2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite Final

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The competition itself is the top-tier competition in the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) revamped three-tier club structure, sitting above the AFC Champions League Two and AFC Challenge League.

The organizer of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite final, as well as the entire competition, is the AFC. The final is part of a “centralized finals” format in Saudi Arabia, featuring a single-elimination knockout stage for the final eight teams, and is scheduled for April 25, 2026, in Jeddah.

Winning the AFC Champions League Elite is the highest honor in Asian club football and offers several prestigious opportunities: a significant financial reward, global qualification – the champion earns a spot in the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the expanded 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, and automatic qualification for the league stage of the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite.

Venue, Competitors’ Structure, and Prize Pool Overview for the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite Final

The final match of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite will take place at the “Jewel” – the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium,  known as Alinma Stadium due to sponsorship reasons – one of Saudi Arabia’s premier open-air architectural arenas.

Out of a total of 24 teams competing in the competition league stage, which are further narrowed down through the knockout rounds, the two best teams from the semifinals – one from the West Region and one from the East Region – will vie for the continental title.

The total prize purse for the final match is USD 14 million (fixed) plusbonuses from earlier stages. The prize money for the top two teams is distributed as follows:

• Champion (final winner): $10,000,000 (plus cumulative earlier stage bonuses)
• Runner-up: $4,000,000 (plus cumulative bonuses)

Participating Teams in the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite Final and Qualification Overview

As of this moment, the exact teams for the final match haven’t been determined. The tournament is currently in the Round of 16 phase. To reach the Jeddah match, teams must navigate the following remaining rounds:

• Round of 16 (two legs, ongoing): The East Region matches concluded in mid-March. The West Region matches have been postponed indefinitely by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) due to regional instability.
• Quarter-finals (single-elimination, centralized host city, April 16–17): The eight winners from the round of 16 (four from East, four from West) will play single-leg matches in Jeddah.
• Semi-finals (single-elimination, centralized host city, April 20–21): The four quarter-final winners will compete to decide the final two participants.

Structure and Competition Format of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite Final

The final of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League is a single-leg knockout match; the winner of this single game is crowned the champion.

The final is the peak of the single-elimination “centralized finals” stage held in Jeddah. Unlike the round of 16, which is a two-legged home-and-away affair, the final match is held at a neutral venue to create a “World Cup-style” atmosphere. There are no second chances: once a team reaches the centralized final stage (quarter-finals onwards), any loss results in immediate elimination from the tournament.

Favorite in the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite Final, Betting Options, and Where to Watch

Since the exact finalists for the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite haven’t been determined, as the tournament is currently in the round of 16, we can only speculate on the title contenders.

Based on performance in the league stage and squad strength, the following teams are leading contenders to reach the final in Jeddah:

• Al Ahli SFC: The defending champions are heavy favorites to reach the final on their home turf in Jeddah. Their squad features stars like Riyad Mahrez, Enzo Millot, and Édouard Mendy.
• Al Hilal SFC: Regarded as one of Asia’s most successful clubs, they’ve strengthened significantly with the addition of Darwin Núñez and Théo Hernandez.
• Vissel Kobe: A dominant force from the East Region, they finished high in the league stage and have already secured a place in the centralized finals in Jeddah.
• FC Machida Zelvia: The Japanese league-stage leaders have been the “surprise package” of the season, consistently performing at a high level.
• Al Ittihad Club: Two-time winners who benefit from the centralized format being held in their home city.

For the final match, you can find odds at major international bookmakers. Popular betting markets:

• Match result (1X2): Predicting the winner in 90 minutes (Home, Draw, or Away).
• To lift the trophy: A “to win outright” bet that includes extra time and penalties.
• Over/under goals: Betting on whether the total goals will be above or below a set number (usually 2.5).
• Both teams to score (BTTS): Waging on whether both finalists will find the net.
• Player props: Bets on specific outcomes like “anytime goalscorer” (e.g., Darwin Núñez or Riyad Mahrez) or player cards.

The best football bet sites:

• bet365: Widely considered the best for live betting, offering extensive markets and regular “Super Boosts” for major finals.
• Dafabet: A major sponsor of Asian football with specialized markets for the AFC Champions League Elite.
• 1xBet: Known for offering some of the highest odds and deepest market variety for international club football.
• William Hill: One of the most established brands, offering reliable “Bet Builders” for showpiece events.

Broadcasting varies by region, but the final will be widely available through these platforms:

• Saudi Arabia & Middle East: beIN Sports and Alkass.
• Australia: Paramount+ and Network 10.
• United Kingdom & Europe: OneFootball and TrillerTV (formerly FITE).
• Japan: DAZN.
• Global: The AFC Hub on YouTube often provides live coverage in territories without exclusive broadcast deals.

Pros and Cons of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite Final Participants

The primary favorites to reach the final in Jeddah are summarized below: