Kitchee seek answers from AFC over Champions League Elite spot
Quick Look
- Hong Kong Premier League champions Kitchee have asked the Asian Football Confederation for clarity on whether they will be promoted to the revamped AFC Champions League Elite for 2026-27.
- The AFC proposed expanding the competition from 24 to 32 teams, creating uncertainty.
- Kitchee, who secured the domestic title with four matches to spare last month, expected to compete in the secondary AFC Champions League Two.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Kitchee secured their Hong Kong Premier League title with four matches remaining, earning the right to represent Hong Kong in AFC competitions. The AFC's proposed expansion of the Champions League Elite has created confusion about qualification pathways.
Hong Kong Premier League champions Kitchee have sought answers from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over whether they will be bumped up to the revamped AFC Champions League Elite next season. The continental governing body recently recommended that its premier competition be increased from 24 to 32 teams in time for 2026-27, leaving some clubs in the dark over where they will fit in. After wrapping up the local league title with four matches to spare last month, Kitchee had expected to compete in the secondary AFC Champions League Two. Head coach Inigo Calderon said the club were "asking questions" and that the situation was "not clear". "I've only heard rumours; one said there would maybe be a playoff to get into the Elite, but if you lost it you wouldn't get ACL2, which wouldn't make sense," Calderon said. "It should be [decided] already, they don't have to wait too much because everyone needs time to plan for next season."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
AFC will clarify competition format before the start of the 2026-27 season
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- Will Kitchee be promoted to ACL Elite?
- What happens to clubs that lose the playoff?
- When will the AFC make a final decision?
