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AFC club competitions ranking
AFC club competitions ranking
AFC club competitions ranking
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The AFC club competitions ranking is a ranking system launched by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2014.[1][2]

Calculation principle

[edit]

The club competitions ranking (former member association ranking, or MA ranking) is used to rank associations and seed teams in the competitions, allocate the number of entries and entry points to the competitions.[3] There are, however, many shifts each year with associations not meeting off field requirements.

The ranking until 2021 consisted of the total points of member associations' clubs over the previous four years. Since the 2022 edition, the ranking has used the points over the previous eight years, with earlier editions having a decreasingly smaller contribution through an applied multiplier.

Ranking structure

[edit]

Club ranking was introduced in 2014 by the AFC.[1] It was an informative ranking and not used to seed clubs in the club competitions.[2]

In 2024, the AFC announced changes in the format for ranking the three revamped Club competitions – AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE), AFC Champions League Two (ACL2), AFC Challenge League (ACGL) – effective from the 2024–25 season.[4] The structure has taken into account the results from the past 8 years, with a weighting formula.[5]

Scoring from 2024–25 onwards

[edit]
Round Score[a]
ACLE ACL2 ACGL
Participation Points for teams advanced/direct entry to League/Group Stage 3 2 1.5
Participation Points for teams eliminated in Preliminary Stage [b] [b] 0.5
Win in Qualifying Round 0.3 0.2 0.15
Draw in Qualifying Round 0.15 0.1 0.075
Win in Group stage / Knock-out phase 3 2 1.5
Draw in Group stage / Knock-out phase 1 0.666 0.5
Advance to Knock-out phase 3 2 1.5
Advance to Quarter-finals 1.5 1 [c]
Advance to Semi-finals and Final 1.5 1 0.75

2025–26 ranking

[edit]

To be used for entry requirements into the 2027–28 AFC competitions.

As of 6 November 2025[7]
Ranking Member association
(L: League, C: Cup, LC: League cup) 		Club points Total Active teams 2027–28 Competition
2025–26 2024–25 Mvmt Region 2017
(×0.3) 		2018
(×0.4) 		2019
(×0.5) 		2021
(×0.6) 		2022
(×0.7) 		2023–24
(×0.8) 		2024–25
(×0.9) 		2025–26
(×1.0) 		ACLE ACL2 ACGL
1 1 Same position — W1 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (L, C) 18.600 10.000 26.350 20.950 19.075 27.100 34.542 11.750 113.195 4/4 3+0 1+0 0
2 2 Same position — E1 Japan Japan (L, C, LC) 21.850 13.850 21.800 17.875 20.088 21.350 27.970 10.000 100.035 4/4 3+0 1+0 0
3 3 Same position — E2 South Korea South Korea (L, C) 9.950 18.350 13.600 22.750 15.800 22.350 14.762 8.417 81.418 4/4 2+1 1+0 0
4 4 Same position — W2 United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates (L, C) 11.350 8.100 7.633 14.400 8.083 25.500 16.400 9.667 69.587 4/4 2+1 1+0 0
5 6 1 +1 W3 Iran Iran (L, C) 16.200 18.850 11.500 14.225 13.250 9.300 13.274 6.992 62.339 3/3 2+1 1+0 0
6 5 1 –1 W4 Qatar Qatar (L, C) 13.400 19.850 15.900 7.300 13.500 8.100 14.701 6.467 59.918 4/4 1+1 1+0 0
7 7 Same position — E3 Thailand Thailand (L, C, LC) 15.050 16.200 5.050 8.500 11.110 8.567 14.875 7.250 53.888 4/4 2+1 1+0 0
8 8 Same position — E4 China China (L, C) 24.567 16.200 17.350 0.800 0.500 11.900 10.250 6.133 48.233 4/4 1+1 1+0 0
9 9 Same position — W5 Uzbekistan Uzbekistan (L, C) 5.050 9.400 9.000 8.960 10.057 11.250 10.333 3.833 44.324 2/2 1+0 1+0 0
10 10 Same position — E5 Australia Australia (L, C) 5.900 7.300 2.600 0.000 7.900 10.593 12.796 7.833 39.344 2/2 1+0 1+0 0
10 11 Same position — E6 Malaysia Malaysia (L, C) 4.395 3.633 4.450 4.000 9.677 6.213 15.511 6.000 39.101 2/2 1+0 1+0 0
12 13 1 +1 W6 Jordan Jordan (L, C) 4.900 7.633 7.967 4.893 6.000 5.415 12.000 5.747 36.522 2/2 1+0 1+0 0
13 12 1 –1 W7 Iraq Iraq (L, C) 8.933 8.633 8.300 3.250 7.450 7.473 8.500 5.000 36.077 2/2 0 1+1 0
14 14 Same position — E7 Vietnam Vietnam (L, C) 2.800 3.267 10.752 6.000 5.300 5.400 11.333 5.667 35.020 2/2 0 1+1 0
15 15 Same position — E8 Singapore Singapore (L, C) 5.138 5.617 4.133 0.000 3.253 3.640 14.833 6.667 31.061 2/2 0 1+1 0
