new season
Asian championship
The Elite League has undergone a major overhaul, introducing for the first time a "league stage" instead of the traditional group stage format. The change allows each team to play four home and four away matches against eight different teams from East and West Asia during the league phase.
Chinese Super League Team Fixtures
Shanghai harbor
Home matches against Johor Bahru, Central Coast Mariners, Yokohama Mariners, Gwangju FC;
Away matches against Ulsan Hyundai, Kobe Victory, Pohang Steelers and Kawasaki Frontale.
Shanghai Shenhua (soccer team)
Home games against Ulsan Hyundai, Kobe Victory, Pohang Steelers and Kawasaki Frontale;
Away games against Johor Bahru, Central Coast Mariners, Yokohama Mariners, Gwangju FC.
Shandong Taishan prefecture level city in Shandong
Home matches against Johor Bahru, Central Coast Mariners, Yokohama Mariners, Gwangju FC;
Away matches against Ulsan Hyundai, Kobe Victory, Pohang Steelers and Kawasaki Frontale.
System and Rules
The league stage will begin on September 16, 2024 and run through February 19, 2025. The eight teams that qualify will advance to the quarterfinals and will determine their opponents through a cross-divisional pairing draw, and the tournament will be played in a centralized conference system from the quarterfinals through to the final, which will be held from April 25 to May 4, 2025 in Saudi Arabia.
It is worth noting that the new season of the elite AFC Champions League does not have any limit on the number of foreigners who can appear on the pitch, which will further enhance the intensity of the game.
bonus system
The prize money for the AFC Elite League has been significantly increased, with each of the 24 teams competing in the tournament set to receive $800,000 in participation bonuses. The winnings for each match in the league stage will be $100,000 USD. Reaching the round of 16 will earn a $200,000 bonus, with $400,000 for reaching the quarterfinals and $600,000 for the semifinals. Runners-up will receive $4 million, while the winner's purse is a whopping $10 million.
This reform not only increases the suspense and challenge of the competition, but also provides higher financial rewards for the participating teams. It is worth looking forward to the performance of the three Chinese Super League teams in the new season of the elite AFC Champions League.
