The 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) is Asia’s premier club football tournament, marking its 44th edition and the second under the “Elite” branding. Featuring 24 top clubs from across Asia, the competition is divided into East and West regions, each with 12 teams. The league stage began on September 15, 2025, following preliminary rounds in August, with teams competing in home-and-away matches within their regions. The top eight teams from each region advance to the Round of 16, followed by single-leg quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final scheduled in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Defending champions Al Ahli, alongside strong clubs like Kawasaki Frontale, Ulsan Hyundai, and Vissel Kobe, are among the notable participants. The tournament offers the largest prize purse in Asian club football and guarantees the winner a spot in the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, and the next season’s ACL Elite league stage if not already qualified.
Tournament Format – September 2025 (League Stage)
In September 2025, the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite was played under the league stage format, which is part of the tournament’s overall structure:
1. Regional Split:
• Teams are divided into East and West regions, with 12 teams each.
• Each team plays 8 matches against teams within their region (4 home, 4 away).
2. Points System:
• Win: 3 points
• Draw: 1 point
• Loss: 0 points
3. Qualification to Knockouts:
• The top 8 teams from each region after all league stage matches advance to the Round of 16 (two-legged ties).
• Remaining teams are eliminated from the tournament.
4. Matchdays in September:
• Matchday 1: September 15–16
• Matchday 2: September 29–30
• Each matchday consisted of home-and-away fixtures within the same region.
5. Purpose:
• September matches served as the initial point-earning stage to determine which clubs would move on to the knockout rounds in March 2026.
Matches & Fixtures with Venues in September
The 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite matches scheduled for September 2025 are as follows:
September 15, 2025 – Matchday 1 (West Region)
• Sharjah FC (UAE) vs. Al Gharafa (Qatar)
Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah, UAE
9:45 AM IST
• Al Wahda (UAE) vs. Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)
Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
12:00 PM IST
• Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia) vs. Nasaf (Uzbekistan)
King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2:15 PM IST
• Al-Shorta (Iraq) vs. Al Sadd (Qatar)
Al-Zawraa Stadium, Baghdad, Iraq
4:30 PM IST
September 16, 2025 – Matchday 1 (East Region)
• Melbourne City FC (Australia) vs. Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan)
AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia
3:45 AM IST
• Gangwon FC (South Korea) vs. Shanghai Shenhua (China)
Chuncheon Songam Stadium, Chuncheon, South Korea
6:00 AM IST
• Machida Zelvia (Japan) vs. FC Seoul (South Korea)
Machida Gion Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
6:00 AM IST
• Buriram United (Thailand) vs. Johor Darul Ta’zim (Malaysia)
Chang Arena, Buriram, Thailand
8:15 AM IST
• Shabab Al-Ahli (UAE) vs. Traktor Sazi FC (Iran)
Rashid Stadium, Dubai, UAE
12:00 PM IST
• Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) vs. Al Duhail (Qatar)
Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2:15 PM IST
September 17, 2025 – Matchday 1 (East Region)
• Shanghai Port FC (China) vs. Vissel Kobe (Japan)
Pudong Football Stadium, Shanghai, China
8:45 PM CST (6:15 PM IST)
• Ulsan Hyundai FC (South Korea) vs. Chengdu Rongcheng (China)
Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan, South Korea
8:15 PM KST (5:45 PM IST)
September 29, 2025 – Matchday 2 (West Region)
• Nasaf (Uzbekistan) vs. Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Markaziy Stadium, Qarshi, Uzbekistan
9:45 AM IST
• Al Wahda (UAE) vs. Al Duhail (Qatar)
Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
12:00 PM IST
• Al Gharafa (Qatar) vs. Al-Shorta (Iraq)
Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, Al Gharafa, Qatar
2:15 PM IST
September 30, 2025 – Matchday 2 (East Region)
• Seoul (South Korea) vs. Buriram United (Thailand)
Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea
3:45 AM IST
• Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan) vs. Shanghai Port (China)
Hiroshima Big Arch, Hiroshima, Japan
6:00 AM IST
• Johor Darul Ta’zim (Malaysia) vs. Machida Zelvia (Japan)
Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri, Malaysia
8:15 AM IST
• Gangwon FC (South Korea) vs. Chengdu Rongcheng (China)
Chuncheon Songam Stadium, Chuncheon, South Korea
10:30 AM IST
• Al Sadd (Qatar) vs. Sharjah (UAE)
Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar
Importance of AFC Champions League Elite 2025–26 in September
The September 2025 matches in the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite were highly significant because they marked the start of the League Stage, which sets the foundation for the rest of the tournament. Here’s why September was important:
1. Initial Points and Standings:
• September matches determined the first points for each team in their regional league table (East and West).
• Strong performances early could give teams a psychological and strategic advantage for qualifying to the Round of 16.
2. Team Form Assessment:
• Coaches and analysts used these matches to assess team strengths, weaknesses, and tactics against continental opponents.
• Early matches helped teams adapt strategies for the later stages.
3. Qualification Momentum:
• Only the top 8 teams from each region advance to the knockout stage. September results were critical for building momentum toward qualification.
4. Player Visibility and Scouting:
• Performances in September gave players a chance to shine on the continental stage, attracting attention from bigger clubs and national team selectors.
5. Regional Rivalries and Fan Engagement:
• Matches in September often involved historic regional matchups (e.g., Saudi clubs vs. UAE or Qatar clubs), generating fan excitement and media coverage.
6. Setting the Tone for the Season:
• Clubs that performed well in September established themselves as title contenders, while early losses created pressure to recover in subsequent matchdays.
Conclusion
The September 2025 matches of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite played a pivotal role in shaping the tournament’s trajectory. As the opening fixtures of the League Stage, they set the initial league standings for both East and West regions, allowing teams to establish momentum and identify their strongest strategies. Performances during this period provided early insights into potential title contenders, highlighted key players, and fueled regional rivalries that engaged fans across Asia. Strong showings in September were critical for qualifying for the Round of 16 and building confidence for the knockout stages, making this month a decisive starting point for the season. Overall, September 2025 laid the foundation for the intense competition that would unfold throughout the AFC Champions League Elite season, ultimately influencing which clubs would challenge for continental glory.
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