"AFC Cup" redirects here. Not to be confused with AFC Asian Cup.
AFC Champions League Two
OrganiserAFC
Founded2004 (age 22) (as AFC Cup)
RegionAsia
Number of teams32 (group stage)
Qualifier forAFC Champions League Elite
Related compsAFC Champions League Elite (1st tier)
AFC Challenge League (3rd tier)
Current championsGamba Osaka (1st title)
Most successful clubAl-Kuwait
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
(3 titles each)
Current2026–27 AFC Champions League Two
Websitewww.the-afc.com

The AFC Champions League Two (abbreviated as the ACL Two or ACL2) is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation. It is the second-tier competition of Asian club football, ranked below the AFC Champions League Elite and above the AFC Challenge League.

The competition was founded in 2004 as the AFC Cup, played primarily among clubs from nations that did not receive direct qualifying slots to the top-tier AFC Champions League. The competition rebranded to its current name in 2024.[1] In a bid to increase competitiveness, its format was also changed to include clubs from higher ranked AFC member associations, and the prize money was increased.

Clubs qualify for the competition based on their performance in national leagues and cup competitions. Participation in the competition is open to clubs from the top 12 nations in the East and the West region based on the AFC club competitions ranking. The participant from each nation ranked 1–6 in each region is the highest-placed club in that nation that did not qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite. The nations ranked 7–12 in each region enter their top club(s) directly to the AFC Champions League Two.

The winner of the AFC Champions League Two will be allocated an indirect preliminary stage slot for the next AFC Champions League Elite season, if they have not already qualified through domestic competition. The current champions of the competition is Gamba Osaka, who defeated Al-Nassr in the 2026 final. Al-Kuwait and Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya are the most successful clubs in the competition's history, having won three titles each. Clubs from Kuwait have won four titles, making them the most successful nation in the competition.

History

Winners[2]
SeasonWinners
AFC Cup
2004Al-Jaish
2005Al-Faisaly
2006Al-Faisaly (2)
2007Shabab Al-Ordon
2008Al-Muharraq
2009Kuwait SC
2010Al-Ittihad Aleppo
2011Nasaf Qarshi
2012Kuwait SC (2)
2013Kuwait SC (3)
2014Qadsia
2015Johor Darul Ta'zim
2016Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
2017Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (2)
2018Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (3)
2019Al-Ahed
2020Cancelled[a]
2021Al-Muharraq (2)
2022Al-Seeb
2023–24Central Coast Mariners
AFC Champions League Two
2024–25Sharjah
2025–26Gamba Osaka

The AFC Cup began in 2004 as a second-tier competition to relate back to the AFC Champions League, as 14 countries that had developing status competed in the first competition, with 18 teams being nominated. The winners and three runners-up would then head to the knock-out stage. Al-Jaish took the first AFC Cup after they defeated fellow Syrian opponents Al-Wahda on away goals.

In 2005, 18 teams competed from nine nations with the nations still being allowed to choose from one or two teams entering. After Syrian teams left the AFC Cup to try at the AFC Champions League for four years, Al-Faisaly defeated Nejmeh in the final. With it, Jordanian teams would win the next two AFC Cup seasons with Bahrain joining the league while Bangladesh was relegated to the AFC President's Cup until the tournament's abolition in 2014.

Al-Muharraq would break the trend in 2008 as they won the last two-legged final before it headed back into a one-leg system, a rule that was never changed until now.

On 23 December 2022, it was announced that the AFC competition structure would change from the established formats from the 2024–25 season. A new second-tier tournament called the AFC Champions League Two would be introduced.[3] Meanwhile, a new third-tier competition was also launched under the name AFC Challenge League.[4][5][6]

On 24 May 2024, AFC announced that the records and statistics of the preceding AFC club competitions will be recognised and integrated within the revamped club competitions, with the data from the AFC Cup transferring to the AFC Champions League Two.[7]

Format

Some changes were applied in terms of teams and format for the 2017 AFC Cup. A total of 36 teams participated in the group stage (12 each from West Asia and ASEAN, and 4 each from East Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia). The final is played as a one-off match.

Allocation

The allocation of group stage teams by member country was listed below; asterisks represent occasions where at least one team was eliminated in qualification for the group stage. Those who had not reached the group stage but had only played in qualification are not bolded.

