There will be three A-Leagues representatives in AFC competition next season, but which teams will feature?
The AFC Women’s Champions League will return for a second season, with one Ninja A-League club flying the flag for the competition in 2025-26.
In the men’s space, there will be two teams competing across the AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League Two.
aleagues.com.au looks at the clubs set for the continental stage next season.
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AFC Women’s Champions League
Melbourne City will once again compete in the AFC Women’s Champions League in 2025-26.
Still in the midst of this season’s inaugural campaign as they gear up for the semi-finals, City qualified for the second straight year thanks to back-to-back Ninja A-League Premierships.
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Finishing top of this season’s Ninja A-League clinched the club’s AFC ticket and by the time the 2025-26 edition rolls around, they could be reigning Champions League winners. With it not only comes the chance of more silverware but a significant payday.
In the meantime, Michael Matricciani’s invincibles – spearheaded by Golden Boot winner Holly McNamara – are preparing for a two-legged A-Leagues Semi-Final against Central Coast Mariners before their Champions League final-four clash with South Korea’s Incheon Red Angels on May 21.
Should City win the Champions League, their prize money would reach USD $1.3million (AUD $1.95m).
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AFC Champions League Two
Macarthur Bulls will return to AFC competition next season thanks to their 2024 Australia Cup triumph.
The Bulls missed out on qualifying for the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League Finals Series but Macarthur will still end the season with ACL Two qualification.
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Australia’s sole ACL Two berth was awarded to the Australia Cup champions, meaning Macarthur’s upset win over Melbourne Victory in the September decider clinched the Bulls’ AFC berth.
Mile Sterjovski’s Macarthur will be back in the second tier of AFC competition for the first time since 2023-24. Two seasons ago, the Bulls featured in the AFC Cup – now known as ACL Two – and made it all the way to the Zonal finals before losing to eventual champions and Isuzu UTE A-League rivals Central Coast Mariners.
In the 2024-25 ACL Two, Sydney FC reached an historic semi-final and it resulted in a substantial payday. For reaching the group stage alone, Sydney earned USD $300,000 – roughly AUD $450,000. As a result of their semi-final run, the Sky Blues netted an additional USD $780,000 which equates to over AUD $1.2million.
AFC Champions League Elite
It was a fascinating race throughout the Isuzu UTE A-League regular season as to just who would clinch second spot but after 29 rounds it’s Melbourne City who got the job done.
Needing a win over Sydney FC in the final round of the competition to book a place in the AFC Champions League Elite, Aurelio Vidmar’s side did just that; thumping the Sky Blues 5-1 at AAMI Park to ensure they’ll be mixing it with Asia’s best next season.
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The prize normally reserved for the Isuzu UTE A-League Premiers, this season it’s the highest placed Australian side who gains entry into the competition given Premiers Plate winners Auckland FC cannot compete due to their ineligibility for AFC tournaments.
In 2024-25, just qualifying for the AFC Champions League Elite netted teams, including Central Coast, USD$800k (AUD $1.27m).
Finishing just behind them in third place were Western United who, having pushed City all the way during season, did the best they could to try and leapfrog their state rivals by beating Premiership winners Auckland FC 4-2 on the final day.
Finishing second is a major bonus in the current Finals Series format. The top two sides sit out the first week of the Finals Series and return to action in the two-legged Semi-Finals to take on the two winners of the Elimination Finals, for a place in the Championship decider.
