AFC Announces Clubs with AFC Champions League Licenses: Five Chinese Super League Teams Qualify, Including Shanghai’s Double

On June 15, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) revealed on its official website the clubs that have obtained licenses for the 2024-25 Asian club competitions. Among them, five teams from the Chinese Super League (CSL) qualified: Shanghai Shenhua, Shanghai Port, Chengdu Rongcheng, Zhejiang FC, and Shandong Taishan.

According to the AFC’s previously announced quota distribution, the CSL has secured 2+1 slots for the 2024-25 AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite League. One team will enter the ACL directly, while another will participate in a playoff. Based on their 2023 season performance, Shanghai Port, as the CSL champion, and Shanghai Shenhua, the FA Cup winner, qualified for the ACL Elite League’s main competition. Shandong Taishan, the CSL runner-up, will take part in the playoff, and Zhejiang FC, the CSL third-place team, earned a direct entry into the ACL 2 event.

However, qualification based on performance does not guarantee participation. Clubs must also obtain an AFC Champions League license to compete. The recently published AFC licenses include all four teams eligible to participate, with Shanghai Shenhua, Shanghai Port, Chengdu Rongcheng, and Zhejiang FC listed. Chengdu Rongcheng, as last season’s fourth-placed CSL team, would be a reserve if any of the top four teams decline to participate.

In the case that two of the top four teams withdraw, the number of CSL teams participating in Asian club competitions would be reduced to three. However, given the current improved circumstances, it is unlikely that any team would放弃 their spot.