AssociationsSpots
20042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023–242024–252025–26
EAFF
China0000000000000000000011
Chinese Taipei00000000000000*111*112*00
Guam00000000000000*00000000
Hong Kong1222222222222002122022
Japan0000000000000000000011
Macau0000000000000*0101001*00
Mongolia0000000000000*10*0*0*10*100
North Korea0000000000000221*000000
South Korea0000000000000000000011
Total1222222222222344443455
AFF
AustraliaPart of OFC0000000000000000211
Brunei00000000000000000*0*00*00
Cambodia00000000000001*111221*00
Indonesia00000122122200222222*11*
Laos00000000000110*0*11*0*10*00
Malaysia2222221022222210022211
Myanmar00000000222222222001*00
Philippines000000000001*2222201221*
Singapore22222111222222222221*22
Thailand000±102221000000000003*3*
Timor-Leste00000000000000000*10000
Vietnam0001022222200222221112
Total44464887101010109111212121111121111
SAFF
Bangladesh122000000000*11*1*11*1*1*1*00
Bhutan0000000000000*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*00
India22222222222222221*222*1*2*
Maldives222222221*22221*1*021*1*1*00
Nepal000000000000*00*0100*0*0*00
Pakistan0000000000000*000000000
Sri Lanka00000000000000*00*0*0*0*000
Total5664444434445444444412
CAFA
Afghanistan00000000000000*00000000
Iran000000000000000000002*2*
Kyrgyzstan000000000010*0*21*1*2221*00
Tajikistan000000000211*1*1*1*22221*21*
Turkmenistan222200000001*1*1*21*2222*1*2*
Uzbekistan0000011210000000111011
Total2222011212222444777466
WAFF
Bahrain00112210012222222221*1*2
Iraq0000020322222220000211
Jordan0223222222222222220122
Kuwait000002333222000221221*0
Lebanon2222232222222222222200
Oman101222222221*2221*1*021*00*
Palestine00000000000*1*20*0*11221*00
Qatar0000001000000000000011
Saudi Arabia0000000010000000000011
Syria2000023321*2222222222*00
United Arab Emirates000000000000000000002*1
Yemen10022222220*0*0000000000
Total646101017161716141414141212121211121298
Total
Finals18182024203231323232323232343636393737363232
Qualifying18182024203231323333344140504443484343493435

Prize money

The prize money as of the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two are as follows, in United States dollar (USD):[8]

RoundTeamsAmount
Per teamTotal
Final (Champions)1$2.5 million
Final (Runners-up)1$1 million
Semi-finals4$240,000$960,000
Quarter-finals8$160,000$1,280,000
Round of 1616$80,000$1,280,000
Group stage32$300,000$9,600,000
Total32$16,620,000

Marketing

Sponsorship

The tournament has been sponsored by a group of multinational corporations, in contrast to the single main sponsor typically found in national top-flight leagues.

Official Global Partners

Official Global Supporters

Records and statistics

Main article: AFC Cup and AFC Champions League Two records and statistics

Results

See also: List of AFC Cup and AFC Champions League Two finals

Performance by nation

NationTitlesRunners-upTotal
437
325
314
224
213
134
112
112
101
101
101
101
022
011
011
011
011
011

Most Valuable Player

SeasonPlayerClub
2011Artur GevorkyanNasaf Qarshi
2012RogerinhoAl-Kuwait
2013Bader Al-MutawaAl-Qadsia
2014Saif Al HashanAl-Qadsia
2015Safiq RahimJohor Darul Ta'zim
2016Hammadi AhmedAl-Quwa Al-Jawiya
2017Manuchekhr DzhalilovIstiklol
2018Hammadi AhmedAl-Quwa Al-Jawiya
2019Mehdi KhalilAl-Ahed
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
2021Abdulwahab Al-MaloodAl-Muharraq
2022Eid Al-FarsiAl-Seeb
2023–24Mikael DokaCentral Coast Mariners
2024–25Caio LucasSharjah
2025–26Issam JebaliGamba Osaka

