clubs have collectively dominated the AFC Champions League teams landscape, accumulating 12 titles altogether. Among these, \"Pohang Steelers\" made history by becoming the first three-time Asian champions when they claimed their third title in 2009. South Korean clubs have consistently demonstrated tactical discipline and physical preparation that has proven successful in continental competition.\\n\\nJapanese clubs have also enjoyed significant success, with eight championships between them, showcasing the technical quality and professional structure of the J-League. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian clubs have secured six titles, highlighting the growing strength of football in the West Asian region.\\n\\nIn 2014, \"Western Sydney Wanderers\" created AFC Champions League history by becoming the first Australian club to win the tournament, demonstrating the expanding competitive balance across different regions of the AFC.\\n\\n## Statistics and Records\\n\\n**Al-Hilal's dominance** in the AFC Champions League statistics is unmatched, with their four titles representing the highest achievement by any single club. Their record of reaching nine finals further cements their status as Asian football's most consistently excellent club in continental competition.\\n\\nOn a national level, South Korean clubs have set the standard with 12 total championships, followed by Japan with eight and Saudi Arabia with six. This distribution of titles reflects the historical power balance in Asian club football, with East Asian clubs particularly successful.\\n\\nThe AFC Champions League records feature \"Pohang Steelers\" as the first club to secure three continental championships, an achievement that stood alone for many years as a testament to their sustained excellence. The tournament has also witnessed remarkable individual performances throughout its history, with numerous players establishing themselves as Asian football legends through their exploits in the competition.\\n\\nThe expansion of the tournament over time has created opportunities for more diverse AFC Champions League players to showcase their abilities, with stars from an increasing number of nations making their mark on the continental stage. The competition has served as a crucial stepping stone for many Asian players who later secured transfers to European leagues.\\n\\n## Current State\\n\\n**The 2023-24 season** saw \"Al Ain\" from the United Arab Emirates claim their second AFC Champions League title, adding a new chapter to the tournament's rich history. This victory highlighted the competitive nature of the modern competition, where clubs from various nations have realistic ambitions of continental glory.\\n\\nThe current AFC Champions League season features the newly rebranded Elite format, designed to further enhance the quality and appeal of the competition. The 24-team structure divided between East and West regions continues to provide an effective balance between inclusive representation and elite competition.\\n\\nThe tournament's growing commercial value and international recognition have elevated its status on the global football stage. AFC Champions League overview data shows increasing interest from sponsors, broadcasters, and football fans worldwide. The competition now serves as a crucial developmental tool for football across Asia, driving improvements in professional standards, infrastructure, and technical quality.\\n\\nWith the expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup, the AFC Champions League today offers participating clubs greater opportunities for international exposure and competition against the world's elite teams, further incentivizing excellence within Asian club football.\\n\\n## Interesting Facts\\n\\n**The tournament's evolution** from three separate competitions into a unified championship in 2002 represents one of the most significant restructuring events in international club football history. This consolidation has created a more prestigious and commercially viable competition that better serves Asian football's developmental needs.\\n\\nAFC Champions League interesting matches often feature dramatic contrasts in playing styles, with teams from different regions bringing distinct tactical approaches. The East-West divide creates fascinating cultural and stylistic clashes that add unique flavor to the competition compared to other continental tournaments.\\n\\nDespite being relatively young in its current format, the AFC Champions League has witnessed remarkable growth in its commercial value and global recognition. The tournament's broadcast reach now extends well beyond Asia, with football fans worldwide increasingly appreciative of the technical quality and competitive nature of the matches.\\n\\nAFC Champions League facts demonstrate how the competition has served as a crucial bridge between domestic Asian leagues and global football, with success in the tournament often launching clubs and players into international prominence. The competition continues to evolve, with its recent rebranding to AFC Champions League Elite signaling ambitions for further growth and development.\\n\\nPerhaps most telling about the tournament's importance is how it has helped raise professional standards across entire leagues rather than just individual clubs, with qualification for the AFC Champions League stories now serving as a primary objective for teams throughout Asia's top domestic competitions.","active":null,"short_code":null,"category":0,"top_position":null,"stb_internal_id":"0192fbeb-642e-7522-92d9-a43d66ab00ed","overrides":null,"has_article_relations":null,"has_social_media_relations":null,"inactive":false,"description_html":"

