AVC Men's Volleyball Champions League
| Most recent season or competition: 2025 AVC Men's Volleyball Champions League | |
| Founded | 1999 (rebranded in 2004 and 2025) |
|---|---|
| Organising body | AVC |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Continent | Asia and Oceania |
| Most recent champion(s) | Al-Rayyan Sports Club (1st title) |
| Most titles | Paykan Tehran (8 titles) |
| Qualification | FIVB Men's Club World Championship |
| Streaming partner(s) | Volleyball TV |
| Official website | asianvolleyball.net |
The AVC Men's Volleyball Champions League is an annual continental club volleyball competition organised by the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC), and contested by Asia and Oceania's top-division volleyball clubs. It is the most prestigious club competition in Asia and Oceanian volleyball, played by the national league champions (and, for some nations, one or more runners-up) of their national federations.
Introduced in 1999 as the AVC Cup Men's Club Volleyball Tournament, the competition rebranded as Asian Men's Club Volleyball Championship in 2004. It was rebranded again in 2025 to its current name.
Despite its name implying a league format, the competition is structured as a tournament featuring 12 elite clubs from across Asia and Oceania. The champion and runner-up of the competition earn qualification for the prestigious FIVB Men's Volleyball Club World Championship.[1]
The most successful club in the competition is Paykan Tehran with a total of eight titles. Iran's teams have been dominating the tournament by winning 17 times, the most for any nation. The current Asian club champions are Al-Rayyan Sports Club from Qatar, who defeated Osaka Bluteon from Japan (3–0) in the 2025 final.
History
The competition began in 1999 when the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) announced the establishment of the first official men's and women's club championships, to be held under its supervision.[2][3] The tournament was initially known as the AVC Cup Men's Club Volleyball Tournament for its first four editions, before being renamed the Asian Men's Club Volleyball Championship in 2004.
The inaugural edition was played in a round-robin format. From 2000 to 2004, the competition adopted a two-round system: a preliminary round (featuring a pool round, from which the top four teams advanced) followed by a final round (consisting of semi-finals and a final). In 2005, the tournament reverted to a round-robin format. Between 2006 and 2009, it once again featured two rounds: preliminary and final rounds. Currently, the tournament follows a similar format to the 2006–2009 editions, but the final stage now includes quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final.
Starting with the 2025 edition, the tournament will be rebranded as the AVC Men's Volleyball Champions League.[4][5]
Competition formula
Qualification
The tournament features a maximum of 12 participating teams, with the host country automatically qualifying. The host nation is permitted to field up to two teams in the competition.[4][6] Other teams will qualify through the designated qualification pathway established for that particular year.
For the 2025 edition, all remaining participating teams were granted entry by invitation only.[7]
Final tournament
The tournament consists of two rounds: a preliminary round (pool phase) and a final round (direct elimination phase). During the preliminary round, the 12 qualified teams are divided into four pools—labeled A through D—each containing three teams. Within each pool, teams compete in a round-robin format, with each team playing against the other two teams once. Following the pool phase, the top two teams from each pool advance to the final round, which includes the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final match.[7][8]
Prize money
The teams advancing to the semifinals of this competition will be awarded a total prize of US$50,000 by the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC).[7][8] This marks the first time that a prize has been introduced in an AVC event in 2025.
- Champions: US$20,000
- Runners-up: US$15,000
- Third place: US$10,000
- Fourth place: US$5,000
Results
Performances by club
Performances by country
| Country | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Years champions | Years runners-up | Years third place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iran | 17 | 5 | 4 | 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024 |
2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2024 |
1999, 2012, 2015, 2022 |
| Qatar | 2 | 6 | 5 | 2012, 2025 | 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021 |
2007, 2009, 2017, 2019, 2023 |
| South Korea | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2000, 2001 | 1999 | — |
| Japan | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2023 | 2001, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2025 | 2008, 2010, 2016, 2025 |
| Kazakhstan | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2005 | 2006, 2008, 2011, 2018 | 2002, 2004, 2021 |
| China | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1999 | 2012 | 2000, 2001, 2005, 2011, 2014 |
| Chinese Taipei | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2015 | — | 2013 |
| Saudi Arabia | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2007, 2009 | — |
| Indonesia | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | 2023 | 2006, 2024 |
| Pakistan | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | — | 2018 |
Performances by zonal association
| Zonal association | Champions | Runners-up | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAVA | 18 | 9 | 8 |
| EAVA | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| WAVA | 2 | 8 | 5 |
| SAVA | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Hosts
List of hosts by number of championships hosted.
