Arab Club Champions Cup

Lore & Background

Founded in 1981, the tournament was held alongside the Arab Cup Winners' Cup and the Arab Super Cup throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, until the Cup Winners' Cup and Super Cup were merged with the Champions Cup in 2002. The tournament's first champions were Iraqi club Al-Shorta, who defeated Lebanese side Nejmeh in the final over two legs in 1982. Saudi Arabian clubs have accumulated the most victories, with nine wins. The title has been won by 20 clubs, eight of which have won the title more than once. Since the tournament was merged with the Cup Winners' Cup, only ES Sétif of Algeria have managed consecutive wins, successfully defending their title in 2008. Iraqi club Al-Rasheed and Tunisian side Espérance de Tunis share the record for most titles, with three each.

Reader's Guide

The next two editions of the tournament will be held in 2027 (from 21 July to 7 August) and in 2029 (from 25 July to 11 August). The 2023 edition of the tournament was widely covered by international media due to the participation of a number of high-profile players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté following their transfers to Saudi Pro League clubs. Out of the thirteen champions crowned from 2002 to 2023, ten of them were from Africa and only three were from Asia.

Did You Know?

• The first goal in Arab Club Champions Cup history was scored by Nejmeh's Jamal Al-Khatib in 1981.
• Al-Rasheed of Iraq became the first team to win three consecutive championships (1985, 1986, 1987).
• The 2023 edition was named King Salman Club Cup after Salman of Saudi Arabia.
• Sami Al-Jaber is the all-time top scorer of the competition.