Based on information received from the AFC Professional Football Committee that the number of participating clubs in the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite), commencing in August 2026, will be expanded from 24 to 32 clubs, and that two additional indirect qualification slots for ACL Elite will be introduced alongside the existing three direct qualification slots for ACL Elite and one direct qualification slot for the AFC Champions League Two™ (ACL Two), the J.League has determined its qualification policy as follows.
※What is Direct Qualification?
A qualification slot that allows a club to enter directly into the ACL Elite League Stage (ACL Elite LS), rather than entering through the ACL Elite Preliminary Stage (PS), which is the qualifying stage for the ACL Elite LS.
※What is Indirect Qualification?
A qualification slot that requires a club to participate in the PS. If the club wins the PS, it qualifies for the ACL Elite LS. If the club loses in the PS, it qualifies for the ACL Two Group Stage (ACL Two GS).
The PS will be conducted as a single-match knockout format, with ACL Elite LS participants determined from among five or six PS participating clubs from each of the East and West regions.
The clubs allocated to the two newly introduced ACL Elite indirect qualification slots will be determined based on the results of the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE, the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE, and the ACL Two 2025/26 Final, as outlined below.
The qualification slots for the 2027/28 season are also currently under consideration, and further details will be announced once confirmed.
-Priority order: ACL Elite Direct > ACL Elite Indirect > ACL Two Direct
-Within each category, clubs with the higher priority ranking will take precedence.
-For the ACL Elite indirect qualification slots, the first priority will be given to the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE third-place club. Thereafter, priority will alternate between the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE and the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE.
-For ACL Two direct qualification slots from the second priority position onwards, the 2025 J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP will be added as the second priority, followed by the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE.
※Exception in the event of overlapping qualification eligibility
If Gamba Osaka wins ACL Two 2025/26, the club will remain allocated to the second-priority ACL Elite indirect qualification slot, even if the first-priority slot becomes vacant, in accordance with AFC regulations.
※Specific examples of overlapping qualification eligibility
Example 1: If Kashima wins the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE
Kashima will occupy the ACL Elite direct qualification slot for first priority, designated for the “2025 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE Champion Club.” The ACL Elite direct qualification slot for second priority, designated for the “MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE Champion Club,” will become vacant, and all subsequent ACL Elite direct qualification slots will move up by one position.
As a result, Kashiwa, the second-place club in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE, will occupy the ACL Elite direct second-priority slot, while Kyoto, the third-place club in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE, will occupy the ACL Elite direct third-priority slot. Both clubs will qualify for the ACL Elite LS.
Example 2: If the 105th Emperor’s Cup Champion Club (Machida) wins the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE
Machida will occupy the ACL Elite direct second-priority slot, and the 2025 J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP Champion Club (Hiroshima) will qualify for the vacant ACL Two direct first-priority slot.
Example 3: If Kyoto wins the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE
Kyoto will occupy the ACL Elite direct second-priority slot designated for the “MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE Champion Club.” The “MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE Runner-up Club” will then occupy the ACL Elite direct first-priority slot, and both clubs will qualify for the ACL Elite LS.