Top scorers

YearPlayerClubGoals
2004Indra Sahdan DaudHome United7
Egmar GoncalvesHome United
2005Mo'ayyad SalimAl-Faisaly9
2006Mahmoud ShelbaiehAl-Wehdat8
2007Odai Al SaifyShabab Al-Ordun5
Mohammed GhaddarNejmeh
2008RicoAl-Muharraq19
2009Robert AkaruyeBusaiteen8
Mohamad HamwiAl-Karamah
Jehad Al HussainAl-Kuwait
Huỳnh Kesley AlvesBình Dương
2010Afonso AlvesAl-Rayyan9
2011Ivan BoškovićNasaf Qarshi10
2012Amjad RadhiErbil9
Raja RafeAl-Shorta
2013Issam JemâaAl-Kuwait16
2014Juan BelencosoKitchee11
2015Daniel McBreenSouth China8
Riste NaumovAyeyawady United
2016Hammadi AhmedAl-Quwa Al-Jawiya16
2017Kim Yu-songApril 259
2018An Il-bomApril 2512
2019Bienvenido MarañónCeres–Negros10
2020Bienvenido MarañónCeres–Negros5
2021Khusayin NorchaevNasaf Qarshi7
2022Jasur HasanovSogdiana Jizzakh5
Paulo JosuéKuala Lumpur City
Pedro PauloViettel
2023–24Marco TúlioCentral Coast Mariners8
2024–25Sardar AzmounShabab Al Ahli9
2025–26Trent BuhagiarTampines Rovers8

Winning coaches

YearClubCoach
2004Al-JaishCostică Ștefănescu
2005Al-FaisalyBranko Smiljanić
2006Al-FaisalyAdnan Hamad
2007Shabab Al-OrdonNizar Mahrous
2008Al-MuharraqSalman Sharida
2009Al-KuwaitMohamad Abdulla
2010Al-IttihadValeriu Tița
2011Nasaf QarshiAnatoliy Demyanenko
2012Al-KuwaitMarin Ion
2013Al-KuwaitMarin Ion
2014Al-QadsiaAntonio Puche
2015Johor Darul Ta'zimMario Gómez
2016Al-Quwa Al-JawiyaBasim Qasim
2017Al-Quwa Al-JawiyaHussam Al Sayed
2018Al-Quwa Al-JawiyaBasim Qasim
2019Al-AhedBassem Marmar
2021Al-MuharraqIsa Sadoon Al-Hamdani
2022Al-SeebRashid Jaber
2023–24Central Coast MarinersMark Jackson
2024–25SharjahCosmin Olăroiu
2025–26Gamba OsakaJens Wissing

Top goalscorers

[17]

RankPlayerGoalsYearsClub(s)
1Bienvenido Marañón352016–2020Ceres–Negros
2Mahmoud Shelbaieh342006–2016Al-Wehdat
3Aleksandar Đurić322004–2014Geylang United, Singapore Armed Forces, Tampines Rovers
Amjad Radhi322011–2018Erbil, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
5Bader Al-Mutawa302010–2019Al-Qadsia
Rico302006–2015Al-Muharraq, Al-Riffa, Al-Hidd
7Ali Ashfaq292004–2020Club Valencia, New Radiant, VB Sports Club, TC Sports Club
8Rogerinho282009–2015Al-Kuwait
9Jordi Tarrés252012–2019Kitchee
10Kim Yu-song242017–2019April 25

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia.

References

  1. ^ "Pivotal reforms approved by AFC Competitions Committee". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Sharjah stitch their name onto the illustrious #ACLTwo Roll of Honour!". Instagram
  3. ^ "History beckons for AFC Cup 2023/24 contenders as final edition of popular competition kicks off". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  4. ^ "AFC Competitions Committee recommends strategic reforms to elevate Asian club football". theAFC.com. Archived 24 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  5. ^ "AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women's Champions League". AFC. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  6. ^ "AFC Club Competitions 2024/25 Slot Allocation". Football Association of Singapore. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Pivotal reforms approved by AFC Competitions Committee". the-AFC. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  8. ^ The AFC Hub (2024-06-19). AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25. Retrieved 2024-06-20. – via YouTube.
  9. ^ "AFC and NEOM announce global multi-year partnership extension". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  10. ^ Long, Michael (18 December 2023). "AFC lands six-year Qatar Airways sponsorship deal". SportsPro. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  11. ^ "AFC and Qatar Airways announce global partnership". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 16 December 2023. Archived 9 May 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Barbican announced as Official Global Supporter of AFC club competitions 2025/26 season". the-AFC. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
  13. ^ "AFC and KELME extend multi-year partnership". the-AFC. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
  14. ^ "Midea becomes Global Supporter of the AFC’s club competitions". the-AFC. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
  15. ^ "TECNO becomes Official Global Supporter of AFC Club Competitions". the-AFC. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  16. ^ "AFC and Visa expand partnership". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 3 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  17. ^ "AFC Cup: Marañón leads all-time top scorers". the-afc.com. Archived 11 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 March 2020.