Teams from seven countries will compete in Groups A to C, with a quartet of former AFC Cup winners among the main draws of what promises an enthralling round of fixtures.
Group A
Winners of the inaugural AFC Cup in 2004, Syria’s Al Jaish return looking to make the knockout stage for the first time since 2015, and they begin their campaign against Palestine’s Hilal Al Quds on Monday.
The 2018 West Bank Premier League champions Hilal Al Quds are making their maiden appearance in the competition, having twice been eliminated in the qualifying play-off rounds.
Jordanian powerhouse Al Wehdat, meanwhile, will start at home to Lebanon’s Nejmeh SC. The two-time semi-finalists also reached the West Asia Zonal semi-finals in 2017 and return after winning the 2017-18 Jordan Pro League title.
Nejmeh are also competition regulars and reached the semi-finals in 2007; however, the Beirut side have not advanced beyond the group stage since reaching the Round of 16 in 2014. The sides met in the 2017 group stage (pictured above) with Al Wehdat taking four points from the two games.
Al Jaish (SYR) vs Hilal Al Quds (PLE)
Venue: Sheikh Ali bin Mohamad Stadium, Muharraq
Kick-off: February 25, 19:00 UTC+3
Al Wehdat (JOR) v Nejmeh SC (LIB)
Venue: King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Kick-off: February 25, 19:00 UTC+2
Group B
Three-time AFC Cup winners Kuwait SC will take on 2010 champions Al Ittihad of Syria on Monday, with the Kuwaiti side – who won the competition in 2009, 2012 and 2013 – making their first appearance since 2015.
Aleppo club Al Ittihad, meanwhile, defeated another Kuwaiti side, Qadsia SC, to win the 2010 title but have not appeared in the tournament since 2012. They qualified after finishing runners-up in the 2017-18 Syrian Premier League.
Elsewhere, Bahrain’s Al Najma return for the first time in more than a decade when they welcome Jordan’s Al Jazeera to Manama on Monday.
Al Jazeera were one of the form sides last year, as the Amman team progressed all the way to the West Zonal final before defeat to eventual champions Air Force Club of Iraq.
Kuwait SC (KUW) vs Al Ittihad (SYR)
Venue: Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City
Kick-off: February 25, 18:15 UTC+3
Al Najma (BHR) vs Al Jazeera (JOR)
Venue: Bahrain National Stadium, Manama
Kick-off: February 25, 19:00 UTC+3
Group C
On Tuesday, the 2014 AFC Cup winners Qadsia SC of Kuwait return to the competition for the first time since 2015 when they travel to Lebanon to take on Al Ahed.
Qadsia have also twice finished as runners-up (in 2010 and 2013), while Al Ahed have been strong in recent editions. The Beirut club reached the semi-finals in 2016 and the West Asia Zonal semi-finals last year
And finally, Oman’s Al Suwaiq will host Bahrain’s Malkiya Club with the two sides looking to get off to strong starts ahead of difficult match-ups against Qadsia and Al Ahed.
Al Suwaiq have finished bottom of their group in the past two editions, with their best performance coming in 2012 when they reached the last 16. Malkiya, meanwhile, debuted last year and, although they exited at the group stage, managed two victories, both of which were against Al Suwaiq.
Al Ahed (LIB) vs Qadsia SC (KUW)
Venue: Sports City Stadium, Beirut
Kick-off: February 26, 17:00 UTC+2
Al Suwaiq (OMA) vs Malkiya Club (BHR)
Venue: Seeb Sports Complex, Muscat
Kick-off: February 26, 19:30 UTC+4
