Saudi Arabia’s lead comes on the heels of stellar performances of their clubs, Al Ahli Saudi FC, Al Hilal SFC and Al Nassr Club in the recently concluded AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite) Finals Jeddah 2025, who occupied three of the four Semi-final spots before Al Ahli Saudi went on to win their maiden crown earlier this month.

A further boost came from Al Taawoun FC’s Semi-final finish in the AFC Champions League Two™ (ACL Two) 2024/25, alongside Al Hilal’s AFC Champions League™ (ACL) titles in 2019 and 2021, a runners-up finish in 2022 and a Semi-final run in 2023/24.

In second place with 107.663 points are Japan, who finished behind Saudi Arabia after Kawasaki Frontale marked the sixth instance of a Japanese club featuring in the Final of the premier men’s club competition on the Continent.

 

Frontale’s remarkable journey in the ACL Elite follows Yokohama F. Marinos reaching the Final last year, Urawa Red Diamonds’ title-winning campaigns in 2022 and 2017, their runners-up finish in 2019, and Kashima Antlers being crowned champions in 2018.

Korea Republic are in third place with 90.982 points, following Gwangju FC’s appearance in the Quarter-finals of the ACL Elite Finals on their Continental debut and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors’ last-eight finish in the ACL Two.

 

Their ranking is further strengthened by Jeonbuk clinching theACL title in 2016 and Pohang Steelers’ runners-up position in 2021, whereas Sharjah FC’s historic ACL Two triumph on Sunday and Al Ain FC’s ACL title in the 2023/24 season were enough to seal the fourth position for United Arab Emirates. 

Meanwhile, Singapore finished the season as the biggest climbers, having jumped eight places to 15 after an unforgettable performance from Lion City Sailors FC in the ACL Two, which saw them become the first club from Singapore to make a major Asian final.

 

Additionally, Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC’s journey to the Final of the AFC Challenge League™ saw Cambodia climb seven places to 24, whereas Paro FC’s qualification for the Group Stage earned Bhutan a four-place rise.

In the slot allocation for the AFC Men’s Club Competitions 2026/27 season, Saudi Arabia continue to lead in the West region with three direct entries to the ACL Elite Group Stage, while a fourth will represent the Kingdom in the ACL Two. They are followed by the UAE and Qatar, who each have two direct spots and one indirect place in the ACL Elite, along with a direct spot each in the ACL Two.

 

The highest number of allocated places in the East is held by Japan, with three direct ACL Elite spots and one club gaining entry to the Group Stage of ACL Two.

 

Also with four allocated spots are Korea Republic and Thailand, who will both have the same representation as their West Region counterparts of UAE and Qatar.

 

To see the full AFC Men’s Club Competitions Ranking, please click here, and the AFC Men’s Club Competitions 2026/27 Slot Allocation can be accessed here.