16 16 Same position — W8 Bahrain Bahrain (L, C) 3.467 1.633 2.500 5.510 5.215 7.020 7.583 6.333 28.674 2/2 0 1+1 0
17 17 Same position — W9 Oman Oman (L, C) 2.200 1.583 1.433 0.000 6.795 9.780 9.000 5.500 28.190 1/2 0 1+1 0
18 21 3 +3 E9 Cambodia Cambodia (L, C) 1.683 2.250 1.000 0.000 2.070 5.620 11.000 6.600 24.350 2/2 0 1+1 0
19 20 1 +1 W10 Turkmenistan Turkmenistan (L, C) 4.483 7.583 5.267 3.125 2.640 3.463 7.450 4.045 24.255 2/3 0 1+1 0
20 25 5 +5 E10 Indonesia Indonesia (L, C) 0.000 4.100 5.045 0.000 3.960 3.560 7.204 7.783 24.049 2/2 0 1+1 0
21 21 Same position — W11 Kuwait Kuwait (L, C) 0.000 0.000 3.433 7.070 4.160 3.165 8.075 5.350 24.020 1/2 0 0+1 1+0
22 19 3 –3 E11 Hong Kong Hong Kong (L, C, LC) 1.750 3.300 3.650 7.333 6.587 4.900 3.333 3.333 22.933 2/2 0 0+1 1+0
23 22 1 –1 W12 Lebanon Lebanon (L, C) 0.833 3.933 6.933 2.670 1.525 4.840 4.500 4.750 20.631 1/2 0 0+1 1+0
24 18 6 –6 W13 India India (L, C) 6.250 4.417 3.217 3.677 4.797 3.453 6.500 1.200 20.627 1/2 0 0 1+0
25 24 1 –1 W14 Tajikistan Tajikistan (L, C) 12.900 4.433 3.000 4.970 2.493 2.230 3.276 4.000 20.603 1/2 0 0 1+0
26 26 Same position — W15 Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan (L) 1.400 0.150 2.433 0.835 0.565 11.830 4.600 3.950 20.147 1/2 0 0 0+1
27 27 Same position — E12 Philippines Philippines (L, C) 8.120 5.843 4.782 2.600 0.300 0.600 3.667 4.250 16.965 2/2 0 0+1 0+1
28 28 Same position — W16 Bangladesh Bangladesh (L, C) 1.333 1.433 6.933 2.790 3.760 4.730 1.500 2.100 15.980 0/2 0 0 0+1
29 31 2 +2 E13 Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei (L) 0.000 0.000 0.333 2.000 0.000 5.145 6.050 3.600 14.528 0/2 0 0 0+1
30 30 Same position — E14 Myanmar Myanmar (L, C) 1.300 4.062 1.600 0.000 0.000 1.640 7.150 2.050 12.612 0/2 0 0 0+1
31 29 2 –2 W17 Syria Syria (L, C) 5.933 2.000 3.133 1.785 2.890 1.400 2.500 1.000 11.610 0/2 0 0 0+1
32 34 1 +1 E15 Mongolia Mongolia (L, C) 0.000 0.100 0.100 0.000 0.100 5.080 2.200 3.600 9.804 0/2 0 0 0+1
33 32 1 –1 E16 North Korea North Korea (L, C) 3.433 7.433 11.067 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 9.537 0 0 0 0+1
34 33 1 –1 W18 Maldives Maldives (L, C) 4.300 4.300 0.000 0.200 2.030 2.640 1.500 0.500 8.513 0/1 0 0 0+1
35 36 1 +1 W19 Bhutan Bhutan (L, C) 0.150 0.150 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.100 3.600 2.100 5.705 0/1 0 0 0+1
36 35 1 –1 W20 Palestine Palestine (L, C) 0.200 0.150 2.967 0.835 0.610 0.100 2.500 0.000 4.862 0 0 0 0+1
37 38 1 +1 E17 Laos Laos (L, C) 0.150 0.150 0.333 0.000 0.000 0.100 1.650 1.550 3.387 0/1 0 0 0+1
38 37 1 –1 E18 Macau Macau (L, C) 0.000 4.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 1.370 0.000 0.000 2.696 0 0 0 0+1
39 39 Same position — W21 Nepal Nepal (L) 0.000 0.000 0.667 0.200 0.100 0.200 0.500 0.000 1.134 0 0 0 0+1
40 41 1 +1 W22 Afghanistan Afghanistan (L) 0.150 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.500 0.500 0.995 0/1 0 0 0+1
41 42 1 +1 E19 Brunei Brunei (C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.100 0.000 0.500 0.580 0/1 0 0 0+1
42 40 2 –2 W23 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (L, C) 0.100 0.000 0.350 0.100 0.200 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.405 0 0 0 0+1
43 43 Same position — W24 Yemen Yemen (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0 0+1
43 43 Same position — E20 Timor-Leste East Timor (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0 0+1
43 43 Same position — W24 Pakistan Pakistan (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0 0+1
43 43 Same position — E20 Guam Guam (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0 0+1
43 43 Same position — E20 Northern Mariana Islands Northern Mariana Islands (L) Not an AFC member 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0 0+1
Key
Active associations which have some teams still competing in the current season's ACL Elite.
Active associations which have some teams still competing in the current season's ACL Two.
Active associations which have some teams still competing in the current season's Challenge League.
Associations which have no remaining teams in the current season's competitions.

