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Arab Club Champions Cup
Arab Club Champions Cup
Arab Club Champions Cup
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Arab Club Champions Cup
Organiser(s)UAFA
Founded1981; 44 years ago (1981)
RegionArab world
Teams37
Current championsSaudi Arabia Al-Nassr
(1st title)
Most championshipsIraq Al-Rasheed
Tunisia Espérance de Tunis
(3 titles each)
Websiteuafa-ac.com
2023 Arab Club Champions Cup

The Arab Club Champions Cup (Arabic: كأس العرب للأندية الأبطال, French: Ligue des Champions Arabe)[1] is a club football competition organised by the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) and contested by top clubs from the Arab world. The tournament is contested by a total of 37 teams from Asia and Africa.

Founded in 1981, the tournament was held alongside the Arab Cup Winners' Cup and the Arab Super Cup throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, until the Cup Winners' Cup and Super Cup were merged with the Champions Cup in 2002. The tournament's first champions were Iraqi club Al-Shorta, who defeated Lebanese side Nejmeh in the final over two legs in 1982.[2]

Saudi Arabian clubs have accumulated the most victories, with nine wins. The title has been won by 20 clubs, eight of which have won the title more than once. Since the tournament was merged with the Cup Winners' Cup, only ES Sétif of Algeria have managed consecutive wins, successfully defending their title in 2008. Iraqi club Al-Rasheed and Tunisian side Espérance de Tunis share the record for most titles, with three each. The reigning champions are Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia, who won their first title in 2023.

The next two editions of the tournament will be held in 2027 (from 21 July to 7 August) and in 2029 (from 25 July to 11 August).[3]

History

[edit]
List of winners
Season Winners
Arab Club Champions Cup
1981–82 Iraq Al-Shorta
1984 Saudi Arabia Al-Ettifaq
1985 Iraq Al-Rasheed
1986 Iraq Al-Rasheed (2)
1987 Iraq Al-Rasheed (3)
1988 Saudi Arabia Al-Ettifaq (2)
1989 Morocco Wydad Casablanca
1990 Cancelled
1992 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
1993 Tunisia Espérance de Tunis
1994 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
1995 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal (2)
1996 Egypt Al Ahly
1997 Tunisia Club Africain
1998 Algeria WA Tlemcen
1999 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab (2)
2000 Tunisia Club Sfaxien
2001 Qatar Al-Sadd
Arab Unified Club Championship
2002 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli Saudi
2003 Egypt Zamalek
Arab Champions League
2003–04 Tunisia Club Sfaxien (2)
2004–05 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad Jeddah
2005–06 Morocco Raja Casablanca
2006–07 Algeria ES Sétif
2007–08 Algeria ES Sétif (2)
2008–09 Tunisia Espérance de Tunis (2)
UAFA Club Cup
2012–13 Algeria USM Alger
Arab Club Championship
2017 Tunisia Espérance de Tunis (3)
Arab Club Champions Cup
2018–19 Tunisia Étoile du Sahel
2019–20 Morocco Raja Casablanca (2)
2023 Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr

The Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) decided to create a competition for champions of Arab countries after the end of the 1979–80 season.[4] Domestic champions from UAFA's member nations were invited to compete, but after several withdrawals, only three teams from Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan ended up participating.[5] The competition kicked off on 19 June 1981 with Lebanese champions Nejmeh beating Jordanian champions Al-Ahli 2–1.[6][7] Nejmeh's Jamal Al-Khatib was the scorer of the first Arab Club Champions Cup goal.[8] Nejmeh and Al-Shorta competed in the inaugural final in February 1982, with Al-Shorta winning 4–2 on aggregate at Al-Shaab Stadium in Baghdad to be crowned the first champions of the Arab world.[9]

The tournament was not held the following year but returned in 1984 in a round-robin format, and Al-Ettifaq earned the first title for a Saudi Arabian club that year.[10] With the number of participants increasing every year, UAFA introduced preliminary qualifying rounds that preceded the final round-robin tournament, before they changed the format of the final tournament in 1987 to one that consisted of a group stage followed by a knockout stage.[11] UAFA also started to allow countries to have more than one participant in 1987, with two Saudi Arabian clubs (Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal) and two Iraqi clubs (Al-Rasheed and Al-Jaish) competing.[12] Al-Rasheed of Iraq dominated the competition during these years, becoming the first team to win three consecutive championships in 1985, 1986 and 1987, while Al-Ettifaq won their title back in 1988.[13] From 1981 to 1988, no team from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) was able to win the tournament and all winners were from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).[14]

