AFC to start Women’s Champions League

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 15:  The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Monday heralded a new era for club football in the Continent by unveiling three new club competitions, making significant increases in funding for the 76 Participating Teams, as well as announcing the introduction of the AFC Women’s Champions League. The three initiatives, decided by the AFC Executive Committee in its 2nd meeting held virtually on Monday which was chaired by AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, are aimed at fostering greater growth and inclusivity, and will take effect from the 2024-2025 season. The top tier of Asian club football, which will comprise the Continent’s top 24 participating clubs, will be named the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE), while the 32-team second tier will be known as the AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) and the final tier, which will see 20 clubs vie for supremacy, is confirmed as the AFC Challenge League (ACGL), the AFC informed in a release on Monday. “Furthermore, the ACLE champions are set to be awarded a total of USD 12 million, marking a substantial increase compared to the USD 4 million that the eventual victors of the prestigious continental club prize will receive in the upcoming 2023/24 season,” the AFC release said. The losing finalist, on the other hand, will receive USD6 million, which represents a USD4 million increase from the forthcoming season in which the runner-up is set to pocket USD2 million. Both the ACL2 and ACGL will see boosts across the board in prize funds and benefits. The AFC Women’s Champions League will feature top-notch action with eligible clubs from all member associations (MAs) receiving an invitation to participate with a financial distribution model, which will be announced in due course, in place. The AFC has successfully organised two pilot AFC Women’s Club Championships in 2021 and 2022 with the third edition scheduled to take place later this year.