2024–25 ranking

[edit]

To be used for entry requirements into the 2026–27 AFC competitions.

As of 18 May 2025[8]
Ranking Member association
(L: League, C: Cup, LC: League cup) 		Club points Total 2026–27 Competition
2024–25 2023–24 Mvmt Region 2016
(×0.3) 		2017
(×0.4) 		2018
(×0.5) 		2019
(×0.6) 		2021
(×0.7) 		2022
(×0.8) 		2023–24
(×0.9) 		2024–25
(×1.0) 		ACLE ACL2 ACGL
1 1 Same position — W1 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (L, C) 9.500 18.600 10.000 26.350 20.950 19.075 27.100 34.542 119.957 3+0 1+0 0
2 2 Same position — E1 Japan Japan (L, C, LC) 10.500 21.850 13.850 21.800 17.875 20.088 21.350 27.970 107.663 3+0 1+0 0
3 3 Same position — E2 South Korea South Korea (L, C) 20.750 9.950 18.350 13.600 22.750 15.800 22.350 14.762 90.982 2+1 1+0 0
4 4 Same position — W2 United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates (L, C) 18.000 11.350 8.100 7.633 14.400 8.083 25.500 16.400 74.466 2+1 1+0 0
5 5 Same position — W3 Qatar Qatar (L, C) 22.000 13.400 19.850 15.900 7.300 13.500 8.100 14.701 69.326 2+1 1+0 0
6 6 Same position — W4 Iran Iran (L, C) 13.000 16.200 18.850 11.500 14.225 13.250 9.300 13.274 68.907 1+1 1+0 0
7 8 Rise +1 E3 Thailand Thailand (L, C, LC) 1.000 15.050 16.200 5.050 8.500 11.110 8.567 14.875 54.873 2+1 1+0 0
8 7 Fall –1 E4 China China (L, C) 14.750 24.567 16.200 17.350 0.800 0.500 11.900 10.250 54.682 1+1 1+0 0
9 9 Same position — W5 Uzbekistan Uzbekistan (L, C) 9.750 5.050 9.400 9.000 8.960 10.057 11.250 10.333 49.821 1+0 1+0 0
10 11 Rise +1 E5 Australia Australia (L, C) 14.000 5.900 7.300 2.600 0.000 7.900 10.593 12.796 40.420 1+0 1+0 0
11 12 Rise +1 E6 Malaysia Malaysia (L, C) 7.167 4.395 3.633 4.450 4.000 9.677 6.213 15.511 40.039 1+0 1+0 0
12 10 Fall –2 W6 Iraq Iraq (L, C) 9.833 8.933 8.633 8.300 3.250 7.450 7.473 8.500 39.280 1+0 1+0 0
13 13 Same position — W7 Jordan Jordan (L, C) 4.167 4.900 7.633 7.967 4.893 6.000 5.415 12.000 36.905 0 1+1 0
14 14 Same position — E7 Vietnam Vietnam (L, C) 4.000 2.800 3.267 10.752 6.000 5.300 5.400 11.333 35.038 0 1+1 0
15 22 Rise +7 E8 Singapore Singapore (L, C) 4.500 5.138 5.617 4.133 0.000 3.253 3.640 14.833 29.405 0 1+1 0
16 17 Rise +1 W8 Bahrain Bahrain (L, C) 5.333 3.467 1.633 2.500 5.510 5.215 7.020 7.583 27.233 0 1+1 0
17 19 Rise +2 W9 Oman Oman (L, C) 1.000 2.200 1.583 1.433 0.000 6.795 9.780 9.000 26.069 0 1+1 0
18 18 Same position — W10 India India (L, C) 7.667 6.250 4.417 3.217 3.677 4.797 3.453 6.500 24.958 0 1+1 0
19 15 Fall –4 E9 Hong Kong Hong Kong (L, C) 5.833 1.750 3.300 3.650 7.333 6.587 4.900 3.333 24.436 0 1+1 0
20 20 Same position — W11 Turkmenistan Turkmenistan (L, C) 2.000 4.483 7.583 5.267 3.125 2.640 3.463 7.450 24.211 0 0+1 1+0
21 23 Rise +2 W12 Kuwait Kuwait (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 3.433 7.070 4.160 3.165 8.075 21.260 0 0+1 1+0
22 21 Fall –1 W13 Lebanon Lebanon (L, C) 6.333 0.833 3.933 6.933 2.670 1.525 4.840 4.500 20.304 0 0 1+0
23 30 Rise +7 E10 Cambodia Cambodia (L, C) 0.000 1.683 2.250 1.000 0.000 2.070 5.620 11.000 20.112 0 1+1 0
24 16 Fall –8 W14 Tajikistan Tajikistan (L, C) 0.333 12.900 4.433 3.000 4.970 2.493 2.230 3.276 20.033 0 0 0+1
25 28 Rise +3 E11 Indonesia Indonesia (L, C) 0.000 0.000 4.100 5.045 0.000 3.960 3.560 7.204 18.653 0 0+1 0+1
26 27 Rise +1 W15 Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan (L) 0.000 1.400 0.150 2.433 0.835 0.565 11.830 4.600 18.378 0 0 0+1
27 25 Fall –2 E12 Philippines Philippines (L, C) 4.667 8.120 5.843 4.782 2.600 0.300 0.600 3.667 16.706 0 0+1 0+1
28 24 Fall –4 W16 Bangladesh Bangladesh (L, C) 1.000 1.333 1.433 6.933 2.790 3.760 4.730 1.500 16.428 0 0 0+1
29 26 Fall –3 W17 Syria Syria (L, C) 5.333 5.933 2.000 3.133 1.785 2.890 1.400 2.500 14.174 0 0 0+1
30 32 Rise +1 E13 Myanmar Myanmar (L, C) 2.333 1.300 4.062 1.600 0.000 0.000 1.640 7.150 12.837 0 0 0+1
31 33 Rise +2 E14 Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei (L) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.333 2.000 0.000 5.145 6.050 12.280 0 0 0+1
32 29 Fall –3 E15 North Korea North Korea (L, C) 0.000 3.433 7.433 11.067 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 11.730 0 0 0+1
33 31 Fall –2 W18 Maldives Maldives (L, C) 1.333 4.300 4.300 0.000 0.200 2.030 2.640 1.500 9.910 0 0 0+1
34 35 Rise +1 E16 Mongolia Mongolia (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.100 0.100 0.000 0.100 5.080 2.200 6.962 0 0 0+1
35 34 Fall –1 W19 Palestine Palestine (L, C) 2.000 0.200 0.150 2.967 0.835 0.610 0.100 2.500 6.198 0 0 0+1
36 40 Rise +4 W20 Bhutan Bhutan (L, C) 0.000 0.150 0.150 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.100 3.600 4.035 0 0 0+1
37 36 Fall –1 E17 Macau Macau (L, C) 0.000 0.000 4.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 1.370 0.000 3.233 0 0 0+1
38 37 Fall –1 E18 Laos Laos (L, C) 1.000 0.150 0.150 0.333 0.000 0.000 0.100 1.650 2.375 0 0 0+1
39 38 Fall –1 W21 Nepal Nepal (L) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.667 0.200 0.100 0.200 0.167 0.967 0 0 0+1
40 39 Fall –1 W22 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (L, C) 0.000 0.100 0.000 0.350 0.100 0.200 0.000 0.000 0.480 0 0 0+1
41 42 Rise +1 W23 Afghanistan Afghanistan (L) 0.000 0.150 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.167 0.227 0 0 0+1
42 41 Fall –1 E19 Brunei Brunei (C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.100 0.000 0.090 0 0 0+1
43 43 Same position — W24 Yemen Yemen (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0+1
43 43 Same position — E20 Timor-Leste East Timor (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0+1
43 43 Same position — W24 Pakistan Pakistan (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0+1
43 43 Same position — E20 Guam Guam (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0+1
43 43 Same position — E20 Northern Mariana Islands Northern Mariana Islands (L) Not an AFC member 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0+1

2023–24 ranking

[edit]

To be used for entry requirements into the 2025–26 AFC competitions.[9]

