The slots in each region are distributed as follows: In each region, there are five groups in the group stage, including 16 direct slots, with the 4 remaining slots filled through qualifying play-offs (Article 3.2).The top 12 associations in each region are eligible to enter the AFC Champions League.
The slots are allocated by the following criteria according to the Entry Manual: The 46 AFC member associations (excluding the Northern Mariana Islands, which became a full member in December 2020 and are not eligible for this season) are ranked based on their clubs' performance over the last four years in AFC competitions (their national team's FIFA World Rankings no longer considered).
