AFC Challenge League
The AFC Challenge League is an upcoming annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Under its rules, the competition will be played primarily between clubs from nations that did not receive direct qualifying slots in the top-tier  AFC Champions League Elite and 2nd tier AFC Champions League 2, based on the AFC Club Competitions Ranking.

History

On 23 December 2022, it was announced that the AFC club competition structure would change from the established formats. Under the new plans, the top club competition of Asian football will only consist of 24 teams, divided into East and West regions, while the second-tier will consist of 32 teams, divided along with same lines like the top-tier. It was also announced that a third-tier 
competition would also commence for the clubs failed to qualify into the top two club competitions. On 14 August 2023, it was confirmed that the new competition would commence from the 2024–25 season onwards with the name of AFC Challenge League.

References

Asian Football Confederation club competitions
Sports leagues established in 2023