Korea Republic are leading the way in the latest AFC MA (Member Association) Ranking, with the East Asian powerhouse ahead of second-placed Saudi Arabia and Iran in third.

A consistently strong showing from Korea Republic’s club sides in the AFC Champions League has been a key factor in the South Koreans topping the AFC MA Ranking with a K League classic team emerging champions of Asia’s premier club competition once (Ulsan Hyundai 2012) and finishing runners-up once (FC Seoul 2013) during the ranking timeframe.

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With the results of clubs participating in the last four years of the AFC Champions League and a percentage of their national team’s place in the FIFA Ranking also factored in to the equation, Korea Republic topped the charts with 89.838 points, narrowly ahead of Saudi Arabia who accrued a total of 89.217, which included the maximum available Club Points.

Iran, currently Asia’s top national team on the FIFA Rankings, took the maximum number of National Team Points, but the West Asian giants had to settle for third in the AFC MA Ranking, with their total of 78.153 reflecting the comparatively poorer showing of their club sides in the ACL over the past four seasons compared with the consistency shown by the South Koreans and Saudis.

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Points accrued from the AFC MA Ranking is an integral component in determining the AFC Club Ranking, with Saudi sides Al Hilal and Al Ahli second in that list behind reigning ACL champions Guangzhou Evergrande, while FC Seoul is Korea Republic’s highest-ranked club in fourth.

The AFC Ranking system is a recent initiative aimed at providing an indicator on how Asia’s top sides are performing on the continental stage as well as generating even more interest in the Confederation’s already popular club competitions.....

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