Sat Sep 14 08:15:53 UTC 2024: ## AFC Revamps Asian Champions League to Attract Investment and Boost Club Football
**HONG KONG –** The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has unveiled a revamped Asian Champions League Elite, aiming to attract investment and elevate the level of club football in the region.
The top tier of the reconfigured competition will feature only 24 teams, down from 40, and will kick off on Monday. Notable participants include the champions of Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and China, as well as the reigning title holders, Al-Ain from the United Arab Emirates.
The AFC’s general secretary, Windsor John, emphasized the shift in focus from quantity to quality. “The last competition had 40 teams and a lot of matches. We’ve focused on quality because we wanted Asian investors, foreign investors to invest in Asian clubs,” said John.
The revamp includes a new format, trophy, and logo, with the champions set to receive a whopping $12 million, three times the previous amount.
The new format utilizes the Swiss League system, dividing the teams into two 12-team leagues, one for East Asia and another for West Asia. Each team will play eight different opponents, offering a diverse range of matches. The top eight finishers from each league will then advance to the knockout rounds, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final to be played in Saudi Arabia in April and May.
“We want people, not just in Asia, to talk about our competition,” said John. “We hope it will drive club football forward.”
The AFC’s decision to revamp the competition comes after years of organizing continental club tournaments, starting with the Asian Club Championship in 1967, and the launch of the Asian Champions League in 2002. The aim is to bolster the development of professional leagues throughout the continent.
First Piper 