JAMBIEKSPRES.CO.ID-The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced a new club competition format that is making waves in the world of Asian football for the 2024-2025 season.
This announcement has sparked excitement among football fans across the continent. The AFC has taken a bold step by replacing the old AFC Cup and introducing three levels of club competitions that will provide opportunities for the best Asian clubs to compete on the international stage.
According to a tweet from the official AFC Twitter account @theafcdotcom on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, the AFC has unveiled this ambitious plan. The pinnacle of this new competition pyramid is the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE), an exclusive stage that will showcase the brilliance of Asian football. With 24 participating clubs, ACLE will be the battleground for the best teams on this continent. Interestingly, the first round will consist of 12 teams from the West region and 12 teams from the East region. Each team will play a series of eight matches, with four home and four away games.
After this initial phase, the top 16 teams will advance to the round of 16, where the competition will intensify in a home-and-away format. Following that, the eight winning teams will face off in the final stage, which will be held at a central location, encompassing the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the ultimate showdown. All matches in this final stage will adopt a knockout format, with one match determining the fate. However, the competitive spirit is not limited to the pinnacle of the pyramid. AFC has also launched the AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2), the second level in the competition hierarchy. With 32 teams competing, ACL2 offers significant opportunities for mid-tier clubs to achieve accomplishments and recognition at the continental level.
There is also a stage for clubs that are emerging at the regional level. The AFC Challenge League (ACGL), featuring 20 competing clubs, provides a platform for future clubs to hone their skills and compete with an unwavering spirit. The revitalization of Asian club competitions is the hottest news for football enthusiasts. With a more challenging format, fiercer battles, and more prestigious stages, the 2024-2025 season will mark a new era that carves history in the world of Asian football. (*)