Summary

The AFC Champions League Elite is a seasonal football competition established in 1967. It is open to the league champions and cup winners of Asian Football Confederation member associations, as well as to the clubs finishing in second and third position in the stronger leagues of each zone. Prior to the 2002–03 season, the tournament was named the Asian Club Championship. Originally, only the champions of their respective national league and the defending champion of the competition were allowed to participate. However, this was changed in 2002 to allow the national cup winners to compete as well. In 2024, the competition rebranded again, and was renamed as the AFC Champions League Elite.

Al-Hilal hold the record for the most victories, with four wins since the competition's inception. Thai Farmers Bank, Pohang Steelers, Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Al-Ittihad are the four teams that have won the competition consecutively. Al-Hilal has contested the most finals, nine, winning four and losing five, while Al-Ahli, Yokohama F. Marinos, FC Seoul and Persepolis are the only four clubs to reach the finals more than once without winning. Overall, 24 clubs have won the competition since its inception in 1967. Clubs from South Korea have won the most titles with twelve. Japanese clubs are second with eight, and Saudi Arabian clubs are third with six wins. The current champions are Al Ain, who beat Yokohama F. Marinos 6–3 on aggregate in the 2023–24 edition.

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