An African club became champions of the Arab world for the first time in 1989 as Wydad Casablanca of Morocco beat Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in the final.[15] That same year, UAFA founded a new annual competition that would be held alongside the Arab Club Champions Cup; it was called the Arab Cup Winners' Cup and was a competition for the cup winners of Arab countries, with a similar format to that of the Champions Cup.[16] In 1992, UAFA introduced the Arab Super Cup which was an annual round-robin competition between the winners and runners-up of both the Champions Cup and Cup Winners' Cup.[17] From 1989 until 2001, there were six winners from CAF and five from the AFC.[18] Four of the eleven winners during this time were from Saudi Arabia, while Espérance de Tunis earned the first win for a Tunisian team in 1993, Al-Ahly became the first Egyptian champions in 1995, WA Tlemcen earned Algeria's first title in 1998 and Al-Sadd won the first title for a Qatari club in 2001.[19]

In 2002, UAFA made a decision that changed the face of Arab club football.[4] With the increasing number of commitments facing Arab clubs in the modern era, UAFA decided to merge the Cup Winners' Cup and Super Cup with the Champions Cup to form the Arab Unified Club Championship, which would be the only UAFA club tournament.[18] Two editions of the tournament were played under this name, with Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia winning in 2002 and Zamalek winning in 2003.[20] After the 2003 edition, ART became the tournament's sponsor and UAFA then changed the name of the tournament to the Arab Champions League so that its name was similar to other elite club tournaments such as the UEFA Champions League, CAF Champions League, AFC Champions League and OFC Champions League.[14] Tunisia's Club Sfaxien became the first winners of the Champions League era.[21] From the 2004–05 edition onwards, UAFA reintroduced two-legged finals, which had not been used since the first edition of the tournament.[5]

After title wins for Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad and Morocco's Raja Casablanca, ES Sétif of Algeria became the first back-to-back winners in the Champions League era by claiming both the 2006–07 and 2007–08 titles.[10] After the 2008–09 edition won by Espérance de Tunis of Tunisia, UAFA ran into organisational problems due to issues with the tournament's new sponsor.[14] This prevented the tournament from being held for four years until it resurfaced in 2012–13 under the new name of UAFA Club Cup, with Algeria's USM Alger earning their first title.[22] However, UAFA then ran into the same problems as before which led to another four-year hiatus.[10] The competition was held again in 2017 under the name of Arab Club Championship with 20 competing teams; the group stage and knockout stage were held in Egypt and the final was held as a single leg.[23] Espérance de Tunis were crowned champions making them the joint-most successful team in the competition's history.[14]

The number of teams doubled to 40 for the 2018–19 season where the competition was renamed to Arab Club Champions Cup and its format was changed.[24] The 2023 edition of the tournament was widely covered by international media due to the participation of a number of high-profile players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté following their transfers to Saudi Pro League clubs.[25] Out of the thirteen champions crowned from 2002 to 2023, ten of them were from Africa and only three were from Asia.[10]

Branding

[edit]
The signing ceremony for the TV broadcasting rights for the 2017 edition.

Since the 2018–19 season, the competition has been named Arab Club Champions Cup, while each edition of the tournament also has its own special name based on the host nation of the tournament or host of the final match. The 2019 final was hosted in the United Arab Emirates, therefore the 2018–19 edition was named the Zayed Champions Cup to mark 100 years since the birth of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the United Arab Emirates.[26] The 2020 final was hosted in Morocco, therefore the 2019–20 edition was named the Mohammed VI Champions Cup after Mohammed VI of Morocco.[27] The 2023 edition of the tournament was hosted in Saudi Arabia from the group stage onwards, and was thus named King Salman Club Cup after Salman of Saudi Arabia.[28]

The logo of the Arab Club Champions Cup is a white circle with a grey outline, featuring navy, red, purple and green patterning with a navy diamond in the centre bearing the words Arab Champions in Arabic. The name of the competition in both English and Arabic features underneath the logo. The logo is adapted slightly for each edition of the tournament to reflect the name and host nation of that specific edition.[29]

Prize money

[edit]

As of 2023, the fixed amount of prize money paid to participating clubs is as follows:[30]

Prize money
Winners $6,000,000
Runners-up $2,500,000
Semi-finalists $200,000
Quarter-finalists $150,000
Group stage $100,000
Qualifying rounds $20,000

Team records and statistics

[edit]
Trophy of the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup.