AFC Champions League Elite: Asia's Premier Football Tournament\\n\\n## Introduction\\n\\nThe AFC Champions League Elite stands as the pinnacle of club football competition across the Asian continent. Formerly known simply as the AFC Champions League until its 2024 rebranding, this prestigious tournament represents the highest level of club competition organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The competition brings together the elite football clubs from various Asian countries, creating a battlefield where the continent's finest talents showcase their skills on an international stage.\\n\\nThe AFC Champions League Elite has steadily grown in prominence and is widely recognized as Asia's equivalent to Europe's UEFA Champions League. With increasing viewership figures and expanding commercial partnerships, the tournament serves as a crucial platform for raising the profile of Asian club football on the global stage. AFC Champions League statistics demonstrate its importance in the development of football across the region, with participating clubs experiencing enhanced reputation and financial benefits.\\n\\n## History\\n\\nFounded in 1967 as the Asian Club Championship, the competition has undergone several transformative phases throughout its existence. The tournament's origins were humble, initially featuring only domestic league champions from AFC member nations. This early format continued for over three decades until a significant restructuring occurred at the turn of the millennium.\\n\\nThe year 2002 marked a pivotal moment in AFC Champions League history, as the tournament underwent a comprehensive rebrand and format change. This transformation involved merging three separate competitions: the original Asian Club Championship, the Asian Cup Winners' Cup, and the Asian Super Cup. The consolidation created a more streamlined and prestigious continental competition, officially adopting the AFC Champions League name.\\n\\nThe most recent chapter in AFC Champions League development came in 2024, when the tournament was renamed the AFC Champions League Elite. This rebranding reflects the competition's status as the premier club football tournament in Asia and signals the AFC's ambition to further elevate the quality and prestige of the competition.\\n\\nThroughout its existence, the tournament has featured numerous legendary Asian football clubs and players, helping to raise standards across the continent while providing a showcase for emerging football talents.\\n\\n## Competition Format\\n\\nThe AFC Champions League Elite features a distinctive format that balances geographical considerations with competitive integrity. The tournament currently includes 24 elite teams divided between East and West regions of Asia, reflecting the vast geographical expanse of the continent and minimizing excessive travel demands during the early stages.\\n\\nThe competition structure follows a hybrid model beginning with a league stage followed by knockout rounds. This AFC Champions League format ensures teams play multiple matches, providing fair opportunity for advancement while creating numerous high-stakes encounters that captivate fans across the continent.\\n\\nQualification for the tournament follows a merit-based system, with entry slots allocated to member associations based on their AFC rankings. These slots are typically filled by domestic league champions, cup winners, and high-placing clubs from the strongest AFC member nations. This tiered qualification structure ensures the tournament features the highest quality teams while still providing pathways for clubs from developing football nations.\\n\\nThe AFC Champions League rules award significant benefits to the eventual champion, who earns qualification to both the FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, creating additional opportunities for Asian clubs to compete on the global stage.\\n\\n## Famous Teams\\n\\nAl-Hilal of Saudi Arabia stands as the most decorated club in AFC Champions League history, having claimed a record four championships throughout the tournament's existence. The Riyadh-based club has established itself as a continental powerhouse, making an unprecedented 18 tournament appearances and reaching nine finals. This remarkable consistency has made \"Al-Hilal\" one of the most recognizable brands in Asian football.\\n\\nSouth Korean clubs have collectively dominated the AFC Champions League teams landscape, accumulating 12 titles altogether. Among these, \"Pohang Steelers\" made history by becoming the first three-time Asian champions when they claimed their third title in 2009. South Korean clubs have consistently demonstrated tactical discipline and physical preparation that has proven successful in continental competition.