AFC expands Asian Champions League to 32 teams, Vietnam set for place
VOV.VN - The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced it will increase the number of teams in the Asian Champions League from 24 to 32, a move that will almost certainly give Vietnam a representative in the competition.
Under the current format, the Asian Champions League features 24 clubs and Vietnam has no representative. From the 2026/2027 season, however, the number of teams will increase to 32, and based on the latest rankings, Vietnam is highly likely to secure a spot.
The AFC has yet to allocate specific slots, but based on previous expansions, Vietnam is expected to have at least one club entering the play-off round.
According to the AFC, the 32 teams in the 2026/2027 season will be divided into East and West regions. Each region will include 16 clubs competing in an eight-match league format, with the top eight advancing to the round of 16. From the quarter-finals onwards, matches will be played in a centralised format without regional division.
The Vietnam Football Federation and V-League clubs have begun preparations for the expanded competition, with licensing procedures already underway to ensure clubs meet entry requirements.
The 2026/2027 Asian club season is set to begin in August 2026, with the AFC expected to announce detailed slot allocations for member associations in the coming days.
Nam Dinh FC faces Japan’s Gamba Osaka in AFC Champions League Two
VOV.VN - After losing away to Gamba Osaka FC, Nam Dinh FC will play them again at home in the second leg of the AFC Champions League 2, scheduled to take place on November 5.
