The final trophy in the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) family of revamped club competitions was revealed on Thursday afternoon in Kuala Lumpur.

Amid the dazzling draw ceremony for the Group Stage of the AFC Challenge League™ (ACGL) 2024/25 season, the silverware on offer was showcased to a warm reception at the AFC House by AFC General Secretary, Datuk Seri Windsor John.

Inspired by the shape of the classic vase, the timeless form of the 60-centimetre tall ACGL trophy also incorporates elements that symbolise the torso of a football player and its 11 facets represent the number of players on a team.

It is the fourth member of the collection of iconic trophies for the new AFC club competitions, together with the AFC Champions League Elite™, AFC Women’s Champions League™ and AFC Champions League Two™ – each of which had their respective trophy reveals within the past few weeks.

The quartet of masterpieces possesses a cohesive visual identity via their recognisable silhouettes, including their distinctive handles, as well as intricate wire-eroded lettering, illustrating the unity of these prestigious competitions – a result of the AFC’s close collaboration with world-renowned trophy makers, Thomas Lyte.

The London-based luxury goldsmiths and silversmiths, who handcrafted the new silverware, hold a Royal Warrant and are responsible for many of the world’s most famous trophies in professional sports, including the AFC Asian Cup™ and AFC Women’s Asian Cup™.

The ACGL, which provides a platform for the Continent’s aspiring teams to showcase their diverse talents, will feature 18 sides in the inaugural season. The Group Stage draw produced five groups, which will be played out in a single-round robin and centralised format between October 26 and November 2.

The three Group winners and best-ranked runners-up from the West, along with the top two finishers of each Group from the East, move into the Quarter-finals, which take place between March 5 and 13, 2025. The double-legged Semi-finals are scheduled for April 9 to 17, 2025 and the Final is set for May 10, 2025.

Participating clubs in the ACGL will benefit from significant increases in financial distribution, with teams guaranteed at least USD 100,000 for entering the Group Stage and a minimum of USD 1.3 million for the champions.