AFC Champions League Elite
The Draw produced scintillating match-ups, with the League Stage to kick off on September 15.
HIGHLIGHTS | AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 League Stage Draw
Al Ahli Saudi FC, who won the 2024/25 edition in spectacular fashion, can expect a challenging title defence.
The Jeddah-based side will face Shabab Al Ahli (UAE), PFC Nasaf (Uzbekistan), Sharjah FC UAE), Al Gharafa SC (Qatar), Al Sadd SC (Qatar), Al Shorta (Iraq), Al Duhail SC (Qatar) and Al Wahda FC (UAE) their other opponents.
Al Hilal SFC, whose 2024/25 campaign ended at the semi-final stage, will have to contend with Al Sadd SC, Al Shorta, Shabab Al Ahli, PFC Nasaf, Al Duhail SC, Al Wahda, Sharjah FC and Al Gharafa SC in their bid for a fifth Asian title.
Al Ittihad Club, the third team from Saudi Arabia in the draw and two-time winners, will face Shabab Al Ahli, PFC Nasaf, Al Sadd SC, Al Shorta, Sharjah FC, Al Gharafa SC, Al Duhail SC and Al Wahda FC.
Qatar's Al Sadd SC, champions in 2011, will have to battle Tractor FC (IRN), Al Ahli Saudi, Shabab Al Ahli, Al Shorta, Sharjah, Al Ittihad, Al Hilal and Al Wahda as they look to better last season's quarter-final finish.
In the East region, Ulsan HD will begin their bid for a third continental title against Buriram United (THA), Melbourne City FC (AUS), Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN), Chengdu Rongcheng FC (CHN), Shanghai Port (CHN), Vissel Kobe (JPN), Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN) and FC Machida Zelvia (JPN).
Japanese champions Vissel Kobe, whose 2024/25 campaign ended in the Round of 16, will face Ulsan HD, Melbourne City FC, FC Seoul (KOR), Chengdu Rongcheng, Shanghai Port, Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS), Shanghai Shenhua and Gangwon FC (KOR).
China PR champions Shanghai Port, who also exited at the last 16 stage last season, will face Ulsan HD, Vissel Kobe, FC Seoul, FC Machida Zelvia, Buriram United, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Gangwon FC.
#ACLElite - League Stage Draw
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With the country protection principle in force, each team will play four home and four away matches with the top eight finishers of each League progressing to the Round of 16, scheduled for March 2-11, 2026.
This will be followed by a centralised Finals that sees all matches from the Quarter-finals onwards being contested in Saudi Arabia between April 17 and 25, 2026.
Click HERE for the match schedule.
Click HERE for the match schedule.
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