“Pakhtakor” can earn $12 million

The "Pakhtakor" club, participating in the AFC Elite Champions League, has the potential to earn a total of $12 million in prize money if they win the competition.

The Tashkent-based club will secure $800,000 just by participating in the group stage. The group stage comprises 12 teams, including Saudi Arabia's Al-Nasr and Al-Hilal, and the defending champions Al-Ain from the United Arab Emirates. "Pakhtakor" will earn an additional $1 million if they finish at least 8th in the group stage.

During the 34th Congress of the Asian Football Confederation on May 16, AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa announced significant changes. The previous format of the Asian Champions League has been replaced with the AFC Elite Champions League, AFC Women's Champions League, AFC Champions League 2, and AFC Challenge League.

For context, last season "Pakhtakor" finished the group stage of the Asian Champions League in 3rd place with 7 points, behind the current champions "Al-Ain" and Saudi Arabia's "Al-Feyha".