| Times hosted | Nations | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Iran | 2002, 2004, 2013, 2022, 2024 |
| 4 | China | 1999, 2001, 2010, 2012 |
| 2 | Thailand | 2000, 2021 |
| Vietnam | 2006, 2017 | |
| Bahrain | 2007, 2023 | |
| Taiwan | 2015, 2019 | |
| Myanmar | 2016, 2018 | |
| 1 | Pakistan | 2005 |
| Kazakhstan | 2008 | |
| United Arab Emirates | 2009 | |
| Indonesia | 2011 | |
| Philippines | 2014 | |
| Japan | 2025 |
Medals
As of 2025 AVC Men's Volleyball Champions League.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iran | 17 | 5 | 4 | 26 |
| 2 | Qatar | 2 | 6 | 5 | 13 |
| 3 | South Korea | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Japan | 1 | 5 | 4 | 10 |
| 5 | Kazakhstan | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| 6 | China | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| 7 | Chinese Taipei | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 | Saudi Arabia | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | Indonesia | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 10 | Pakistan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (10 entries) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 75 | |
MVP by edition
- 1999 – Zhang Xiang (CHN) (Sichuan Fulan)
- 2000 – Kim Se-jin (KOR) (Samsung Fire)
- 2001 – Shin Jin-sik (KOR) (Samsung Fire)
- 2002 – Behnam Mahmoudi (IRI) (Paykan Tehran)
- 2003 – tournament canceled
- 2004 – Mohammad Torkashvand (IRI) (Sanam Tehran)
- 2005 – not awarded
- 2006 – Mohammad Soleimani (IRI) (Paykan Tehran)
- 2007 – Mohammad Soleimani (IRI) (Paykan Tehran)
- 2008 – Marat Imangaliyev (KAZ) (Rahat Almaty)
- 2009 – Hicham Guemmadi (ALG) (Al Nasr)
- 2010 – Peyman Akbari (IRI) (Paykan Tehran)
- 2011 – Hamzeh Zarini (IRI) (Paykan Tehran)
- 2012 – Salvador Hidalgo (CUB) (Al Arabi)
- 2013 – Hamzeh Zarini (IRI) (Kalleh Mazandaran)
- 2014 – Shahram Mahmoudi (IRI) (Matin Varamin)
- 2015 – Huang Pei-hung (TPE) (Taichung Bank)
- 2016 – Shahram Mahmoudi (IRI) (Sarmayeh Bank Tehran)
- 2017 – Shahram Mahmoudi (IRI) (Sarmayeh Bank Tehran)
- 2018 – Hamzeh Zarini (IRI) (Khatam Ardakan)
- 2019 – Alireza Jalali (IRI) (Shahrdari Varamin)
- 2020 – tournament canceled
- 2021 – Saber Kazemi (IRI) (Foolad Sirjan Iranian)
- 2022 – Saeid Marouf (IRI) (Paykan Tehran)
- 2023 – Dmitry Muserskiy (RUS) (Suntory Sunbirds)
- 2024 – Ali Hajipour (IRI) (Foolad Sirjan Iranian)
- 2025 – Nimir Abdel-Aziz (NED) (Al-Rayyan Sports Club)
See also
- AVC Women's Volleyball Champions League
- Asian Men's Volleyball Championship
- Asian Men's Volleyball Cup
- AVC Men's Volleyball Nations Cup
- Asian Volleyball Confederation
References
- ^ "FIVB Board of Administration approves key proposals from FIVB Commissions and Councils". Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. 5 July 2023. Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "AVC History". Asian Volleyball Confederation. Archived from the original on 13 April 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
- ^ "Asian Men's Club Volleyball Championship". Asian Volleyball Confederation. Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Volleyball League resumes with exciting matches". Arab Times. 8 January 2025. Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
- ^ "Volleyball League resumes with exciting matches". Asian Volleyball Confederation. 14 February 2025. Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ "Youtube Link Available For Media To Watch Live Press Conference And Drawing Of Lots For 1st AVC Champions League". Asian Volleyball Confederation. Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ a b c "Regulations – 1st AVC Men Champions League" (PDF). Asian Volleyball Confederation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Press Conference and Drawing of Lots Set Off Electrifying Action in 1st AVC Champions League in Philippines and Japan". Asian Volleyball Confederation. Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Club Sanam crowned kings of Asia". Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. 30 April 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Paykan of Iran Defend Title at Asian Men's Club Championship". Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. 9 June 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Payakan qualifies for FIVB Men's Club World Championship". Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Paykan of Iran book ticket to FIVB World Men's Club Championship". Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Paykan clinch club world champs berth". Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. 31 July 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Qatar score historic victory at Asian men's club volleyball championship". Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Kaleh of Iran qualify for FIVB Men's Club World Championship". Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Matin Varamin claim Asian Club Championship title, ticket to FIVB Men's Club Championship". Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Taichung Bank capture maiden Asian Men's Club title". Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Bank Sarmayeh win Asian Men's Club Championship to secure 2017 World Championship berth". Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Sarmayeh Bank underline Asian Men's Club title credentials with scintillating win over Toyota in final showdown". Asian Volleyball Confederation. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Khatam Ardakan of Iran claim 2018 Asian Men's Club Championship title". Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Varamin keep Asian Club title in Iran for fourth year running". Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Sirjan Foulad Iranian dominate 2021 Asian Men's Club Championship to secure berth for Club Worlds". Asian Volleyball Confederation. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
- ^ "Host's Peykan defend Asian Men's Club Title for Iran after five set thriller against Suntory Sunbirds". Asian Volleyball Confederation. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ "Suntory Sunbirds shine brightest to claim Japan's historic Asian Men's Club title in Bahrain". Asian Volleyball Confederation. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ Preechachan (15 September 2024). "FOOLAD SIRJAN IRANIAN CROWNED ASIAN MEN'S CLUB CHAMPIONS FOR SECOND TIME". Asian Volleyball Confederation. Retrieved 18 September 2024.