2026–27 AFC Champions League Two
International football competition
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The 2026–27 AFC Champions League Two will be the 23rd edition of the Asia's second-tier club football tournament, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the third under the AFC Champions League Two title.[1][2]
DatesQualifying:
29 July – 12 August 2026
Competition proper:
15 September 2026 – 15 May 2027
29 July – 12 August 2026
Competition proper:
15 September 2026 – 15 May 2027
TeamsCompetition proper: 32
Total: 36 (from 24 associations)
Total: 36 (from 24 associations)
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | Qualifying: 29 July – 12 August 2026 Competition proper: 15 September 2026 – 15 May 2027 |
| Teams | Competition proper: 32 Total: 36 (from 24 associations) |
← 2025–26 2027–28 → | |
The tournament will feature 32 teams in the group stage.[3] The winner will qualify for the preliminary stage of the 2027–28 AFC Champions League Elite, if they have not already qualified through their domestic performance.[4]
Association team allocation
The associations are allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking which was published after the 2024–25 competitions were completed.[5][6][7]
| Participation for 2025–2026 AFC Champions League Two | |
|---|---|
| Participating | |
| Not participating | |
|
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- Notes
Teams
Note: Teams in italics may still qualify for the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite.
- Notes
- ^ AFC Challenge League (ACGL): Al-Kuwait have qualified for the preliminary stage of the competition as they have reached the 2026 AFC Challenge League final. Should they win the AFC Challenge League, they will qualify directly to the Group stage of the competition.
- ^ Australia (AUS): As 2025 Australia Cup winners Newcastle Jets qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, the spot reserved for the Australia Cup winners was transferred to the runners-up of the 2025 Australia Cup.[9]
- ^ Bahrain (BHR): If Al-Muharraq win the 2025–26 Bahraini Premier League, the spot reserved for the Bahraini Cup winners will be transferred to the runners-up of the 2025–26 Bahraini Premier League.
Al-Khaldiya has qualified as either they or Al-Muharraq will win the 2025–26 Bahraini Premier League. - ^ Japan (JPN): Machida Zelvia may still qualify for the Champions League Elite by finishing in the top two of the J1 100 Year Vision League.
- ^ Malaysia (MAS): As 2025 Malaysia FA Cup winners Johor Darul Ta'zim qualified for the Champions League Elite via their league position, the spot reserved for the Malaysia FA Cup winners was transferred to the runners-up of the 2025–26 Malaysia Super League.
- ^ Saudi Arabia (KSA): If Al-Hilal win the 2025–26 King's Cup, the spot reserved for the King's Cup winners will be transferred to the sixth placed team in the 2025–26 Saudi Pro League.
- ^ Singapore (SGP): As 2025–26 Singapore Cup winners Lion City Sailors qualified for the Champions League Two via their league position, the spot reserved for the Singapore Cup winners was transferred to the runners-up of the 2025–26 Singapore Premier League.
Schedule
The schedule of the competition is as follows.[10]
| Stage | Round | Draw date | West region | East region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary stage | Preliminary stage 1 | No draw[a] | 29 July 2026 | |
| Preliminary stage 2 | 5 August 2026 | |||
| Preliminary stage 3 | 12 August 2026 | |||
| Group stage | Matchday 1 | TBD | 15–16 September 2026 | 16–17 September 2026 |
| Matchday 2 | 13–14 October 2026 | 14–15 October 2026 | ||
| Matchday 3 | 27–28 October 2026 | 28–29 October 2026 | ||
| Matchday 4 | 3–4 November 2025 | 4–5 November 2025 | ||
| Matchday 5 | 24–25 November 2026 | 25–26 November 2026 | ||
| Matchday 6 | 8–9 December 2026 | 2–3 December 2026 | ||
| Knockout stage | Round of 16 | TBD | 9–10 and 16–17 February 2027 | 10–11 and 17–18 February 2027 |
| Quarter-finals | 2–3 and 16–17 March 2027 | 10–11 and 17–18 March 2027 | ||
| Semi-finals | 6 and 13 April 2027 | 7 and 14 April 2027 | ||
| Final | 15 May 2027 | |||
See also
Notes
- Pre-determined format