Bin Ibrahim: Record financial prizes push Asian club competitions into a new era

AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa affirmed that the new season of the Asian club competitions marks a turning point in the continent’s football journey, noting that the current launch expands opportunities for clubs, raises the bar of ambition, and confirms the game’s entry into a renewed phase of strength, expansion, and rising value.

In a statement issued by the continental federation from its headquarters in Malaysia, bin Ibrahim said the competition system is no longer just a series of isolated tournaments, but a comprehensive project that redraws the map of competition and broadens the base of participation from the far East to the far West.

He clarified that the AFC Champions League Elite holds a special status as the pinnacle of competitions, with this season expanding the league phase to 32 clubs—16 in the West and 16 in the East—thereby enhancing competitive opportunities and raising the level of challenge.

He pointed out that the technical, fan-based, commercial, and media developments witnessed by the tournaments align with unprecedented increases in prize money. The scope of financial distribution has expanded to include participation, performance, and qualification for the knockout stages, ensuring greater stability in returns. Bin Ibrahim expressed his pride in the growing fan following, noting that the AFC Champions League Elite for the 2025–2026 season recorded a 174 percent growth, reaching approximately 2.5 billion views, while the AFC Champions League 2 achieved a 32 percent growth, reaching 916 million views.

He concluded by emphasizing that the ambition to develop Asian club competitions has gone beyond merely organizing successful tournaments. The strategic goal is now focused on building a more competitive, sustainable, and attractive system that gives every club the opportunity to grow, regardless of its location on the continent.