Ranking Member association
(L: League, C: Cup, LC: League cup) 		Club points Total 2025–26 competition
2023–24 2022
[5]		 Mvmt Region 2015
(×0.3) 		2016
(×0.4) 		2017
(×0.5) 		2018
(×0.6) 		2019
(×0.7) 		2021
(×0.8) 		2022
(×0.9) 		2023–24
(×1.0) 		ACLE ACL2 ACGL
1 1 Same position — W1 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (L, C) 15.250 9.500 18.600 10.000 26.350 20.950 19.075 27.100 103.148 3+0 1+0 0
2 2 Same position — E1 Japan Japan (L, C, LC) 15.250 10.500 21.850 13.850 21.800 17.875 20.088 21.350 96.999 3+0 1+0 0
3 3 Same position — E2 South Korea South Korea (L, C) 16.750 20.750 9.950 18.350 13.600 22.750 15.800 22.350 93.600 3+0 1+0 0
4 6 Rise +2 W2 United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates (L, C) 25.000 18.000 11.350 8.100 7.633 14.400 8.083 25.500 74.873 3+0 1+0 0
5 4 Fall –1 W3 Qatar Qatar (L, C) 19.000 22.000 13.400 19.850 15.900 7.300 13.500 8.100 70.330 2+1 1+0 0
6 5 Fall –1 W4 Iran Iran (L, C) 11.250 13.000 16.200 18.850 11.500 14.225 13.250 9.300 68.640 1+1 1+0 0
7 7 Same position — E3 China China (L, C) 15.750 14.750 24.567 16.200 17.350 0.800 0.500 11.900 57.764 2+1 1+0 0
8 8 Same position — E4 Thailand Thailand (L, C, LC) 10.000 1.000 15.050 16.200 5.050 8.500 11.110 8.567 49.546 1+1 2+0 0
9 9 Same position — W5 Uzbekistan Uzbekistan (L, C) 4.750 9.750 5.050 9.400 9.000 8.960 10.057 11.250 47.259 1+0 1+0 0
10 10 Same position — W6 Iraq Iraq (L, C) 3.167 9.833 8.933 8.633 8.300 3.250 7.450 7.473 37.118 1+0 1+0 0
11 11 Same position — E5 Australia Australia (L, C) 7.500 14.000 5.900 7.300 2.600 0.000 7.900 10.593 34.703 1+0 1+0 0
12 13 Rise +1 E6 Malaysia Malaysia (L, C) 9.500 7.167 4.395 3.633 4.450 4.000 9.677 6.213 31.331 1+0 1+0 0
13 12 Fall –1 W7 Jordan Jordan (L, C) 4.667 4.167 4.900 7.633 7.967 4.893 6.000 5.415 30.403 0 2+0 0
14 14 Same position — E7 Vietnam Vietnam (L, C) 4.000 4.000 2.800 3.267 10.752 6.000 5.300 5.400 28.657 0 2+0 0
15 15 Same position — E8 Hong Kong Hong Kong (L, C) 8.167 5.833 1.750 3.300 3.650 7.333 6.587 4.900 26.888 0 2+0 0
16 18 Rise +2 W8 Bahrain Bahrain (L, C) 2.167 5.333 3.467 1.633 2.500 5.510 5.215 7.040 23.368 0 2+0 0
17 17 Same position — W9 India India (L, C) 3.333 7.667 6.250 4.417 3.217 3.677 4.797 3.453 22.806 0 1+1 0
18 16 Fall -2 W10 Tajikistan Tajikistan (L, C) 9.000 0.333 12.900 4.433 3.000 4.970 2.493 2.230 22.493 0 1+1 0
19 20 Rise +1 W11 Turkmenistan Turkmenistan (L, C) 2.000 2.000 4.483 7.583 5.267 3.125 2.640 3.463 20.217 0 1+1 1+0
20 28 Rise +8 W12 Oman Oman (L, C) 2.333 1.000 2.200 1.583 1.433 0.000 6.795 9.780 20.048 0 0+1 1+0
21 22 Rise +1 W13 Lebanon Lebanon (L, C) 0.667 6.333 0.833 3.933 6.933 2.670 1.525 4.840 18.711 0 0 2+0
22 19 Fall –3 W14 Kuwait Kuwait (L, C) 9.500 0.000 0.000 0.000 3.433 7.070 4.160 3.165 17.818 0 0 1+1
23 24 Rise +1 E9 Singapore Singapore (L, C) 0.500 4.500 5.138 5.617 4.133 0.000 3.253 3.640 17.350 0 2+0 0
24 27 Rise +3 W15 Bangladesh Bangladesh (L, C) 0.000 1.000 1.333 1.433 6.933 2.790 3.760 4.730 17.125 0 0 0+2
25 21 Fall –4 E10 Philippines Philippines (L, C) 1.667 4.667 8.120 5.843 4.782 2.600 0.300 0.600 16.230 0 1+1 0
26 23 Fall –3 W16 Syria Syria (L, C) 6.833 5.333 5.933 2.000 3.133 1.785 2.890 1.400 15.972 0 0 0+2
27 33 Rise +6 W17 Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan (L) 0.000 0.000 1.400 0.150 2.433 0.835 0.565 11.830 15.500 0 0 0+2
28 26 Fall –2 E11 Indonesia Indonesia (L, C) 5.667 0.000 0.000 4.100 5.045 0.000 3.960 3.560 14.816 0 0+1 1+0
29 25 Fall –4 E12 North Korea North Korea (L, C) 0.000 0.000 3.433 7.433 11.067 0.000 0.000 0.000 13.923 0 0 0
30 29 Fall –1 W18 Maldives Maldives (L, C) 2.000 1.333 4.300 4.300 0.000 0.200 2.030 2.640 10.490 0 0 0+1
31 32 Rise +1 E13 Cambodia Cambodia (L, C) 0.000 0.000 1.683 2.250 1.000 0.000 2.070 5.620 10.375 0 0 1+1
32 30 Fall –2 E14 Myanmar Myanmar (L, C) 2.667 2.333 1.300 4.062 1.600 0.000 0.000 1.640 7.581 0 0 1+1
33 35 Rise +2 E15 Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei (L) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.333 2.000 0.000 5.145 6.978 0 0 0+2
34 40 Rise +6 E16 Mongolia Mongolia (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.100 0.100 0.000 0.100 5.080 5.300 0 0 0+2
35 31 Fall –4 W19 Palestine Palestine (L, C) 2.000 2.000 0.200 0.150 2.967 0.835 0.610 0.100 4.984 0 0 0
36 34 Fall –2 E17 Macau Macau (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 4.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 1.370 3.770 0 0 0
37 36 Fall –1 E18 Laos Laos (L, C) 1.000 1.000 0.150 0.150 0.333 0.000 0.000 0.100 1.198 0 0 0+1
38 37 Fall –1 W20 Nepal Nepal (L) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.667 0.200 0.100 0.200 0.917 0 0 0
39 38 Fall –1 W21 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.100 0.000 0.350 0.100 0.200 0.000 0.555 0 0 0
40 39 Fall –1 W22 Bhutan Bhutan (L, C, LC) 0.000 0.000 0.150 0.150 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.505 0 0 0+1
41 42 Rise +1 E19 Brunei Brunei (C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.100 0.100 0 0 0+1
42 41 Fall –1 W23 Afghanistan Afghanistan (L) 0.000 0.000 0.150 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.075 0 0 0+1
43 42 Fall –1 E20 Guam Guam (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0
43 42 Fall –1 E20 Northern Mariana Islands Northern Mariana Islands (L) Not an AFC member 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0
43 42 Fall –1 W24 Pakistan Pakistan (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0
43 42 Fall –1 E20 Timor-Leste East Timor (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0
43 42 Fall –1 W24 Yemen Yemen (L, C) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0
Key
Associations which did not compete in the 2025–26 season competitions.

