AFC Champions League Elite 2026-27: schedule, teams and results
Thirty-two clubs, 16 in the West and 16 in the East, are playing the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite, Asia’s top club competition. The league stage runs from 14 September 2026 to 17 February 2027, the knockouts start in March, and the final is on 1 May 2027. Saudi Arabia has provisionally been given the finals through 2029. Al-Ahli are the two-time defending champions.
Format
- Each club plays eight league-stage matches against opponents from its own region, two from each seeding pot.
- The top eight in each region reach the round of 16 (draw 25 February 2027; matches in March 2027).
- Quarter-finals (draw 13 March 2027) are played 23–30 April 2027, followed by the semi-finals and the 1 May final.
League stage schedule
| Round | West | East |
|---|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | 14–15 Sep 2026 | 15–16 Sep 2026 |
| Matchday 2 | 12–13 Oct 2026 | 13–14 Oct 2026 |
| Matchday 3 | 26–27 Oct 2026 | 27–28 Oct 2026 |
| Matchday 4 | 2–3 Nov 2026 | 3–4 Nov 2026 |
| Matchday 5 | 23–24 Nov 2026 | 24–25 Nov 2026 |
| Matchday 6 | 7–8 Dec 2026 | 1–2 Dec 2026 |
| Matchday 7 | 8–9 Feb 2027 | 9–10 Feb 2027 |
| Matchday 8 | 15–16 Feb 2027 | 16–17 Feb 2027 |
Teams
West
Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Qadsiah, Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia); Al Ain, Shabab Al Ahli, Al Wasl (UAE); Al Sadd, Al-Gharafa, Al-Shamal (Qatar); Esteghlal, Tractor (Iran); Neftchi, Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan); Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (Iraq).
East
Kashima Antlers, Vissel Kobe, Kashiwa Reysol, Kyoto Sanga, Gamba Osaka (Japan); Daejeon Hana Citizen, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Pohang Steelers (South Korea); Buriram United, Port, Ratchaburi (Thailand); Shanghai Port, Beijing Guoan (China); Johor Darul Ta’zim (Malaysia); Công An Hà Nội (Vietnam); Newcastle Jets (Australia).
Results
Matchday 1: West (14–15 September)
- Neftchi 1–0 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
- Shabab Al Ahli 1–0 Tractor
- Al-Shamal 1–1 Al-Ittihad
- Al-Ahli 1–1 Pakhtakor
- Esteghlal 3–0 Al Sadd
- Al-Qadsiah 2–1 Al Wasl
- Al Ain 4–0 Al-Nassr
- Al-Hilal 2–1 Al-Gharafa
Matchday 1: East (15–16 September)
- Kashima Antlers 7–1 Newcastle Jets
- Daejeon Hana Citizen 1–0 Kyoto Sanga
- Gamba Osaka 4–1 Công An Hà Nội
- Ratchaburi 4–6 Shanghai Port
- Johor Darul Ta’zim 1–1 Buriram United
- Beijing Guoan 3–1 Pohang Steelers
- Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–1 Kashiwa Reysol
- Port 1–2 Vissel Kobe
Matchday 2 (12–14 October): selected results
- Al Sadd 0–2 Al-Hilal (Ollie Watkins, Rúben Neves)
- Shabab Al Ahli 2–1 Al-Ittihad
- Kashima Antlers 1–0 Công An Hà Nội
- Vissel Kobe 2–0 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
- Kashiwa Reysol 5–1 Port
Matchday 3 is being played on 26–28 October 2026. Full matchday 2 and 3 results will be added here once confirmed.
Sources: 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite (Wikipedia); league stage (Wikipedia); AFC: Matchday Two facts and figures.
History: AFC Champions League winners list · This week: matchday 3 fixtures.