AFC competition and Nations League restructuring

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is implementing a series of structural changes to its football competitions. Initially, the organization introduced a multi-tiered ecosystem for club football, including the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, AFC Challenge League, and the AFC Women’s Champions League. This restructuring aimed to increase the value and reach of Asian football, supported by expanded league stages and increased prize money. Building on these developments, the AFC has detailed plans for the ‘AFC Nations League’, set to launch in 2030. This competition will feature a three-tier system involving 47 member associations: two divisions of 18 teams each and a third division of 11 teams split into three groups. The league will utilize a promotion and relegation model every two years and will move away from regional or zonal groupings to address disparities in competition levels. The Nations League is designed to serve as the primary pathway for major tournaments. For the AFC Asian Cup, all first-division teams and the top six second-division teams are expected to qualify. For the FIFA World Cup, integration is slated for the 2032-33 season, where the top six teams in the first division would earn direct qualification, while teams ranked seventh through tenth would compete in a playoff for the remaining two spots. A pilot tournament is planned for the 2028–29 period to establish initial divisions based on recent qualification results rather than FIFA rankings. Recent developments indicate the AFC is managing various logistical and structural discussions regarding these proposals. The Japan Football Association (JFA) has reportedly expressed opposition to the Nations League concept, seeking to maintain more opportunities to play against high-level opponents from Europe and South America.