\\n\\nJapanese clubs have also enjoyed significant success, with eight championships between them, showcasing the technical quality and professional structure of the J-League. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian clubs have secured six titles, highlighting the growing strength of football in the West Asian region.\\n\\nIn 2014, \"Western Sydney Wanderers\" created AFC Champions League history by becoming the first Australian club to win the tournament, demonstrating the expanding competitive balance across different regions of the AFC.\\n\\n## Statistics and Records\\n\\nAl-Hilal's dominance in the AFC Champions League statistics is unmatched, with their four titles representing the highest achievement by any single club. Their record of reaching nine finals further cements their status as Asian football's most consistently excellent club in continental competition.\\n\\nOn a national level, South Korean clubs have set the standard with 12 total championships, followed by Japan with eight and Saudi Arabia with six. This distribution of titles reflects the historical power balance in Asian club football, with East Asian clubs particularly successful.\\n\\nThe AFC Champions League records feature \"Pohang Steelers\" as the first club to secure three continental championships, an achievement that stood alone for many years as a testament to their sustained excellence. The tournament has also witnessed remarkable individual performances throughout its history, with numerous players establishing themselves as Asian football legends through their exploits in the competition.\\n\\nThe expansion of the tournament over time has created opportunities for more diverse AFC Champions League players to showcase their abilities, with stars from an increasing number of nations making their mark on the continental stage. The competition has served as a crucial stepping stone for many Asian players who later secured transfers to European leagues.\\n\\n## Current State\\n\\nThe 2023-24 season saw \"Al Ain\" from the United Arab Emirates claim their second AFC Champions League title, adding a new chapter to the tournament's rich history. This victory highlighted the competitive nature of the modern competition, where clubs from various nations have realistic ambitions of continental glory.\\n\\nThe current AFC Champions League season features the newly rebranded Elite format, designed to further enhance the quality and appeal of the competition. The 24-team structure divided between East and West regions continues to provide an effective balance between inclusive representation and elite competition.\\n\\nThe tournament's growing commercial value and international recognition have elevated its status on the global football stage. AFC Champions League overview data shows increasing interest from sponsors, broadcasters, and football fans worldwide. The competition now serves as a crucial developmental tool for football across Asia, driving improvements in professional standards, infrastructure, and technical quality.\\n\\nWith the expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup, the AFC Champions League today offers participating clubs greater opportunities for international exposure and competition against the world's elite teams, further incentivizing excellence within Asian club football.\\n\\n## Interesting Facts\\n\\nThe tournament's evolution from three separate competitions into a unified championship in 2002 represents one of the most significant restructuring events in international club football history. This consolidation has created a more prestigious and commercially viable competition that better serves Asian football's developmental needs.\\n\\nAFC Champions League interesting matches often feature dramatic contrasts in playing styles, with teams from different regions bringing distinct tactical approaches. The East-West divide creates fascinating cultural and stylistic clashes that add unique flavor to the competition compared to other continental tournaments.\\n\\nDespite being relatively young in its current format, the AFC Champions League has witnessed remarkable growth in its commercial value and global recognition. The tournament's broadcast reach now extends well beyond Asia, with football fans worldwide increasingly appreciative of the technical quality and competitive nature of the matches.\\n\\nAFC Champions League facts demonstrate how the competition has served as a crucial bridge between domestic Asian leagues and global football, with success in the tournament often launching clubs and players into international prominence. The competition continues to evolve, with its recent rebranding to AFC Champions League Elite signaling ambitions for further growth and development.\\n\\nPerhaps most telling about the tournament's importance is how it has helped raise professional standards across entire leagues rather than just individual clubs, with qualification for the AFC Champions League stories now serving as a primary objective for teams throughout Asia's top domestic competitions.

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AFC Champions League: Top Scorers