Performance by club

[edit]
Main article: List of Arab Club Champions Cup finals
Performances in the Arab Club Champions Cup by club
Club Title(s) Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runner-up
Tunisia Espérance de Tunis 3 2 1993, 2009, 2017 1986, 1995
Iraq Al-Rasheed 3 0 1985, 1986, 1987 —
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 2 3 1994, 1995 1989, 2019, 2023
Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab 2 1 1992, 1999 1998
Tunisia Club Sfaxien 2 1 2000, 2004 2005
Morocco Raja Casablanca 2 1 2006, 2020 1996
Saudi Arabia Al-Ettifaq 2 0 1984, 1988 —
Algeria ES Sétif 2 0 2007, 2008 —
Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad 1 3 2005 1987, 1994, 2020
Morocco Wydad Casablanca 1 2 1989 2008, 2009
Tunisia Club Africain 1 2 1997 1988, 2002
Egypt Al Ahly 1 1 1996 1997
Iraq Al-Shorta 1 0 1982 —
Algeria WA Tlemcen 1 0 1998 —
Qatar Al-Sadd 1 0 2001 —
Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 1 0 2002 —
Egypt Zamalek 1 0 2003 —
Algeria USM Alger 1 0 2013 —
Tunisia Étoile du Sahel 1 0 2019 —
Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr 1 0 2023 —
Syria Al-Jaish 0 2 — 1999, 2000
Jordan Al-Faisaly 0 2 — 2007, 2017
Lebanon Nejmeh 0 1 — 1982
Morocco KAC Kénitra 0 1 — 1984
Algeria USM El-Harrach 0 1 — 1985
Qatar Al-Arabi 0 1 — 1992
Bahrain Al-Muharraq 0 1 — 1993
Algeria MC Oran 0 1 — 2001
Kuwait Al-Kuwait 0 1 — 2003
Egypt Al-Ismaily 0 1 — 2004
Egypt ENPPI Club 0 1 — 2006
Kuwait Al-Arabi 0 1 — 2013

Performances by nation

[edit]
Performances in finals by nation
Nation Titles Runners-up
 Saudi Arabia 9 7
 Tunisia 7 5
 Algeria 4 2
 Iraq 4 0
 Morocco 3 4
 Egypt 2 3
 Qatar 1 1
 Jordan 0 2
 Kuwait 0 2
 Syria 0 2
 Bahrain 0 1
 Lebanon 0 1

Performances by continent

[edit]
Performances in finals by continent
Continent Titles Runners-up
Africa 16 14
Asia 14 16

Player records

[edit]

Most goals

[edit]
Sami Al-Jaber is the all-time top scorer of the competition.
Players who are still active are highlighted in boldface.
Rank Nation Player Goals
1 Saudi Arabia Sami Al-Jaber 26
2 Saudi Arabia Talal Al-Meshal 16
Tunisia Haykel Guemamdia 16
4 Tunisia Zoubair Essafi 14
5 Egypt Abdel Halim Ali 13
6 Morocco Mustapha Bidoudane 12
Saudi Arabia Saad Al-Harthi 12
Saudi Arabia Hamzah Idris 12
9 Brazil Romarinho 11
10 Algeria Abdelmalek Ziaya 10
Jordan Hassouneh Al-Sheikh 10
Jordan Mahmoud Shelbaieh 10
Saudi Arabia Essa Al-Mehyani 10
Brazil Sérgio Ricardo 10
Sudan Mohamed Abdelrahman 10
16 Algeria Lamouri Djediat 9
Morocco Salaheddine Bassir 9
Morocco Soufiane Alloudi 9
Saudi Arabia Mohammed Noor 9
Saudi Arabia Waleed Al-Gizani 9
Saudi Arabia Yousuf Al-Thunayan 9
Morocco Bouchaib El Moubarki 9
Mali Tenema N'Diaye 9
Senegal Papa Malick Ba 9
Iraq Ahmed Salah Alwan 9
Bahrain Talal Yousef 9
Egypt Ahmed Abdel Moneim 9
28 Egypt Gamal Hamza 8
Senegal Issa Aidara 8
Ivory Coast Rémi Adiko 8
Algeria Noureddine Daham 8
Iraq Haris Mohammed 8
Iraq Ahmed Radhi 8
Morocco Mohamed Madihi 8

See also

[edit]

References

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

Arab Club Champions Cup

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Arab Club Champions Cup is an international club football competition organized by the (UAFA), contested by top teams from Arab nations since its establishment in 1982. Originally launched as the Arab Clubs Champions League Championship, it has evolved through multiple name changes and structural reforms, including a merger with the in 2001 to form the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Tournament, a transformation into the Arab Champions League format from 2003 to 2009, and a revival under its current name in 2017. The tournament's format has varied over time but generally features a structure, with recent editions like the 2023 King Salman Cup for Arab Clubs involving 24 teams in preliminary home-and-away rounds, followed by a final stage hosted in specific cities such as , , and Al-Baha in . The inaugural edition in 1982 was won by Iraqi club Al-Shorta, marking the start of a competition that has now held 30 editions across its iterations. The most recent edition was in 2023, with the next scheduled for the 2025–26 season. Saudi Arabian clubs lead in successes with nine titles, followed by Tunisian teams with seven, highlighting the tournament's role as a key platform for regional rivalry and prestige among football powerhouses like Espérance de Tunis and Al-Rasheed, each with three victories. As one of UAFA's events, it underscores the growth of club football in the , with the 2023 final seeing Al-Nassr defeat Al-Hilal 2-1 to claim the crown.

