A second A-League club could compete in next season’s AFC Champions League Elite competition under a proposal to increase the number of participating teams.
The Asian Football Confederation’s executive committee will meet to ratify a recommendation to expand Champions League Elite from 24 to 32 teams in time for the 2026-27 staging of the competition.
The Newcastle Jets, who currently top the A-League, are confirmed starters in next season’s Champions League Elite as they are already guaranteed to be the highest-placed A-League club eligible to contest the competition.
While second-placed Auckland FC can still overtake the Jets in the race for the Premier’s Plate, the Black Knights cannot take part in Asian competition due them being from New Zealand, which is part of the Oceania Football Confederation.
Should Champions League Elite expand to 32 teams, the A-League would likely be granted an extra half spot.
The would mean that an A-League club would contest a playoff, with the winner to advance to the Champions League Elite and the loser to take part in the Champions League Two competition.
“This latest expansion reinforces the AFC’s dedication to delivering a more inclusive and commercially viable continental platform,” an AFC statement said.
“By broadening the geographical representation of elite football, the AFC ensures that the ACL Elite remains at the forefront of the global footballing landscape, providing fans and stakeholders with a premier sporting spectacle.”
An Australian club is already certain to be in the Champions League Two. It was to have been the Jets due to their Australia Cup success.
However, as they have since qualified for Champions League Elite, the Jets’ Champions League Two spot will either be filled by another A-League club or NPL Victoria outfit Heidelberg United, who lost the Australia Cup final to Newcastle,
However, it’s extremely unlikely Heidelberg will meet the necessary criteria to compete in Asian competition.
