From fourth tier to continental final: Machida Zelvia’s remarkable journey

From fourth tier to continental final: Machida Zelvia’s remarkable journey The AFC Champions League final will feature an unexpected challenger to reigning champions Al-Ahli , where it features Ivan Toney . Japanese outsiders Machida Zelvia have risen from relative obscurity to take on the continent’s elite - and done so with a pragmatic style that has made them unpopular at home even as it carried them to Asia’s biggest match. Just 13 years ago, Machida were playing in the Japan’s fourth tier.

Over the past decade, significant backing from a major Japanese technology company helped fuel a remarkable climb through the divisions. In 2024, the club reached the J1 League for the first time and immediately challenged established heavyweights such as Vissel Kobe and Sanfrecce Hiroshima for the title, even opening up a five-point lead at one stage. They eventually faded late in the campaign to finish third, but their message to the rest of Japanese football was clear.

That breakthrough season laid the foundations for a historic run the following year. In the Emperor's Cup, Machida eliminated major opposition including Kashima Antlers , FC Tokyo and Vissel Kobe on their way to lifting their first major domestic trophy. That success, combined with another strong league campaign, earned Machida their debut appearance in the AFC Champions League Elite.

A lack of continental experience did little to slow them down. They topped Group B - made up of the competition’s 12 eastern-region clubs - and continued to outperform more established opponents. In the knockout rounds, South Korea’s Gangwon were the next side to fall before Machida booked their place in the finals stage, staged entirely in Saudi Arabia.