History

Establishment and early years

The (UAFA) established the Arab Club Championship in 1981 as a continental competition to foster club football across Arab nations, with the inaugural edition scheduled for the 1981–82 season. The first tournament took place in 1982 in , , but featured only three participating teams—Al-Shorta from , Nejmeh from , and Al-Ahli from —following withdrawals by several invited clubs from other Arab countries. In a format culminating in a playoff final, Al-Shorta defeated Nejmeh to claim the title, marking 's early prominence in the competition. The second edition, held in 1984 in , , saw expanded participation and a home-and-away knockout structure, with Al-Ittifaq of emerging victorious over Kénitra Athletic Club of in the final. This event highlighted growing involvement from Gulf and North African clubs, as the tournament began incorporating more teams from and the region to broaden its regional representation. Iraqi dominance defined the mid-1980s, as Al-Rasheed won three consecutive titles from 1985 to 1987, including victories in editions hosted in and , underscoring the competition's role in elevating Arab club standards during that period. Despite this progress, the early years were marked by significant challenges from regional political instability, including the cancellation of the edition and further disruptions such as the 1990 abandonment amid the Gulf crisis, as well as the 1991 omission; these issues often led to withdrawals by clubs from conflict-affected nations like and .

Format evolution and mergers

In 2001, following the conclusion of the 17th edition of the Arab Club Championship, the (UAFA) merged it with the to create the Prince Faysal bin Fahad Tournament for Arab Clubs, incorporating elements from the Arab Super Cup to form a unified annual competition that increased participation to over 20 teams from across Arab nations. This merger aimed to streamline UAFA's club competitions and enhance regional engagement by combining league champions, cup winners, and super cup participants into one event. The tournament underwent further transformation in 2003 when it was rebranded as the Arab Champions League, shifting from the earlier pure round-robin league format to a hybrid structure featuring preliminary rounds, a group stage divided into regional pools, and subsequent phases with two-legged ties. Seeding for the group stage was determined by national rankings and prior performance, while home-and-away rules applied to all matches to ensure fairness and logistical balance across host countries. This format persisted through six editions until 2009, after which the competition was suspended for three years before reviving in 2012 as the UAFA Club Cup with a simplified -only structure. The event was relaunched in 2017 under the name Arab Club Championship, initially featuring around 20 teams in qualifying rounds leading to a 12-team final , before expanding significantly in the 2018–19 to approximately 37–40 participants with added preliminary rounds designed for lower-ranked Arab nations to compete progressively. This expansion, accompanied by a renaming to the Arab Club Champions Cup, introduced broader representation from UAFA member associations and a multi-tiered qualification path to heighten competitiveness. Starting from the 2019 edition, UAFA adopted single-leg finals played at neutral venues to streamline the schedule and reduce travel burdens, as exemplified by the 2019–20 , which was postponed due to the and concluded in 2021 with its final hosted in , . Recent adaptations include the integration of video assistant referee (VAR) technology in the 2023 edition, applied across knockout stages to improve decision-making accuracy while maintaining the hybrid format of home-and-away preliminary and group matches leading to neutral-venue knockouts.

Recent developments and FIFA recognition

In 2018, the tournament underwent a from the Arab Club Championship to the Arab Club Champions Cup, reflecting an expansion to 40 participating teams and a revised format aimed at enhancing competitiveness among top Arab clubs. The 2023 edition, hosted entirely in , was officially titled the King Salman Club Cup in honor of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, underscoring the kingdom's growing role in regional football organization. The 2019–20 edition faced significant disruption from the , with matches suspended in March 2020 amid global lockdowns and health restrictions affecting international travel and gatherings. The (UAFA) halted proceedings after the preliminary and group stages, postponing the knockout rounds for over a year before resuming in 2021, culminating in the final on August 21, 2021. The 2023 tournament marked a resurgence for Saudi clubs, with Al-Nassr defeating Al-Hilal 2–1 in extra time to claim their first title in the competition's . scored both goals for Al-Nassr in the final, highlighting the event's appeal to global stars and boosting its profile as a platform for high-stakes Arab derbies. This victory, played before packed stadiums in and , signaled Saudi Arabia's increasing dominance following investments in domestic and regional football infrastructure. The tournament remains organized solely under UAFA auspices without formal FIFA endorsement as an official competition.

Format and eligibility

Qualification process

The qualification process for the Arab Club Champions Cup is overseen by the (UAFA), which represents 22 member nations across and . Domestic league champions from each of these nations receive automatic invitations to participate, either directly into the main tournament or through preliminary qualifying rounds designed to streamline the field. Additional slots are granted to winners and the highest league finishers from prominent football associations, allowing major nations such as , , , , and to send 3-4 representatives each, while smaller nations typically contribute 1-2 teams that enter earlier qualifying stages. This structure ensures a balance between inclusivity and competitiveness, with preliminary rounds reducing an initial pool of over 30 entrants to 16-20 teams for the final tournament draw. No club may qualify via multiple pathways, with priority given to league champions; teams subject to suspensions from continental bodies like the CAF or AFC are ineligible. For the 2025 edition, 36 clubs entered the qualifiers, with 16 advancing to the final phase hosted in , , from July 25 to August 11. Examples of participating nations included multiple teams from (Al Ahly, , ), (Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr), and single representatives from countries like (Al-Sadd), (Al-Shorta), and (Al-Hilal ). In practice, qualification reflects recent domestic achievements. For instance, in the 2025 tournament, Egypt's allocation went to Al Ahly as 2024-25 champions, Zamalek as 2024-25 winners, and as league runners-up. Similar criteria applied across associations, with preliminary rounds featuring matchups among lower-seeded teams from smaller nations to determine main draw spots, preventing an unwieldy total of over 40 potential entrants.

