The Asian Football Confederation has taken a significant step toward reshaping the future of professional club football across the continent following key decisions made at the second meeting of its Professional Football Committee.
Chaired by Asian football icon Park Ji-sung, the meeting reaffirmed AFC’s long-term commitment to raising standards, competitiveness, and governance within its club competitions ecosystem.
One of the headline decisions centers on the expansion of the AFC Champions League Elite from 24 to 32 teams starting in the 2026/27 season.
To accommodate this growth, amendments to the Entry Regulations (Edition 2025) include:
- Revised slot allocations for Member Associations (MAs), with updated maximum quotas
- A new qualification pathway, granting the runners-up of the AFC Challenge League entry into the Preliminary Stage of the AFC Champions League Two
Additional refinements were made to sporting criteria, ranking principles, and nomination processes—aimed at improving transparency and competitiveness.
Meanwhile, updates to the Club Licensing Regulations (Edition 2024) introduce a new deadline for extraordinary licensing applications, aligning with the revised competition structure.
Looking further ahead, the AFC approved new regulations (Edition 2026) set to take effect from the 2027/28 season—marking a shift toward stricter professional benchmarks.
Among the most notable changes:
- Mandatory implementation of the Video Assistant Referee system in top-tier domestic leagues of participating associations in the ACL Elite
- Revised minimum standards for domestic league formats and match requirements, particularly impacting clubs competing in the AFC Challenge League
These measures are designed to ensure consistency, fairness, and higher-quality competition across all participating nations.
The AFC also unveiled updates to its Club Licensing Regulations (Edition 2026), following extensive consultation through a roadmap project launched in June 2025.
The new framework will:
- Apply to major competitions including the ACL Elite, ACL Two, and AFC Challenge League from 2027/28
- Extend to the AFC Women’s Champions League from 2028/29
- Introduce gradual upgrades in licensing criteria, allowing clubs time to adapt while ensuring long-term compliance
The Committee reviewed entries for the 2025/26 competitions and provided updates on the AFC Club Competitions Benchmarking Report, expected to be released by August 2026.
Other key areas discussed included:
- Homegrown player regulations
- Club licensing compliance audits
- Modernisation of the AFC Club Licensing Administration System
- Pitch management initiatives and professional football development programs
All decisions remain subject to ratification by the AFC Executive Committee before being formally implemented. Once approved, full details will be distributed to Member Associations and published via official AFC platforms.
Credit Photo : Jayden Seah/SNE-Photo
