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AFC Champions League Two

Updated: 5/17/2026, 11:17:31 AM Wikipedia source

The AFC Champions League Two (abbreviated as the ACL Two or ACL2) is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation. It is the second-tier competition of Asian club football, ranked below the AFC Champions League Elite and above the AFC Challenge League. The competition was founded in 2004 as the AFC Cup, it was played primarily among clubs from nations that did not receive direct qualifying slots to the top-tier AFC Champions League. The competition rebranded to its current name in 2024. In a bid to increase competitiveness, its format was also changed to include clubs from higher ranked AFC member associations, and the prize money was increased. Clubs qualify for the competition based on their performance in national leagues and cup competitions. Participation in the competition is open to clubs from the top 12 nations in the East and the West region based on the AFC club competitions ranking. The participant from each nation ranked 1–6 in each region is the highest-placed club in that nation that did not qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite. The nations ranked 7–12 in each region enter their top club(s) directly to the AFC Champions League Two. The winner of the AFC Champions League Two will be allocated an indirect preliminary stage slot for the next AFC Champions League Elite season, if they have not already qualified through domestic competition. The current champions of the competition is Gamba Osaka, who defeated Al-Nassr in the 2026 final. Al-Kuwait and Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya are the most successful clubs in the competition's history, having won three titles each. Clubs from Kuwait have won four titles, making them the most successful nation in the competition.

Infobox

Organiser(s)
AFC
Founded
2004; 22 years ago (2004) (as AFC Cup)
Region
Asia
Teams
32 (group stage)
Qualifier for
AFC Champions League Elite
Related competitions
AFC Champions League Elite (1st tier)AFC Challenge League (3rd tier)
Current champions
Gamba Osaka (1st title)
Most championships
Al-Kuwait Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya(3 titles each)
Website
www.the-afc.com

References

  1. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia.
  2. the-AFC.com
    https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/cfed/news/pivotal_reforms_approved_by_afc_competitions_committee.html
  3. Instagram
    https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ0ikUpzIGk/?igsh=MXg5eTM1eTZ3OHhweQ==
  4. the-AFC.com
    https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_cup/news/history_beckons_for_afc_cup%E2%84%A2_202324_contenders_as_final_edition_of_popular_competition_kicks_off.html
  5. theAFC.com
    https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_competitions/news/afc_competitions_committee_recommends_strategic_reforms_to_elevate_asian_club_football.html
  6. AFC
    https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/committees/executive_committee/news/afc_executive_committee_approves_biggest_prize_purse_in_asian_club_football_history_from_202425_announces_afc_women%E2%80%99s_champions_league.html
  7. Football Association of Singapore
    https://www.fas.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Encl-3-AFC-Club-Competitions-2024-25-Slot-Allocation.pdf
  8. the-AFC
    https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/cfed/news/pivotal_reforms_approved_by_afc_competitions_committee.html
  9. AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s4kb03WFSE
  10. the-afc.com
    https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_news/news/afc_and_neom_announce_global_multi-year_partnership_extension.html
  11. SportsPro
    https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/afc-qatar-airways-sponsorship-deal/?zephr_sso_ott=48Ii8W
  12. the-afc.com
    https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_news/news/afc_and_qatar_airways_announce_global_partnership.html
  13. the-AFC
    https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_news.html/news/barbican-announced-as-official-global-supporter-of-afc-club-competitions-202526-season
  14. the-AFC
    https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_news.html/news/afc-and-kelme-extend-multi-year-partnership
  15. the-AFC
    https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_news.html/news/midea-becomes-global-supporter-of-the-afc%E2%80%99s-club-competitions
  16. the-AFC
    https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_competitions/news/tecno_becomes_official_global_supporter_of_afc_club_competitions.html
  17. the-afc.com
    https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_news.html/news/afc-and-visa-expand-partnership
  18. "AFC Executive Committee announces updates to 2020 competitions calendar"
    https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/afc-executive-committee-announces-updates-to-2020-competitions-calendar
  19. the-afc.com
    https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-cup/latest/news/the-all-time-top-scorers/
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