Tournament structure and rules

The Arab Club Champions Cup features a multi-phase format designed to accommodate up to 37 teams from UAFA member associations, beginning with preliminary and qualifying rounds to narrow the field to 16 participants for the main tournament. The preliminary rounds consist of single-elimination matches for lower-seeded teams, typically involving 4 to 8 clubs in a structure, with winners advancing to subsequent qualifying rounds that may include two-legged ties for higher stakes. These early stages are conducted between March and July, ensuring a streamlined path to the group stage. The main competition proper unfolds with a group stage comprising 4 groups of 4 teams each, where each team plays three round-robin matches in a single round, all hosted at neutral venues. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout phase, which includes single-leg quarterfinals, semifinals, and final, eliminating the need for two-legged ties since the format overhaul. All knockout matches are played on neutral grounds, frequently in , such as the cities of , Al-Baha, , and , to promote fairness and regional accessibility. Matches adhere to standard regulations, lasting 90 minutes of regulation time, followed by 30 minutes of extra time if tied, and progressing to a if necessary; the was abolished in 2021, aligning with global trends to encourage attacking play in tied scenarios. Teams are limited to a maximum of 4 per nation to ensure broad representation across Arab associations. In the group stage, tie-breakers are applied in this order: points accumulated, , goals scored, head-to-head results, fair play points (based on yellow and red cards), and finally a drawing of lots if all else is equal. The tournament typically spans the July-August international window to avoid clashing with domestic , with the 2025-26 edition's preliminaries scheduled for late 2025 to accommodate seasonal alignments.

