AFC · Club Tier 1
AFC Champions League Elite
In US-sports termsAsia's Champions League — with a March Madness twist: instead of home-and-home series, the final rounds converge on one host city for a knockout festival.
What it is
The top club competition in Asia, revamped in 2024: two regional league phases (East and West), then the surviving clubs travel to a single host country for centralized knockout finals.
How you get in
Finish high in a top Asian league — Japan's J.League, Korea's K League, the Saudi Pro League, and beyond.
What it feeds
Winner → FIFA Club World Cup, carrying Asia's flag to the global stage.
The Saudi Pro League's spending era (Ronaldo, Benzema and friends) has made the West region box office — Asia is where the sport's money story is moving fastest.