AFC Champions League Elite
The-AFC.com shares the thoughts of several teams following the draw in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
WEST
Khodadad Azizi, Team Manager, Tractor FC (IRN)
“I am happy with the draw and I hope it will be a good journey for Tractor FC, and that we will be able to qualify for the knockout stage.The AFC Champions League Elite is far more competitive and developed now than it was in the earlier years; it is a totally different competition. It is a testament to how far Asian football has come. Hopefully, with our previous experience in AFC competitions, we will be able to achieve good results.”
Khodadad Azizi, Team Manager, Tractor FC (IRN)
“I am happy with the draw and I hope it will be a good journey for Tractor FC, and that we will be able to qualify for the knockout stage.The AFC Champions League Elite is far more competitive and developed now than it was in the earlier years; it is a totally different competition. It is a testament to how far Asian football has come. Hopefully, with our previous experience in AFC competitions, we will be able to achieve good results.”
Kobiljon Shodmonov, Team Manager, PFC Nasaf (UZB)
“We will be facing several teams from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, along with Tractor and Al Shorta and with most of these clubs, we already have some experience. So we will use our familiarity and put in all the effort to come out as winners and progress to the next round.
It is a big stage but we are the only club from Uzbekistan to have won a competition in Asia (AFC Cup in 2011), as well as finishing runners-up, and we will do our best to achieve such results again. We are especially excited about our group stage matches as we have 38 million people behind us who we want to make happy."
“We will be facing several teams from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, along with Tractor and Al Shorta and with most of these clubs, we already have some experience. So we will use our familiarity and put in all the effort to come out as winners and progress to the next round.
It is a big stage but we are the only club from Uzbekistan to have won a competition in Asia (AFC Cup in 2011), as well as finishing runners-up, and we will do our best to achieve such results again. We are especially excited about our group stage matches as we have 38 million people behind us who we want to make happy."
Badr Ahmed (Team Manager), Sharjah FC (UAE)
“I think the schedule is good for all teams. At Sharjah, we have a strong team like the others and we won’t just be a guest in this competition, our goal is to fight for the title. All the teams are of similar strength and we are confident that we can be a challenge for any team that we face.”
“I think the schedule is good for all teams. At Sharjah, we have a strong team like the others and we won’t just be a guest in this competition, our goal is to fight for the title. All the teams are of similar strength and we are confident that we can be a challenge for any team that we face.”
Mohd Basheer N Al Sulaiti, Team Media Officer, Al Duhail SC (QAT)
“The draw is satisfactory for all teams. The clubs we will face are among the most distinguished in Asia. We hope to see Al Duhail FC succeed, as we will face tough matches but we will be ready for them. I believe the draw was balanced for everyone.”
“The draw is satisfactory for all teams. The clubs we will face are among the most distinguished in Asia. We hope to see Al Duhail FC succeed, as we will face tough matches but we will be ready for them. I believe the draw was balanced for everyone.”
HIGHLIGHTS | AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 League Stage Draw
EAST
Ulsan HD FC (KOR), Kang Han, Team Media Officer
“We are satisfied with the draw result. Like other teams, we need to maintain our fitness. We’ve gone to the FIFA Club World Cup in June this year. The countries we have to travel to for away games are Japan and China PR, so those are nearby. We face stern challenges especially against Shanghai Port and FC Machida Zalvia, who have two Korean players from Ulsan.”
“We are satisfied with the draw result. Like other teams, we need to maintain our fitness. We’ve gone to the FIFA Club World Cup in June this year. The countries we have to travel to for away games are Japan and China PR, so those are nearby. We face stern challenges especially against Shanghai Port and FC Machida Zalvia, who have two Korean players from Ulsan.”
Alistair Edwards (Technical Director), Johor Darul Ta’zim FC (MAS)
“The AFC Champions League Elite is an absolutely amazing competition with very strong teams and exciting rivalries. I am happy to be facing Melbourne City FC as the head coach is a good friend of mine and, besides, playing the team will be a great experience for the club. Of course, there is a fair bit of travel to consider, but we had a good campaign last year and this year we're hoping to continue with that progress. We've had some really outstanding results at home, and it isn’t easy to play against us in Johor. So I hope to have some more magical evenings there.”
“The AFC Champions League Elite is an absolutely amazing competition with very strong teams and exciting rivalries. I am happy to be facing Melbourne City FC as the head coach is a good friend of mine and, besides, playing the team will be a great experience for the club. Of course, there is a fair bit of travel to consider, but we had a good campaign last year and this year we're hoping to continue with that progress. We've had some really outstanding results at home, and it isn’t easy to play against us in Johor. So I hope to have some more magical evenings there.”
#ACLElite - League Stage Draw
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Yoon Min-soo (Team Manager), FC Seoul (KOR)
“The last time we participated in Asia was five years ago and being back for this season, we want to show what FC Seoul is – our character, strength and show our football on the Asian stage again. We have star players like Jesse Lingard, so we want all fans home and away to enjoy our game. As we can see in recent seasons, it’s a very hard competition but if we can help push Korean teams back to the higher stage with FC Seoul going far in the competition, it will be such an honour.”
“The last time we participated in Asia was five years ago and being back for this season, we want to show what FC Seoul is – our character, strength and show our football on the Asian stage again. We have star players like Jesse Lingard, so we want all fans home and away to enjoy our game. As we can see in recent seasons, it’s a very hard competition but if we can help push Korean teams back to the higher stage with FC Seoul going far in the competition, it will be such an honour.”
Wang Rui, Team Manager, Chengdu Rongcheng FC (CHN)
“Being this is our first time in the competition, it’s important to the city and the club. We are grateful to the whole city for investing in sports which has helped us reach this level. As this is our first time, what is more important is to build the connection between Chengdu football and Asian football. We wish for our coaches and players to be able to show our fighting spirit. Then for the matches that we host, we want to show everyone a great atmosphere. We will prepare well and show what this club is on the Asian stage.”
“Being this is our first time in the competition, it’s important to the city and the club. We are grateful to the whole city for investing in sports which has helped us reach this level. As this is our first time, what is more important is to build the connection between Chengdu football and Asian football. We wish for our coaches and players to be able to show our fighting spirit. Then for the matches that we host, we want to show everyone a great atmosphere. We will prepare well and show what this club is on the Asian stage.”
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