Results

List of finals and winners

The Arab Club Champions Cup finals have been held since the inaugural edition in 1982, with the competition experiencing interruptions and format changes over the years, including round-robin final tournaments in early editions and a shift to two-legged ties or single-match deciders in later ones. Pre-2019 finals were often played over two legs or in a final group stage, while from onward, the tournament adopted a single-leg final in a neutral venue. Iraqi club Al-Rasheed and Tunisian club Espérance de Tunis share the record for most titles won, with three each; Al-Rasheed notably secured three consecutive victories from 1985 to 1987. The reigning champions are Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, who defeated Al-Hilal 2–1 after extra time in the 2023 final (officially the King Salman Cup for Arab Clubs) held in , . The next edition is scheduled for 2027.
SeasonWinnersScoreRunners-upVenueLocation
1982Al-Shorta (IRQ)2–0, 2–2 (4–2 agg.)Al-Nejmeh (LEB)Al-Shaab Stadium (first leg); Al-Ahli Stadium (second leg)Baghdad, Iraq; Beirut, Lebanon
1984Al-Ittifaq (KSA)Round-robin (group winners)KAC Kénitra (MOR)Prince Mohamed bin Fahd StadiumDammam, Saudi Arabia
1985Al-Rasheed (IRQ)Round-robin (2–1 in decider)USM El Harrach (ALG)Al-Shaab StadiumBaghdad, Iraq
1986Al-Rasheed (IRQ)Round-robin (1–0 in decider)Espérance (TUN)Stade Olympique Hammadi AgrebiTunis, Tunisia
1987Al-Rasheed (IRQ)2–1 (a.e.t.)Al-Ittihad (KSA)King Fahd International StadiumRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
1988Al-Ittifaq (KSA)1–1 (4–3 p)Club Africain (TUN)Al-Shabab StadiumSharjah, UAE
1989Wydad Casablanca (MOR)3–1Al-Hilal (KSA)Stade de MarrakechMarrakech, Morocco
1992Al-Shabab (KSA)2–0 (a.e.t.)Al-Arabi (UAE)Khalifa International StadiumDoha, Qatar
1993Espérance (TUN)3–0Muharraq (BAH)Stade Olympique Hammadi AgrebiTunis, Tunisia
1994Al-Hilal (KSA)0–0 (4–3 p)Al-Ittihad (KSA)King Fahd International StadiumRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
1995Al-Hilal (KSA)1–0Espérance (TUN)King Fahd International StadiumRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
1996Al-Ahly (EGY)3–1Raja Casablanca (MOR)Cairo International StadiumCairo, Egypt
1997Club Africain (TUN)2–1 (a.e.t.)Al-Ahly (EGY)Stade Olympique Hammadi AgrebiTunis, Tunisia
1998WA Tlemcen (ALG)3–1Al-Shabab (KSA)Prince Abdullah al-Faisal StadiumJeddah, Saudi Arabia
1999Al-Shabab (KSA)2–0Al-Jaish (SYR)Cairo International StadiumCairo, Egypt
2000CS Sfaxien (TUN)2–1 (a.e.t.)Al-Jaish (SYR)Prince Abdullah al-Faisal StadiumJeddah, Saudi Arabia
2001Al-Sadd (QAT)3–1MC Oran (ALG)Khalifa International StadiumDoha, Qatar
2003Al-Ahly (KSA)1–0Club Africain (TUN)Prince Abdullah al-Faisal StadiumJeddah, Saudi Arabia
2003Zamalek (EGY)2–1Kuwait SC (KUW)Cairo International StadiumCairo, Egypt
2004CS Sfaxien (TUN)0–0 (4–3 p)Ismaily (EGY)Camille Chamoun Sports City StadiumBeirut, Lebanon
2005Al-Ittihad (KSA)2–1, 2–0 (4–1 agg.)CS Sfaxien (TUN)Stade Taïeb Mhiri (first leg); King Abdullah Sports City (second leg)Sfax, Tunisia; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
2006Raja Casablanca (MOR)2–1, 1–0 (3–1 agg.)ENPPI (EGY)Stade Mohamed V (first leg); Cairo International Stadium (second leg)Casablanca, Morocco; Cairo, Egypt
2007ES Sétif (ALG)1–1, 1–0 (2–1 agg.)Al-Faisaly (JOR)Stade 8 Mai 1945 (first leg); Amman International Stadium (second leg)Sétif, Algeria; Amman, Jordan
2008ES Sétif (ALG)1–0, 1–0 (2–0 agg.)Wydad Casablanca (MOR)Stade 8 Mai 1945 (first leg); Stade Mohamed V (second leg)Sétif, Algeria; Casablanca, Morocco
2009Espérance (TUN)1–0, 1–1 (2–1 agg.)Wydad Casablanca (MOR)Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi (first leg); Stade Mohamed V (second leg)Tunis, Tunisia; Casablanca, Morocco
2013USM Alger (ALG)0–0, 3–2 (3–2 agg.)Al-Arabi (KUW)Kuwait National Stadium (first leg); Stade du 5 Juillet (second leg)Kuwait City, Kuwait; Algiers, Algeria
2017Espérance (TUN)3–2Al-Faisaly (JOR)Alexandria StadiumAlexandria, Egypt
2019Étoile du Sahel (TUN)2–1Al-Hilal (KSA)Stade Olympique de SousseSousse, Tunisia
2020Raja Casablanca (MOR)4–4 (4–3 p)Al-Ittihad (KSA)Prince Moulay Abdellah StadiumRabat, Morocco
2023Al-Nassr (KSA)2–1 (a.e.t.)Al-Hilal (KSA)Taif City StadiumTaif, Saudi Arabia
Note: Early editions (1982–1986) sometimes featured a final group stage rather than a strict two-legged final, with the listed score reflecting the decisive match against the runner-up where applicable. The 2003 season saw two separate tournaments due to a split in organization, both recognized as official.

Performance by nation

holds the record for the most titles in the Arab Club Champions Cup, with 9 victories achieved by clubs such as Al-Hilal, Al-Ittifaq, and Al-Nassr. follows closely with 7 titles, primarily won by Espérance de Tunis and . Other nations like and have each secured 4 titles, while has 3. has 2 titles to its name, and has 1. In terms of finals appearances, leads with 16 (9 wins and 7 runners-up positions), giving it a win percentage of 56% in finals contested. has appeared in 12 finals (7 wins, 5 runners-up), for a 58% win rate. has reached 6 finals (4 wins, 2 runners-up), while Iraq's 4 titles came without any runner-up finishes. has 7 finals appearances (3 wins, 4 runners-up), for a 43% win rate, and has 5 (2 wins, 3 runners-up), for 40%. The tournament's history shows a shift in dominance: North African nations, particularly Tunisia and Algeria, prevailed in the pre-2000 era, capturing the majority of titles during the competition's formative years. Post-2010, Gulf countries, led by , have risen prominently, winning several editions amid increased investment in club football.
NationTitles (Wins)Runners-UpFinals AppearancesWin Percentage in Finals
971656%
751258%
42667%
404100%
34743%
23540%
101100%
Data up to the 2023 edition. Semi-final appearances and total matches played by national representatives are not comprehensively aggregated in available , though Saudi and clubs have participated in the most editions overall.

