The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced today the ranking of clubs participating in the first edition of the AFC Champions League Elite 2024-2025. In the first-tier ranking for West Asia are the clubs: Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal, UAE's Al Ain (the current AFC Champions League titleholder), Qatar's Al Sadd, Iran's Persepolis, Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor, and Iraq's Al-Shorta. The second-tier includes Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli and Al Nassr, Qatar's Al Rayyan, Iran's Esteghlal, UAE's Al Wasl, and the team that will qualify later between Qatar's Al Gharafa and UAE's Shabab Al Ahli. In the first-tier ranking for East Asia are the clubs: Japan's Vissel Kobe, South Korea's Ulsan, China's Shanghai Port, Thailand's Buriram United, Australia's Central Coast Mariners, and Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim. The second-tier includes Japan's Kawasaki Frontale and Yokohama F. Marinos, South Korea's Pohang Steelers and Guangzhou, China's Shanghai Shenhua, and a team that will qualify later between China's Shandong and Thai land's Bangkok United. The AFC Champions League Elite will feature 24 teams, 12 for each zone. Ten teams from East Asia and 10 from West Asia will qualify directly, while four teams will compete in playoffs, with two advancing to the group stage. Source: Saudi Press Agency