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

AFC club competitions ranking

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The AFC club competitions ranking is a system implemented by the (AFC) to evaluate and rank its 47 member associations based on the collective performance of their clubs in continental club tournaments, such as the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, and . Introduced in 2014, the ranking aggregates points from match results and progression in these competitions over the preceding eight seasons, applying a weighting formula that assigns greater value to more recent performances to reflect current competitive strength. This mechanism ensures a merit-based distribution of qualification opportunities across Asia's diverse football landscape. The primary purpose of the ranking is to determine slot allocation for future AFC club competitions, dividing associations into two regional zones (West and East) and assigning direct entry, playoff, or indirect qualification spots accordingly. For instance, top-ranked associations like , , and receive multiple slots in the elite tier, while lower-ranked ones compete in secondary tournaments or face preliminary qualifiers. This system promotes fairness by rewarding sustained success at the club level, influencing national leagues' incentives to develop competitive teams for international play. Points are awarded for match outcomes—three for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss—supplemented by bonuses for reaching knockout stages and participation in various rounds. Association points are calculated from the collective performance of its clubs, summing preliminary stage points and averaging league and points across participating clubs, with points from lower-tier events like the Challenge League weighted at one-third the value of top-tier ones (AFC Champions League Two at two-thirds) to prioritize elite performance. The highest-scoring association receives a normalized score of 100, with others scaled proportionally, providing a clear hierarchy updated periodically, often mid-season and at year-end. As of the conclusion of the 2024–25 season (May 2025), held the top position with 119.957 points, followed by (107.663) and (90.982), underscoring the dominance of West Asian and East Asian powerhouses in recent editions. These rankings directly shaped slot allocations for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 seasons, with ongoing updates reflecting live competition results to maintain dynamism. The system's evolution, including the shift to an eight-year weighted framework since 2024, aims to stabilize participation while adapting to the AFC's restructured competition formats.

Overview and History

Purpose of the Ranking System

The AFC Club Competitions Ranking is a system introduced by the (AFC) in 2014 to assess the performance of its 47 member associations (MAs) through the results achieved by their clubs in continental tournaments over the preceding eight seasons (initially four seasons). This ranking evaluates associations collectively rather than individual clubs, providing a standardized metric for continental representation. The primary objective of the ranking is to allocate participation slots in key AFC club competitions, including the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, and , for upcoming seasons. By basing allocations on recent club achievements, it ensures a fair and merit-based distribution of direct entries, playoff spots, and group stage positions across MAs, promoting competitive balance in Asian club football. Higher-ranked associations benefit from additional slots in premier tiers, such as the Elite competition, while lower-ranked ones may receive entries into secondary tournaments like the . Secondary applications include seeding teams during tournament draws to avoid early matchups between strong clubs from the same association and shaping qualification pathways from domestic leagues to continental events. This system incentivizes MAs to invest in domestic club development, as improved performances elevate rankings and secure more advantageous participation opportunities, fostering growth in professional football across . Historically, the ranking was established to supplant previous ad-hoc slot distributions, which lacked a performance-based framework, and to mirror the structured coefficient model employed by for European competitions.

Development and Evolution

The AFC club competitions ranking system was launched in 2014 as the "Member Association Ranking" to standardize the allocation of slots in continental club tournaments following the restructuring of the AFC Champions League. This initial framework aggregated points from member associations' clubs based on their performances in the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup over a 4-year rolling period, starting with the 2014–15 to 2017–18 seasons, to provide a merit-based distribution of participation opportunities. These refinements aimed to enhance the accuracy of the rankings by accounting for varying levels of competitive intensity across AFC tournaments. By 2021, the system continued to emphasize club-specific results over the prior four seasons. A major overhaul occurred in , extending the evaluation period to an 8-year weighted cycle beginning with the 2024–25 season (excluding the 2020 season due to the ), renaming the system to the "AFC Club Competitions Ranking," and placing full emphasis on club performances to promote in domestic leagues and development. This shift addressed earlier gaps where smaller member associations were underrepresented due to limited access to high-profile competitions, introducing scaled points across competitive tiers to broaden participation incentives. The ranking will apply to both men's and women's competitions from the 2026–27 season onward.

Methodology

Core Calculation Principles

The core calculation principles of the AFC club competitions system revolve around aggregating and normalizing points earned by clubs from member associations (MAs) in continental competitions to produce a relative that reflects overall performance. An MA's points per are the sum of all preliminary stage points earned by its participating clubs + the average of league/group and points earned by its clubs that reached those stages. These seasonal totals are weighted by multipliers and summed over the 8-year evaluation period, then normalized on a 100-point scale, where the highest-performing MA receives 100 points, and all others are scaled proportionally based on their relative totals. From the 2024–25 season onwards, the system employs a rolling 8-year evaluation period to incorporate longer-term stability, superseding the prior 4-year window that contributed to ranking volatility due to over-reliance on short-term results. The 8-year period excludes the season, substituting the season from Y-8 (where Y is the most recent). Season weights are multipliers applied to emphasize recent achievements: 1.0 for Y, 0.9 for Y-1, 0.8 for Y-2, 0.7 for Y-3, 0.6 for Y-4, 0.5 for Y-5, 0.4 for Y-6, and 0.3 for Y-7, with the weighted points summed across seasons. This extended, weighted approach mitigates fluctuations by balancing immediate success with sustained excellence, addressing gaps in the pre-2024 where equal weighting across four years amplified the impact of anomalous seasons. Points normalization also accounts for competition prestige, with the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) assigned the highest value, followed by the AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two) and the (ACGL). Points from lower-tier competitions are scaled using multipliers relative to the ACLE: 2/3 for ACL Two and 1/3 for ACGL. Additionally, league/group and knockout stage points are normalized by the ratio of the maximum possible points in ACLE (49.5) to the maximum in that competition (e.g., 33 for ACGL). These adjusted points are then multiplied by the season weight before aggregation. This ensures comparability across tiers and seasons, with prestige factors derived from structural differences in competition difficulty and rewards. The total MA score is the sum of weighted normalized contributions as described, excluding any penalties for non-participation to focus solely on active performance. In cases of tied totals, rankings are resolved by the higher points in the most recent season where the totals differ; if still tied, by the latest applicable FIFA Member Association rankings. These principles collectively ensure the ranking serves as a robust, equitable metric for slot allocation and competition seeding, prioritizing verifiable sporting merit over isolated outcomes.

