Arab Club Champions Cup will Return in 2027 After Years of Hiatus

Rabat – The Arab Football Association (UAFA) has announced the return of the Arab Club Champions Cup, ending another prolonged absence for one of the region’s oldest club competitions.

According to the federation’s competition calendar for the 2026-2029 period, the next edition will take place from July 21 to August 7, 2027, followed by another tournament from July 25 to August 11, 2029. The competition will now be held every two years.

The tournament’s revival forms part of a wider UAFA strategy to strengthen its calendar of competitions, which also includes tournaments for national teams, youth categories, women’s football, futsal, and beach soccer.

Inconsistency

Despite its long history, the Arab Club Champions Cup has struggled to maintain a stable format since its launch in the 1980s. The tournament has been suspended several times and has returned under different names over the years, including the Arab Club Champions Cup, Arab Champions League, Mohammed VI Arab Club Championship, and most recently, the King Salman Club Cup.

Its competition format has also changed frequently. Some editions were played as a single-host tournament, while others adopted home-and-away knockout rounds or featured qualifying stages followed by a group phase before the knockout rounds.

These repeated changes have prevented the competition from establishing the consistency seen in continental tournaments such as the CAF Champions League or the AFC Champions League.

Criticism over participation criteria

Another recurring issue has been the selection of participating clubs.

Unlike continental competitions, where qualification is generally based on domestic league standings or cup performances, the Arab tournament has often relied on invitations. In several editions, clubs with strong commercial appeal received invitations despite not finishing among the top teams in their domestic leagues, while better-performing sides were left out.

The approach has frequently been viewed as an effort to maximize television audiences and commercial value by ensuring the participation of the Arab world’s most popular clubs.

Rich history 

Despite its inconsistent organization, the competition has produced memorable matches and crowned many of the Arab world’s biggest clubs.

Moroccan teams, particularly Raja Casablanca and Wydad Casablanca, have enjoyed significant success in the tournament, alongside leading clubs from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Tunisia.

In recent editions, the competition’s substantial prize money also increased its appeal, with financial rewards that sometimes exceeded those offered by certain continental tournaments.

A fresh start?

By confirming editions through 2029 and committing to a biennial schedule, UAFA hopes to provide the competition with greater stability after decades of interruptions.

However, the long-term success of the tournament is expected to depend not only on keeping a regular calendar but also on establishing transparent qualification criteria and a consistent competition format. 

Such reforms could strengthen the tournament’s sporting credibility and transform it from an invitation-based event into a competition where qualification is determined primarily by results on the pitch.