Group A
Al Wasl FC (UAE) v Esteghlal FC (IRN)
Venue: Zabeel Stadium (Dubai)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 20:00 (UTC+4)

 

Muharraq Club (BHR) v Al Wehdat (JOR)
Venue: Sheikh Ali Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium (Arad)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 21:15 (UTC+3)

 

Eight-time United Arab Emirates league champions Al Wasl FC begin their Group A chapter at home in Dubai, with Islamic Republic of Iran’s Esteghlal FC — winners of a record eighth domestic cup in 2024/25 — travelling to the Zabeel Stadium.

Bahrain’s Al Muharraq SC enjoyed a double-winning domestic season in 2024/25, winning the league for a record 35th time and first since 2017/18, while adding a record 11th cup triumph; they commence the hunt for a third ACL Two crown - having won in 2008 and 2021 - against Al Wehdat, who are involved for a 14th occasion.

The Jordanian outfit, who won a 13th domestic cup last season, will visit the Sheikh Ali Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad for the showdown.

Group B
FC Arkadag (TKM) v FK Andijan (UZB)
Venue: Arkadag Stadium (Arkadag)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 18:45 (UTC+5)

 

Al Ahli SC (QAT) v Al Khaldiya SC (BHR)
Venue: Al Thumama Stadium (Doha)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 19:00 (UTC+3)

 

The Arkadag Stadium will witness the Group B opener between FC Arkadag and PFC Andijon. Founded in 2023, the hosts have claimed consecutive domestic doubles in Turkmenistan by winning every game and lifted the AFC Challenge League™ 2024/25 on their Continental debut, while Andijon’s maiden domestic cup triumph in Uzbekistan sealed a historic ACL Two berth.

Qatar’s Al Ahli SC make a long-awaited return to Continental action at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, having last done so in 1999 in the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup, with Bahrain’s cup winners Al Khaldiya SC — in their second appearance — serving as the opposition.

Group C
Mohun Bagan Super Giant (IND) v Ahal FC (TKM)
Venue: Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium (Kolkata)
Kick-off: Tuesday, 19:15 (UTC+5:30)

 

Al Hussein (JOR) v Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan FC (IRN)
Venue: Amman International Stadium (Amman)
Kick-off: Tuesday, 21:15 (UTC+3)

 

The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata will host the first fixture of the opening matchday, as India’s Mohun Bagan Super Giant start their Group C journey.

Winners of a record seventh league title in 2024, the hosts are making their eighth appearance and face Turkmenistan’s 2024/25 league runners-up Ahal FC, whose fourth involvement ends a four-year absence.

In the second tie, Al Hussein — winners of a second straight Jordanian league crown in 2024/25 — will welcome Islamic Republic of Iran’s Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan SC to the Amman International Stadium. The away side, runners-up in their league last season, are entering their second ACL Two campaign.

Group D
FC Goa (IND) v Al Zawraa SC (IRQ)
Venue: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Goa)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 19:15 (UTC+5:30)

 

Al Nassr Club (KSA) v FC Istiklol (TJK)
Venue: King Saud University Stadium (Riyadh)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 21:15 (UTC+3)

 

Winners of the cup and runners-up in the league last season, India’s FC Goa host Al Zawraa SC in Group D at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa. The latter are in their sixth campaign and finished second in the Iraqi league in 2024/25.

A third-place Saudi Pro League finish earned Al Nassr Club a spot in the ACL Two and the Saudi side will take on FC Istiklol at Riyadh’s King Saud University Stadium. The Tajik visitors, who clinched a record 13th league title in 2024/25, are making their seventh appearance and have met Al Nassr twice previously, drawing once and losing once.

Group E
Wofoo Tai Po FC (HKG) v Macarthur FC (AUS)
Venue: Mong Kok Stadium (Hong Kong)
Kick-off: Thursday, 18:00 (UTC+8)

 

Beijing FC (CHN) v Cong An Ha Noi FC (VIE)
Venue: Workers' Stadium (Beijing)
Kick-off: Thursday, 20:15 (UTC+8)

 

Securing their second league trophy in 2024/25 meant a return to the ACL Two for a third involvement and first since 2019 for Hong Kong, China’s Tai Po FC, who get Group E underway at the Mongkok Stadium against Australian cup winners Macarthur FC, themselves appearing for a second time.

China PR’s Beijing FC — fourth in the league last year — take to the Workers’ Stadium pitch in Beijing to face Cong An Ha Noi FC, who won the Vietnamese cup for the first time in 2024/25.

Group F
Gamba Osaka (JPN) v Eastern FC (HKG)
Venue: Suita City Football Stadium (Suita)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 19:00 (UTC+9)

 

Nam Dinh FC (VIE) v Ratchaburi FC (THA)
Venue: Thien Truong Stadium (Nam Dinh)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 19:15 (UTC+7)

 

The Suita City Football Stadium will stage the Group F opener between Japan’s Gamba Osaka, fourth-placed in the league last season, and Eastern FC of Hong Kong, China, on Wednesday. The visitors, who clinched their seventh domestic cup title in 2024/25, are making a fourth appearance.

Reigning Vietnamese league champions Nam Dinh FC, who won their third title last season, start their second participation at home at the Thien Troung Stadium.

Group G
Selangor FC v Bangkok United
Venue: MBPJ Stadium (Petaling Jaya)
Kick-off: Thursday, 18:00 (UTC+8)

 

Persib Bandung (IDN) v Lion City Sailors FC (SGP)
Venue: Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium (Bandung)
Kick-off: Thursday, 19:15 (UTC+7)

 

Group G comprises a Southeast Asian quartet, with Selangor FC and Bangkok United going head-to-head first on Thursday.

Making their seventh appearance, 2024/25 Malaysian league runners-up Selangor will welcome their Thai opponents — who reached the last 16 on their debut last season — to the MBPJ Stadium in Petaling Jaya.

Over at the Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium in Bandung, Persib Bandung make their third appearance and the 2024/25 Indonesian league champions will meet Lion City Sailors FC, winners of a domestic double last season.

While the visitors lost once and drew the other against Persib in the Group Stage last season on their ACL Two debut, they went on to create history by becoming the first Singaporean club to reach a Continental final.

Group H
Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI ) v Tampines Rovers FC (SGP)
Venue: New Clark City Athletics Stadium (Capas)
Kick-off: Thursday, 18:00 (UTC+8)

 

BG Pathum United (THA) v FC Pohang Steelers (KOR)
Venue: Pathum Thani Stadium (Pathum Thani)
Kick-off: Thursday, 19:15 (UTC+7)

 

Group H’s battles will cap off the opening matchday, starting with Kaya FC-Iloilo and Tampines Rovers FC at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas.

The hosts clinched a third Philippines league crown last season and are set for their fifth appearance, while the visitors placed second in the Singapore league and are involved for a 14th occasion.

BG Pathum United will make their debut at the Pathum Thani Stadium and last season’s third-place finishers in the Thai league will square off against Korea Republic’s FC Pohang Steelers, who claimed a record sixth domestic cup title and are also making their ACL Two bow.