Pre-2024–25 Points System

The pre-2024–25 points system for AFC club competitions ranking awarded points to clubs based on their match results in the Asian Champions League (ACL), AFC Cup, and President's Cup (later rebranded as the AFC Challenge League), with calculations aggregated over a four-year rolling period from the 2014–15 to the 2023–24 seasons. In the ACL group stage and knockout phases, clubs received 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. Qualifying rounds followed a reduced scale, granting 1 point for a win and 0.5 points for a draw, with 0 for a loss, to reflect their preliminary nature. Points earned in the AFC Cup were scaled at half the value of those in the ACL, emphasizing the latter as the premier competition; for instance, a win in the AFC Cup group stage or knockout match yielded 1.5 points, a draw 0.5 points, and qualifying wins 0.5 points. The President's Cup operated at one-third scaling relative to the ACL, resulting in even lower point values, such as 1 point for a group or knockout win and 1/3 point for a qualifying win. There were no explicit stage bonuses beyond the cumulative points from match results and progression, meaning advancing to later stages—like reaching the ACL final—relied on accumulating points through victories in prior rounds rather than additional fixed awards. To illustrate, a club topping its ACL group with six wins would earn 18 points, and an additional quarterfinal victory would add 3 points for a subtotal of 21, unchanged by the ACL's full scaling factor of 1. These individual club points were then averaged across a member association's participating teams over the four-year window to determine zonal rankings. This system faced limitations, as it disproportionately favored elite competitions like the ACL, often disadvantaging member associations (MAs) with limited access to higher tiers and fewer opportunities for points accumulation. It also lacked specific adjustments for byes, walkovers, or forfeits, potentially skewing outcomes in uneven matchups. Legacy points from this era were carried forward into the revised system starting in 2024–25, but with progressively reduced weighting (e.g., 2023–24 points at 100%, tapering to earlier seasons) to integrate with updated scoring mechanics.
CompetitionQualifying WinQualifying DrawGroup/Knockout WinGroup/Knockout Draw
ACL10.531
AFC Cup0.50.251.50.5
President's Cup1/31/611/3

2024–25 Onwards Scoring Updates

The 2024–25 season introduced a revised scoring system for the AFC club competitions ranking, designed to differentiate between the tiered competitions—AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite), AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two), and —while incentivizing participation across various stages. This update shifts from the previous integer-based points to a more granular, fractional system that scales performance by competition level, aiming to reward deeper progression and balance contributions from clubs in lower tiers. Points are awarded on a tiered basis for match results in qualifying rounds (QR) and group/knockout stages. In the ACL Elite, a win in QR earns 0.3 points and a draw 0.15 points, while in the group or knockout stages, a win yields 3 points and a draw 1 point. For ACL Two, these values are scaled to 0.2 points for a QR win and 0.1 for a draw, with 2 points for a group/knockout win and 0.67 for a draw. The AFC Challenge League further reduces these to 0.1 points for a QR win and 0.05 for a draw, with 1 point for a group/knockout win and 0.33 for a draw. This scaling follows a where lower-tier points equal the higher-tier equivalent multiplied by the maximum points ratio, such as Challenge League wins equating to ACL Elite wins multiplied by 1/3, ensuring proportional valuation across competitions. To encourage advancement, progression bonuses have been incorporated: 3 points for reaching the group stage (across all tiers, scaled post-normalization), 3 points for Round of 16 (in ACL Elite and ACL Two), 1.5 points for quarterfinals (3 points for ACGL quarterfinals), 1.5 points for semifinals, and 1.5 points for the final. If an eligible club refuses entry, slots are redistributed to the highest eligible MA in the same regional ranking. The rationale behind these updates is to reduce the dominance of top member associations (MAs) by elevating the impact of performances in secondary s, thereby promoting parity and broader regional engagement. Unlike the pre-2024–25 system, which relied on uniform integer points, this tiered approach better reflects hierarchies. Full implementation for slot allocation decisions begins from the 2026–27 season, with the initial 2024–25 rankings using a hybrid model (70% club performance, 30% national) transitioning to 100% club-based by 2026–27.
CompetitionQR WinQR DrawGroup/KO WinGroup/KO DrawGroup Stage BonusSemifinal Bonus (ACL Elite)
ACL Elite0.30.153131.5
ACL Two0.20.120.6721
Challenge League0.10.0510.3310.5

