Sports

Saudi clubs handed tough draws in AFC Elite Champions League

Five Saudi teams face challenging group-stage opponents after the AFC Elite Champions League draw held in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

Ajel News1 day ago · 2 min read

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AFC Elite Champions League draw ceremony in Kuala Lumpur

Key Takeaways

The group stage draw for the AFC Elite Champions League has set up tough fixtures for the five Saudi clubs participating in the tournament, following the ceremony held on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

This edition of the competition features 32 clubs, an increase of eight from the previous season, including five Saudi teams: defending champions Al-Ahli, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Qadsiah.

The group stage kicks off on September 14 and runs until February 2027, with 16 clubs competing in both the West and East zones. The top eight teams from each zone will advance to the round of 16, scheduled from March 1 to 17, 2027.

Finals format and Saudi Arabia as host

The organizing committee announced that the finals will be held in Saudi Arabia in a centralized format, covering all matches from the quarterfinals through to the final, between April 23 and May 1, 2027.

Al-Ahli aims to make history by becoming the first club to win the AFC Elite Champions League title three consecutive times.

Saudi clubs' group stage opponents

Al-Ahli: Al-Ain (UAE), Al-Sadd (Qatar), Neftchi (Uzbekistan), Shabab Al-Ahli (UAE), Al-Gharafa (Qatar), Al-Wasl (UAE), Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan), Al-Shamal (Qatar).
Al-Hilal: Al-Ain (UAE), Al-Sadd (Qatar), Shabab Al-Ahli (UAE), Neftchi (Uzbekistan), Al-Gharafa (Qatar), Al-Wasl (UAE), Al-Shamal (Qatar), Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan).
Al-Nassr: Al-Sadd (Qatar), Al-Ain (UAE), Neftchi (Uzbekistan), Shabab Al-Ahli (UAE), Al-Wasl (UAE), Al-Gharafa (Qatar), Al-Shamal (Qatar), Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan).
Al-Ittihad: Al-Ain (UAE), Al-Sadd (Qatar), Shabab Al-Ahli (UAE), Neftchi (Uzbekistan), Al-Gharafa (Qatar), Al-Wasl (UAE), Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan), Al-Shamal (Qatar).
Al-Qadsiah: Al-Sadd (Qatar), Al-Ain (UAE), Neftchi (Uzbekistan), Shabab Al-Ahli (UAE), Al-Wasl (UAE), Al-Gharafa (Qatar), Al-Shamal (Qatar), Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan).

Wide Asian participation

Meanwhile, South Korean champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors will face Shanghai Port (China), Kashima Antlers (Japan), Vissel Kobe (Japan), Johor Darul Ta'zim (Malaysia), Kashiwa Reysol (Japan), Beijing (China), Kyoto Sanga (Japan), and Gamba Osaka (Japan).