AFC Champions League Elite draw: Al Ahli and Al Hilal face Al Ain and Al Sadd in the group stage

The draw for the league phase of the 2026-2027 AFC Champions League Elite was held yesterday at the Asian Football Confederation headquarters in Malaysia. This marks the third edition of the tournament in its new format, which expands participation to 32 clubs, an increase of eight teams from the previous edition, with 16 clubs in the West Zone and 16 in the East Zone.

Al-Ahli Saudi FC, aiming to become the first team to win the AFC Champions League Elite in football three consecutive times, faces Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates and Al Sadd of Qatar, both two-time winners. Their Saudi compatriots, Al Hilal, the four-time record holders, were drawn into the same fourth path in the West Zone draw.

Al-Ahli won the title for the first time in their history in the 2025 season, defeating Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale, and then retained the crown by beating Japan’s Machida Zelvia in Jeddah. The team’s ambitions are led by Bosnian-Dutch coach Marino Pušić, who replaced German manager Matthias Jaissle after the latter left to take charge of English club Newcastle United.

Al-Shamal of Qatar and Kyoto Sanga of Japan make their continental debuts, while Saudi club Al-Qadsiah and Vietnamese side Cong An Hanoi participate for the first time at the highest level of Asian club competitions.

The contours of the 2026-2027 edition, featuring 32 teams for the first time since its relaunch under its current name in the 2024-2025 season, are now complete. The third edition of the tournament in its new format expands participation to 32 clubs, adding four extra spots to each of the East and West Zones. Japan and Saudi Arabia each field five clubs, after Al-Ittihad and Gamba Osaka, former champions, successfully navigated their respective qualifying rounds.

Competition begins on September 14, with the league phase concluding in February 2027. The top eight teams in both the West and East Zones advance to the Round of 16, scheduled between March 1 and 17, 2027. The finals will be held in a centralized format in Saudi Arabia, with all matches from the quarter-finals onwards taking place between April 23 and May 1, 2027.

The tournament winner secures a place in the Intercontinental Play-off for the 2027 FIFA Club World Cup, which serves as the opening match of the 2027 FIFA Club World Cup.

In the East Zone, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, champions of South Korea, begin their quest for a third continental title against Shanghai Port of China, Kashima Antlers of Japan, Vissel Kobe of Japan, Johor Darul Ta'zim of Malaysia, Kashiwa Reysol of Japan, Beijing Guoan of China, Kyoto Sanga of Japan (making their debut), and Gamba Osaka of Japan.

Alongside Jeonbuk, Kashima Antlers, champions of Japan, return to the top tier of Asian club football for the first time since 2019. They face Daegu FC of South Korea, Port FC of Thailand, Pohang Steelers of the Republic of Korea, Ratchaburi Mitr Phol of Thailand, Buriram United of Thailand, Newcastle Jets of Australia, and Cong An Hanoi of Vietnam.

Draw for the Unified Group Stage of the Western Region:

Path 1: Al Ain (UAE), Al Ahli (UAE), Al-Gharafa (Qatar), Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan).

Home: Esteghlal (Iran), Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia), Tractor (Iran), Al Qadsia (Saudi Arabia).

Away: Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia), Al Quwa Al Jawiya (Iraq), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia).

Path 2: Esteghlal (Iran), Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia), Tractor (Iran), Al Qadsia (Saudi Arabia).

Home: Al Sadd (Qatar), Neftchi (Uzbekistan), Al Wasl (UAE), Al Shabab (Qatar).

Away: Al Ain (UAE), Al Ahli (UAE), Al-Gharafa (Qatar), Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan).

Path 3: Al Sadd (Qatar), Neftchi (Uzbekistan), Al Wasl (UAE), Al Shabab (Qatar).

Home: Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia), Al Quwa Al Jawiya (Iraq), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia).

Away: Esteghlal (Iran), Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia), Tractor (Iran), Al Qadsia (Saudi Arabia).

Path 4: Al Ahli Saudi (Saudi Arabia), Al Quwa Al Jawiya (Iraq), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia).

Home: Al Ain (UAE), Al Ahli (UAE), Al-Gharafa (Qatar), Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan).

Away: Al Sadd (Qatar), Neftchi (Uzbekistan), Al Wasl (UAE), Al Shabab (Qatar).