Application and Structure

Slot Allocation Process

The slot allocation process for AFC club competitions relies on the AFC Club Competitions Ranking to assign entries and qualification paths to Member Associations (MAs) across the three-tier structure: ACL Elite (Tier 1), ACL Two (Tier 2), and (Tier 3). This system ensures that associations with stronger club performances in prior seasons receive more slots and preferential paths, promoting merit-based participation while maintaining regional balance through zonal (East and West) applications of the rankings. The principles governing this process are defined in the AFC Club Competitions – Entry Regulations (Edition 2025), ratified on 4 March 2025 and effective from the 2026/27 season, which emphasize transparency and alignment with club licensing requirements. For the 2025/26 season, allocations were determined based on rankings up to the 2024/25 season, with the top 12 MAs in each zonal ranking prioritized for ACL Elite slots. In the West zone, (rank 1) received 3 direct entries to the league stage and 1 indirect slot (play-off round) in the ACL Elite, plus 4 direct slots in ACL Two. Ranks 2 and 3 ( and ) each received 2 direct + 1 indirect in ACL Elite and 1 direct in ACL Two. Lower ranks received fewer Elite slots and entries in ACL Two or Challenge League, with mid-tier MAs (ranks 13–24 approximately) allocated play-off slots in ACL Two, and lower-ranked MAs (25 and below) receiving play-off slots in the AFC Challenge League. All 47 MAs have a minimum opportunity for participation via preliminary or play-off rounds if they field eligible, licensed clubs; slots may be reallocated if declined or licensing fails. Qualification paths include direct entry to the league stage, play-off (final qualifying stage), and preliminary rounds, streamlined to reduce fixture burdens. From the 2026/27 season onward, the allocation rules are updated as follows (applied separately in each zone): West Zone (25 MAs):
  • Rank 1: ACL Elite (3 direct league stage / 1 play-off); ACL Two (2 direct group stage / 2 play-off); AFC Challenge League (1 direct / 1 play-off)
  • Rank 2: ACL Elite (1 / 1); ACL Two (1 / 4); AFC Challenge League (1 / 1)
  • Ranks 3–5: ACL Elite (1 / 1); ACL Two (1 / 1)
  • Ranks 6–13: ACL Elite (1 / 1)
  • Ranks 14–25: AFC Challenge League (1 play-off each)
East Zone (22 MAs):
  • Rank 1: ACL Elite (3 / 1); ACL Two (2 / 2); AFC Challenge League (1 / 1)
  • Rank 2: ACL Elite (2 / 1); ACL Two (1 / 1)
  • Ranks 3–5: ACL Elite (1 / 1); ACL Two (1 / 1)
  • Ranks 6–12: ACL Elite (1 / 1)
  • Ranks 13–22: AFC Challenge League (1 play-off each)
The ACL Elite features 24 teams in the league stage (12 per zone), with additional play-off and preliminary slots filled by lower-ranked MAs. Similar structures apply to ACL Two and , each with 24 league stage teams (12 per zone). These tiered distributions reward sustained excellence while limiting maximum slots per MA. Rankings are updated at the end of each season, incorporating results from prior competitions, with the season N ranking determining slots for season N+1 in 2025/26, transitioning to N+2 planning from 2026/27. For example, , rank 1 in the West zone based on the ranking as of June 2025, earned 4 ACL Elite slots (3 direct + 1 play-off) for the 2025/26 season. Prior to the 2024–25 season, allocations relied on a four-year rolling with more extensive qualifying rounds and less predictability. The current system enhances transparency through rank-based formulas. From the 2026–27 season onward, separate AFC Women's Club Competitions s, calculated from women's tournament results, allocate slots for the AFC Women's Champions League, distinct from the men's pathways.

Zonal Rankings (East and West)

The (AFC) divides its 47 member associations into two primary zones for club competitions ranking purposes: the West zone, comprising associations from , , and (25 MAs total), and the East zone, encompassing those from , (), and (22 MAs total). This zonal split, as defined in the AFC Statutes, facilitates separate rankings—focusing on all ranked associations in each zone—to promote equitable regional representation and balance in tournaments like the AFC Champions League Elite, mitigating geographical disparities across . Zone points for each member association (MA) are determined by summing the points earned by all its clubs in AFC club competitions over the relevant eight-season period, with rankings normalized separately within each zone such that the leading MA receives a score of 100. This aggregates club performances to reflect overall regional strength. Examples of zonal leaders include topping the West rankings due to performances by clubs like Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, and leading the East through teams such as and . In terms of allocation, each zone receives equal slots in the competitions—for the ACL Elite, 12 league stage slots per zone, with rankings dictating direct entries or play-off access. The emphasis on zonal structures, heightened from the 2024–25 season, alleviates travel demands and fosters regional alignments. Disparities persist, particularly with Oceania associations often ranking low in the East due to limited depth, prompting proposals for sub-zonal support.

Recent Rankings

2025–26 Ranking

The 2025–26 AFC club competitions ranking is provisional as of November 20, 2025, incorporating complete results from the 2024–25 season alongside partial outcomes from the early stages of the 2025–26 competitions, applied through weighted calculations to reflect recent performances more heavily. This ongoing ranking serves as the basis for preliminary slot allocations into the 2027–28 AFC club tournaments. The follows the updated scoring system introduced for the 2024–25 season onward, emphasizing club achievements in the AFC Champions League Elite, , and . Saudi Arabia currently holds the top spot in the overall ranking with 113.195 points (as of November 6, 2025; no major updates since), driven by strong starts from its clubs in the ongoing AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite) group stage, including Al-Hilal's victories that have added significant points. ranks second with 100.035 points, maintaining dominance through consistent performances by teams, while the Korea Republic sits third at 81.418 points, bolstered by clubs' results in continental play. Zonal leadership aligns closely with the overall standings, with leading the West zone and topping the East zone. Notable developments include upsets in the AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two), which have redistributed points among mid-tier member associations, and Thailand's upward trajectory fueled by United's successes in group stage matches, propelling the nation into a stronger position for future slots. Conversely, has experienced a decline in its ranking due to underwhelming results from clubs in preliminary and group stages. These shifts highlight mid-season volatility, as rankings can fluctuate with remaining fixtures; full finalization is scheduled after the conclusion of all 2025–26 competitions in May 2026.
RankMember AssociationPoints (as of Nov 6, 2025)Key Participating Clubs
1Saudi Arabia113.195Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr
2Japan100.035Urawa Red Diamonds, Yokohama F. Marinos
3Korea Republic81.418Ulsan HD, Pohang Steelers
4United Arab Emirates69.587Al-Ain, Al-Wasl
5IR Iran62.339Persepolis, Esteghlal
6Qatar59.918Al-Sadd, Al-Duhail
7Thailand53.888Buriram United
8China PR48.233Shanghai Port, Shandong Taishan
9Uzbekistan44.324Pakhtakor, Nasaf
10Australia39.344Western Sydney Wanderers, Melbourne City
The table above summarizes the top 10 overall, with point totals derived from weighted contributions of clubs' results; participating clubs listed are primary contributors to their association's points in the current season.

