2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite

The associations were allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking, which was published after the 2023–24 competitions were completed. Slots were subject to later re-balancing based on the 2024–25 competition results. ==Teams==

In the following table, the number of appearances and last appearance count since the 2002–03 season, when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League. ;Notes. ==Schedule==

The quarter-finals for the West region were postponed due to the impacts from the 2026 Iran War. The schedule of the competition was as follows. ==Qualifying play-offs==

The two winners of the play-off round (one from West Region and one from East Region) advanced to the league stage to join the 22 direct entrants. The losers of the qualifying play-offs entered the group stage of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two. West Region East Region ==League stage==

The league phase draw took place on 15 August 2025 (at ), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. {{Location map+|AFC {{Location map~|AFC|lat=38.026850|long=46.296131 |label_size=90 {{Location map~ |AFC |lat=34.401714 |long=132.454000 |label_size=90 {{Location map~ |AFC|mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png|marksize=1|lat=0|long=55|label_size=95|label= West Region East Region ==Knockout stage==

Bracket Round of 16 Finals The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, all as single-legged ties, are being held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between 16 and 25 April 2026. Quarter-finals ---- ---- ---- Semi-finals ---- Final == Top scorers ==

; Note • Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs and matches voided by AFC are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4) ==See also==