Performance by club

The Arab Club Champions Cup has seen 20 different clubs claim the title across its 30 editions since 1982, with Iraqi side Al-Rasheed and club Espérance de Tunis tied for the most successes at three each. Al-Rasheed achieved a notable from 1985 to 1987, dominating the early years of the competition. Espérance Tunis secured their titles in 1993, 2009, and 2017, demonstrating consistent excellence among North African teams. Several clubs have reached multiple finals, highlighting their sustained competitiveness. Al-Hilal of has appeared in five finals, winning twice in 1994 and 1995 while finishing as runners-up in 1989, 2019, and 2023. Al-Ittihad of marked their first title in 2005 by defeating , ending a long pursuit after earlier final losses. Al Ahly of has two titles from 1996 and 2003 (in the Prince Faysal bin Fahd Cup edition), with over 15 participations making them one of the most frequent entrants. The following table summarizes the performance of the top clubs by titles won and finals reached:
ClubNationTitlesRunners-upTotal finals
Al-Rasheed303
Espérance de Tunis325
Al-Hilal235
Al-Ittifaq202
Raja Casablanca213
ES Sétif202
CS Sfaxien213
Al-Shabab213
Al Ahly213
Al-Ittihad123
Note: Data up to the 2023 edition; runners-up count includes all final appearances. In terms of appearances, Al Ahly leads with more than 15 participations, followed by Wydad Casablanca with 12, reflecting their high success rates relative to involvement—Al Ahly winning titles in approximately 13% of entries and Wydad maintaining strong semifinal or better showings in several editions. Performance varies by continent, with African clubs securing 17 titles overall, led by Tunisian (7) and Algerian (4) sides, emphasizing North African dominance through tactical discipline and home advantages in knockout stages. Asian clubs, primarily from (9 titles), have shown growing prowess, exemplified by Al-Nassr's debut victory in 2023 against Al-Hilal, their first triumph after prior non-qualifications. This continental contrast underscores the tournament's role in bridging West Asian and North African football styles.

Records and statistics

All-time team statistics

Al Ahly has participated frequently in the competition, with multiple titles highlighting their prominence.

Player achievements

holds the record as the all-time leading goalscorer in the Arab Club Champions Cup. Other notable historical performers include , who netted 5 goals for ES Tunis and , and Mohsine Moutouali with 5 goals for Raja Casablanca. These contributions span the competition's long history since its inception in 1981/82, though comprehensive seasonal breakdowns for early editions remain limited in available records. In the revived 2023 edition, which featured 37 teams, emerged as the standout individual performer, scoring 6 goals for Al-Nassr—including a brace in the final against Al-Hilal—to win the golden boot and secure his team's first title. followed with 3 goals for Al-Ittihad, marking a strong debut for the French star in the competition. The golden boot award, recognizing the top scorer per edition, has highlighted prolific talents since the tournament's early years, though detailed winners lists for pre-2023 tournaments are not widely documented. Assists leaders in the 2023 tournament included with 3 for Al-Hilal, alongside and Sultan Al-Ghanam each recording 2, underscoring the creative play that complemented the competition's high-scoring nature. Man-of-the-match awards, often given for pivotal performances in key fixtures, saw Sergej Milinković-Savić named in the 2023 final despite Ronaldo's decisive goals, recognizing his midfield dominance for Al-Hilal. Notable foreign players have elevated the tournament's profile in recent years, with Ronaldo's 6 goals in 2023 exemplifying the impact of global stars joining Arab clubs; similarly, Benzema's contributions added to the event's allure for international audiences. Loyal players from dominant clubs like , with three titles, have accumulated multiple appearances over the years, though exact all-time leaders exceed 6 games per player in limited documented data from the 2023 edition.

Attendance and disciplinary records

The Arab Club Champions Cup has seen varying levels of attendance across its editions, with often drawing the largest crowds due to the high stakes and regional rivalries. The 2023 final, held in , marked one of the higher in the tournament's history and highlighting the growing popularity of the competition in . Average attendance per edition typically ranges from 10,000 to 20,000, reflecting the diverse venue capacities and fan bases across Arab nations, though figures can fluctuate based on hosting country and star players involved. Venue records show that stadiums in major football hubs have hosted multiple matches, contributing to the tournament's logistical consistency. in has been among the most used, accommodating several group stage and knockout games in past editions due to its 74,000 capacity and central location for North African teams. Similarly, stadiums in , such as King Fahd International Stadium, have frequently served as hosts for Saudi-hosted tournaments, leveraging their modern facilities and proximity to top clubs like Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr. Disciplinary metrics indicate a competitive but occasionally heated tournament, emphasizing the role of referees in maintaining order during intense derbies. Red cards are less common but notable when they occur, often in high-pressure finals; for instance, Al-Nassr received multiple ejections in the 2023 final, leading to bans for key players in subsequent competitions. Notable bans and incidents have arisen from physical confrontations, particularly in cross-border matches or derbies, such as ejections during the 2023 Saudi rivalry final that resulted in post-match suspensions and fines from the . These events underscore the tournament's passionate atmosphere, with disciplinary actions aimed at curbing . Attendance trends have shown an upward trajectory in recent years, boosting its prestige and drawing larger crowds to subsequent qualifying rounds and planning for future editions, including the 2025–2026 edition.