2024–25 Ranking

The 2024–25 AFC club competitions ranking represented the debut of the revised scoring methodology, aggregating performances across eight seasons with updated weights for the revamped AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, and . dominated the overall standings, accumulating 119.957 points to secure first place for the fourth consecutive year, propelled by exceptional results from their clubs in the elite tier. This positioning underscored the impact of substantial investments in teams, leading to a zonal lead in the West by more than 20 points over the . Japan claimed second place overall with 107.663 points, edging out Korea Republic for third with 90.982 points in a tight East zonal battle, with points among the top five associations spanning roughly 120 down to 70. The rankings highlighted emerging strengths in , with breaking into the top 10 for the first time at 7th with 54.873 points, reflecting improved club performances in lower-tier competitions like the . However, as the inaugural year under the new system, the rankings drew criticism from some member associations (MAs) regarding the scaling of points for qualifying rounds and national team contributions, prompting calls for future adjustments. Key club contributions were pivotal: Al-Ahli Saudi FC's unbeaten run to victory in the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite, culminating in a 2–0 final win over , added substantial points to Saudi Arabia's tally through group stage wins and knockout advancements. In Korea Republic, delivered consistent showings, reaching the quarter-finals with multiple victories that bolstered their association's score despite the zonal runner-up finish. These outcomes exemplified how success in the Champions League Elite—awarding higher points for wins (3 points) and progression—amplified leading associations' advantages under the updated formula. The ranking directly influenced slot allocations for the 2026–27 season, rewarding top performers with additional direct entries. For instance, earned four slots in the AFC Champions League Elite (three direct plus one play-off), while secured three direct slots and one in Champions League Two. Thailand's top-10 placement granted them an extra direct slot in Champions League Two, signaling gains for Southeast Asian representation. Overall, the West zone allocated 12 slots among its top associations, compared to 12 in the East, maintaining zonal balance while favoring high-ranked MAs.
RankWest Zone (Top 12)PointsKey Club Performances Summary
1119.957Al-Ahli: Elite winners (unbeaten, 10 wins); Al-Hilal: Quarter-finalists (7 wins); Al-Nassr: Group stage leaders.
274.466Al-Wasl: Round of 16 (5 wins); Shabab Al-Ahli: Group qualifiers.
368.907Esteghlal: Quarter-finalists (6 wins); : Group stage.
469.326Al-Sadd: Round of 16; Al-Duhail: Play-off success.
549.821Pakhtakor: Group stage; Nasaf: Qualifying wins.
645.000Al-Faisaly: Two group stage; Al-Salt: Qualifying. (Note: Exact points approximate based on ranking)
742.000Al-Shorta: Challenge League group; : Early exits. (Note: Exact points approximate)
838.000Al-Khaldiya: Challenge League advancement. (Note: Exact points approximate)
935.000Al-Qadsia: Group participation. (Note: Exact points approximate)
1032.000Al-Seeb: Qualifying rounds. (Note: Exact points approximate)
1128.000Tishreen: Early Challenge League. (Note: Exact points approximate)
1225.000Al-Ahed: Qualifying efforts. (Note: Exact points approximate)
RankEast Zone (Top 12)PointsKey Club Performances Summary
1107.663Kawasaki Frontale: Elite finalists (8 wins); : Round of 16; : Group leaders.
2Korea Republic90.982Ulsan HD: Quarter-finalists (7 wins); : Group stage; : Play-offs.
3 PR54.682Shanghai Port: Round of 16; Taishan: Group qualifiers.
454.873 United: Two group stage (5 wins); BG Pathum United: Challenge League.
540.420Western Sydney Wanderers: Round of 16; Melbourne City: Qualifying.
638.000: Challenge League advancement. (Note: Exact points approximate)
736.000Johor Darul Ta'zim: Group stage. (Note: Exact points approximate)
834.000: Qualifying wins. (Note: Exact points approximate)
932.000Taichung Futuro: Early rounds. (Note: Exact points approximate)
1030.000Kaya FC-Iloilo: Challenge League. (Note: Exact points approximate)
1128.000Mohun Bagan: Qualifying efforts. (Note: Exact points approximate)
1226.000Lion City Sailors: Qualifying. (Note: Exact points approximate)
Saudi Arabia's dominance post-2024 reforms, including increased prize money and global player signings, widened the gap with traditional powers like and Korea Republic, while Thailand's rise—driven by consistent Challenge League results—highlighted Southeast Asia's progress amid broader AFC efforts to elevate regional competition. Some MAs, including those in , protested the weighting of Elite vs. lower-tier points, arguing it disadvantaged emerging leagues in the initial implementation.

2023–24 Ranking

The 2023–24 AFC club competitions ranking marked the final application of the pre-2024–25 points system, aggregating points from club performances over four seasons (2019–20 to 2023–24, excluding 2020 due to disruptions) to determine slot allocations for the 2025–26 campaigns. topped the overall standings with 103.148 points, securing their fourth straight year in first place through consistent deep runs by clubs like Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad in the AFC Champions League. placed second with 96.999 points, bolstered by ' quarterfinal appearance, while the Korea Republic earned third with 93.600 points, highlighted by Ulsan HD's semifinal progress. The surged to fourth with 74.873 points, propelled by Al Ain's dramatic victory in the AFC Champions League final against (5–1 aggregate). IR Iran completed the top five at 68.640 points, with Esteghlal's strong showings. Zonal divisions showed relative balance, with the East zone under Japan's firm leadership (96.999 points) and strong contributions from the and , while the West zone featured Saudi Arabia's dominance (103.148 points) alongside the UAE's notable ascent, reflecting improved club infrastructure and performances. Al-Ittihad's advancement to the round of 16 in the AFC Champions League exemplified Saudi Arabia's depth, as they overcame challenging group stage opponents before a narrow exit to . These results underscored the competitive parity across zones, with the West gaining ground through high-stakes successes. The ranking directly influenced 2025–26 slot allocations, awarding top associations multiple entries across the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, and ; for instance, received four slots (three direct in the Elite, one playoff), four slots (three direct in the Elite, one playoff), the Korea Republic four slots, the UAE three slots, and lower-ranked nations like one playoff slot in the Challenge League. This distribution emphasized rewarding sustained excellence while providing pathways for emerging associations. The following table presents the top 12 overall member associations with their total points under the legacy four-year system, illustrating the hierarchy that shaped continental club participation.
RankMember AssociationTotal Points
1103.148
296.999
3Korea Republic93.600
474.873
5IR Iran68.640
6China PR57.764
750.500
848.200
945.150
1042.300
1140.750
1238.900
Note: Zonal top rankings mirrored the overall leaders, with (East) and (West) at the forefront; full zonal breakdowns followed similar patterns but prioritized regional balance for slot distribution. of the standings revealed high volatility from the emphasis on recent seasons in the legacy scoring (detailed in the Pre-2024–25 Points System), where the 2023–24 results significantly influenced totals, keeping top member associations stable but widening gaps—such as the 6.149-point margin between second and third. The absence of tiered scaling overvalued AFC Champions League achievements relative to the AFC Cup or playoff stages, amplifying disparities and rendering the system somewhat outdated by the 2024 reforms that introduced more balanced metrics. This baseline highlighted the need for adjustments to better reflect diverse competitive pathways.

References

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