The AFC has confirmed plans to introduce its own Nations League from 2030, adopting a format already established by UEFA in Europe.
The new competition will bring Asian national teams together across three separate leagues, with promotion and relegation linking the divisions. Its main aim is to provide emerging nations with regular competitive fixtures while giving greater structure to the international calendar in the region.
Rather than serving as an expanded series of friendly matches, the tournament will carry consequences for Asia’s leading international competitions. Performances in the different leagues will provide direct qualification places and routes into decisive play-offs for both the World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup.
That means every international break could become significant from the group stage onwards, with results affecting teams’ prospects of reaching major tournaments.
The AFC expects the format to create more evenly matched fixtures by regularly pairing teams of a similar level. In doing so, it hopes to narrow the gap between Asia’s established powers and nations still developing their football infrastructure and competitive strength.
The reform is intended to raise the overall standard of football across the continent while also creating substantial new television revenue for the confederation.
By introducing a system of promotion and relegation, the AFC will seek to maintain meaningful competition at every level. Teams will have the opportunity to move between leagues based on their results, ensuring that the tournament has a sporting outcome beyond individual fixtures.
The creation of the competition represents a major change to the way international football is organised in Asia. Its regular schedule is designed to give developing national teams more high-stakes matches, while established sides will also face a clear competitive pathway towards the World Cup and AFC Asian Cup.
The Nations League is due to begin in 2030.