2025–26 AFC Champions League Two

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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 played76
Goals scored211 (2.78 per match)
Attendance469,220 (6,174 per match)
Top scorer(s)Brazil Anderson Lopes (Lion City Sailors)
Brazil Denilson (Ratchaburi)
5 goals each
All statistics correct as of 27 November 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

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    India (IND): Considered to have withdrawn during the league stage.[10]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

[edit]

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[c]
Notes
  1. ^ Pre-determined format
  2. ^ for Bahraini clubs
  3. ^ Hosted at a neutral venue from the West Region

Qualifying play-offs

[edit]

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 India2–1Oman Al-Seeb
RT Tursunzoda Tajikistan1–2Turkmenistan Ahal
East Region
Persib Indonesia2–1Philippines Manila Digger

West Region

[edit]
Goa India2–1Oman Al-Seeb
 AFC Report
GSA Report
Attendance: 12,314
Referee: Zhang Lei (China)
Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda Tajikistan1–2Turkmenistan Ahal
 AFC Report
GSA Report
Attendance: 6,350
Referee: Choi Hyun-jai (South Korea)

East Region

[edit]
Persib Indonesia2–1Philippines Manila Digger
 AFC Report
GSA Report
Attendance: 5,844

Group stage

[edit]
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]

class=notpageimage|
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
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
30km
19miles
Locations of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two teams in Central Thailand

West Region

[edit]

Group A

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification WAS MUH EST ALW
1 United Arab Emirates Al Wasl (Q) 5 3 2 0 13 5 +8 11 Advance to round of 16 — 2–2 7–1 24 Dec
2 Bahrain Al-Muharraq 5 2 1 2 8 5 +3 7 0–1 — 24 Dec 4–0
3 Iran Esteghlal 5 1 2 2 5 10 −5 5 1–1 0–1 — 2–0
4 Jordan 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

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AHL KHA AND ARK
1 Qatar Al Ahli 5 1 4 0 5 4 +1 7 Advance to round of 16 — 0–0 24 Dec 2–2
2 Bahrain Al Khaldiya 5 1 3 1 3 2 +1 6 1–2 — 0–0 2–0
3 Uzbekistan Andijon 5 0 5 0 1 1 0 5 0–0 0–0 — 1–1
4 Turkmenistan 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

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SEP ALH AHA MBG
1 Iran Sepahan (Q) 4 2 1 1 5 3 +2 7 Advance to round of 16 — 2–0 2–2 30 Sep
2 Jordan Al-Hussein (Q) 3 2 0 1 5 3 +2 6 1–0 — 23 Dec 21 Oct
3 Turkmenistan Ahal (E) 3 0 1 2 3 7 −4 1 0–1 1–4 — 25 Nov
4 India Mohun Bagan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrawn[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. Their single match was voided.[13]

Group D

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification NSR ZWR IST GOA
1 Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr (Q) 5 5 0 0 17 1 +16 15 Advance to round of 16 — 24 Dec 5–0 4–0
2 Iraq Al-Zawraa 5 3 0 2 7 6 +1 9 0–2 — 2–1 2–1
3 Tajikistan Istiklol 5 2 0 3 5 12 −7 6 0–4 2–1 — 2–0
4 India 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

[edit]

Group E

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification MAC HNP BJG TPF
1 Australia Macarthur FC (Q) 5 3 1 1 11 6 +5 10 Advance to round of 16 — 2–1 3–0 2–1
2 Vietnam Công An Hà Nội (Q) 5 2 2 1 9 6 +3 8 1–1 — 2–1 3–0
3 China Beijing Guoan (E) 5 1 2 2 9 10 −1 5 11 Dec 2–2 — 3–0
4 Hong Kong Tai Po (E) 5 1 1 3 7 14 −7 4 2–1 11 Dec 3–3 —
Updated to match(es) played on 27 November 2025. Source: ACL2
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Group F

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification GOS RPM TND EAS
1 Japan Gamba Osaka (Q) 5 5 0 0 14 2 +12 15 Advance to round of 16 — 11 Dec 3–1 3–1
2 Thailand Ratchaburi 5 3 0 2 15 6 +9 9 0–2 — 2–0 5–1
3 Vietnam Nam Định 5 2 0 3 5 7 −2 6 0–1 3–1 — 11 Dec
4 Hong Kong Eastern (E) 5 0 0 5 2 21 −19 0 0–5 0–7 0–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 27 November 2025. Source: ACL2
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Group G

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification PSB BKU LCS SEL
1 Indonesia Persib 5 3 1 1 10 6 +4 10[a] Advance to round of 16 — 10 Dec 1–1 2–0
2 Thailand Bangkok United (Q) 5 3 1 1 8 6 +2 10[a] 0–2 — 1–0 1–1
3 Singapore Lion City Sailors 5 2 1 2 9 8 +1 7 3–2 1–2 — 4–2
4 Malaysia Selangor (E) 5 0 1 4 7 14 −7 1 2–3 2–4 10 Dec —
Updated to match(es) played on 26 November 2025. Source: ACL2
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Persib 3, Bangkok United 0

Group H

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BGT PHS BGP KAY
1 Singapore Tampines Rovers (Q) 5 4 1 0 12 5 +7 13 Advance to round of 16 — 1–0 2–1 5–3
2 South Korea Pohang Steelers (Q) 5 3 1 1 6 2 +4 10 1–1 — 2–0 2–0
3 Thailand BG Pathum United (E) 5 2 0 3 5 6 −1 6 11 Dec 0–1 — 2–1
4 Philippines Kaya–Iloilo (E) 5 0 0 5 4 14 −10 0 0–3 11 Dec 0–2 —
Updated to match(es) played on 27 November 2025. Source: ACL2
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Top scorers

[edit]
  Team eliminated / inactive for this round / matches voided by AFC
As of 27 November 2025
Rank[14] Player Team MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5 MD6 R16-1 R16-2 QF1 QF2 SF1 SF2 F Total
1 Brazil Anderson Lopes Singapore Lion City Sailors 4 1 5
Brazil Denilson Thailand Ratchaburi 3 2
3 Malta Trent Buhagiar Singapore BG Tampines Rovers 2 1 1 4
Japan Hide Higashikawa Singapore BG Tampines Rovers 1 1 2
Brazil Chrigor Malaysia Selangor 1 1 1 1
Singapore Ikhsan Fandi Thailand Ratchaburi 1 2 1
France Andrew Jung Indonesia Persib 1 1 1 1
Spain Tana Thailand Ratchaburi 1 1 2
9 Oman Muhsen Al-Ghassani Thailand Bangkok United 1 1 1 3
Indonesia Adam Alis Indonesia Persib 1 2
Brazil China Vietnam Cong An Ha Noi 1 2
Portugal João Félix Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr 1 1 1
Saudi Arabia Abdulrahman Ghareeb Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr 1 2
United Arab Emirates Fábio Lima United Arab Emirates Al Wasl 2 1
Germany Lennart Thy Singapore Lion City Sailors 1 1 1
Brazil Michel Renner Hong Kong Tai Po 1 2

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  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.
[edit]