Branding and sponsorship

Naming and logos

The Arab Club Champions Cup, originally launched in 1982 as the Arab Clubs League Championship, has experienced several naming iterations reflecting its evolution and sponsorship associations. It was contested under various titles, including the Arab Champions League from 2003 to 2009 and the UAFA Cup for Clubs in 2012–2013, before reverting to the Arab Club Championship for the 2017 edition. Starting with the 2018–19 season, the competition was rebranded as the Arab Club Champions Cup, with subsequent editions incorporating sponsor-specific names such as the Zayed Champions Cup (2018–2019) and the Mohammed VI Champions Cup (2020–2021). The 2023 edition marked a notable sponsorship naming change, officially designated as the King Salman Club Cup to honor Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, as announced by the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA). This naming aligns with the tournament's hosting in Saudi Arabia and emphasizes regional prestige. The trophy, redesigned and unveiled for the 2023 King Salman Club Cup by UAFA in collaboration with Sports Partners International, consists of bronze-coated copper plated in 24-carat gold. It measures 39.5 centimeters in height, weighs 6.1 kilograms, and is topped with a golden soccer ball; the base includes an inscription of the tournament name. Design elements draw from traditional Saudi symbolism, such as the headscarf (ghutra), representing formal Arab attire and cultural heritage.

Sponsors and broadcasting

The Arab Club Champions Cup has secured several key sponsorship deals to support its organization and promotion, primarily through partnerships with the (UAFA). In November 2022, UAFA signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Sport Partners International, a sports marketing firm, to bolster the tournament's commercial framework and visibility across Arab nations. This partnership extended to the creation of the official trophy for the 2023 edition, enhancing the event's branding. For the 2023 tournament, hosted in Saudi Arabia as the King Salman Club Cup, Emirates Airline served as the main sponsor and official airline partner, aligning with regional efforts to promote football tourism and aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives. Broadcasting rights for the competition have been distributed regionally to maximize audience reach. In 2017, Abu Dhabi Media Network's Abu Dhabi Sports Channels acquired TV rights for the Arab Club Championship, providing live coverage across the UAE and broader MENA region. For the high-profile 2023 final featuring Al-Nassr versus Al-Hilal, matches were streamed via Shahid in the Middle East and North Africa, drawing significant global interest due to star players like Cristiano Ronaldo. Additional media partnerships include official coverage on UAFA's website for live updates and highlights, supplemented by comprehensive historical archives from the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (). Kit sponsorships for participating clubs vary, with global brands like Nike outfitting select teams such as Al Ahly and Al Hilal, while local entities like Etisalat support UAE-based participants like Al Jazira.

Prize money and commercial aspects

Financial rewards

The Arab Club Champions Cup offers substantial financial incentives to participating clubs, managed by the (UAFA). In the 2023 edition, known as the King Salman Club Cup and hosted in , the total prize pool reached $10 million, marking a significant boost compared to previous iterations. This increase was supported by major sponsorships, including from Emirates as the main sponsor and official airline. The prize distribution for 2023 emphasized rewards for advancing teams, with the winners, Al-Nassr, receiving $6 million. Runners-up were awarded $2.5 million, while semi-finalists and earlier stage participants shared the remaining funds based on progression. UAFA handles direct payments to clubs upon tournament completion, though specific terms for disbursement and any associated tax considerations vary by the recipient club's home country regulations. Historically, prize money has grown with enhanced sponsorships and hosting arrangements, such as the 2018 announcement of $7.5 million for winners. The 2023 pool reflected Saudi Arabia's role in revitalizing the competition. In comparison, the winner's payout of $6 million is lower than the $12 million awarded to champions in the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite, underscoring the Arab Cup's regional scale relative to broader Asian continental events.

Economic impact on clubs

The Arab Club Champions Cup provides participating clubs with notable financial inflows through its prize money structure, which totaled $10 million in the 2023 edition, offering winners $6 million and runners-up $2.5 million. These funds help offset participation expenses and support club operations, particularly for mid-tier teams from resource-limited leagues. For instance, Al-Nassr's victory in 2023 not only secured the top prize but also amplified the club's commercial appeal amid high-profile player involvement, contributing to broader revenue growth in the context. Travel and logistical costs represent a key challenge for the 37 competing clubs, often spanning multiple Arab nations and requiring significant outlays for transportation and accommodations, though these are partially mitigated by the tournament's financial allocations. Egyptian clubs, such as Al Ahly, have leveraged successes in regional competitions like the Cup to bolster overall budgets, channeling revenues into youth academies and infrastructure enhancements that sustain long-term competitiveness. Similarly, smaller clubs benefit from heightened exposure, which elevates player market values and facilitates lucrative transfers to wealthier leagues, as seen in broader trends of football talent migration. Looking ahead, the 2025 edition planned in from July 25 to August 11 may draw increased sponsorship investments and commercial partnerships for clubs, building on the rising economic influence of Arab football initiatives.

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