Seven Southeast Asian countries will be represented, with the ASEAN Zonal champions from the past two years – Singapore’s Home United and Ceres Negros of the Philippines – among the contenders looking for continental glory.
Group F
ASEAN Zonal semi-finalists last year, Myanmar’s Yangon United return looking to make the knockout stages once more, after enjoying a successful 2018 in which they also won their first Myanmar National League title since 2015.
Their opponents on Tuesday, Singapore’s Tampines Rovers, will be desperate to improve on last season’s showing when they exited at the group stage having only managed to pick up one point from five games.
Elsewhere, Hanoi FC missed out on a place in the AFC Champions League after defeat in the play-off round to China’s Shandong Luneng, but will look to make amends by putting in a strong performance in the AFC Cup.
The Vietnamese side begin their campaign by hosting Naga World, who are making their maiden appearance in the competition after winning the 2018 Cambodia League.
Yangon United (MYA) vs Tampines Rovers (SIN)
Venue: Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon
Kick-off: February 26, 15:30 UTC+6:30
Hanoi FC (VIE) vs Naga World (CAM)
Venue: Hang Day Stadium, Hanoi
Kick-off: February 26, 19:00 UTC+7
Group G
Ceres Negros of the Philippines have reached the AFC Cup knockout rounds in each of the past three seasons and they kick off their tournament on Tuesday at home to Myanmar’s Shan United, who they twice defeated in the 2018 group stage.
After making their debut in the competition last year, Shan will look to build on a campaign that yielded a maiden win but also saw them finish bottom of the standings as they exited at the first hurdle.
Persija Jakarta will host Vietnam’s Becamex Binh Duong in the day’s other Group G fixture, with the Indonesian side aiming to reach the knockout rounds for a second successive year and the visitors returning to the competition for the first time since 2010.
Last year, huge support at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium twice broke the AFC Cup attendance record with crowds in excess of 60,000 turning out to cheer Persija. In the years since Becamex’s last appearance, meanwhile, they have twice been in the AFC Champions League (2015 and 2016).
Ceres Negros (PHI) vs Shan United (MYA)
Venue: Pana-ad Park and Football Stadium, Bacolod City
Kick-off: February 26, 19:30 UTC+8
Persija Jakarta (IDN) vs Becamex Binh Duong (VIE)
Venue: Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
Kick-off: February 26, 18:30 UTC+7
Group H
On Wednesday, 2018 ASEAN Zonal champions Home United will welcome debutants PSM Makassar of Indonesia to Singapore with the hosts looking to continue their strong recent run in the competition.
Makassar, meanwhile, are making their debut in the tournament after finishing second in Indonesia’s Liga 1. They have, however, appeared in the AFC Champions League, back in 2004 and 2005.
Lao Toyota are back in the competition for the first time since 2016, having lost in the play-off round in the previous two years, and they will host Kaya FC-Iloilo of the Philippines.
Kaya made their first and only appearance in 2016, when they performed admirably to reach the last 16 before defeat to the 2015 champions Johor Darul Ta’zim. They return after winning the Copa Paulino Alcantara.
Home United (SIN) vs PSM Makassar (IDN)
Venue: Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore
Kick-off: February 27, 19:30 UTC+8
Lao Toyota (LAO) vs Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI)
Venue: National Stadium, Vientiane
Kick-off: February 27, 18:30 UTC+7
