Khaberni - Asian football fans are setting their sights on the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, where the league stage draw for the new 2026-2027 elite Asian Champions League season will be held on August 18.
The upcoming edition of the tournament will witness an unprecedented expansion, as 32 clubs will participate for the first time since the Asian Football Confederation relaunched it with its current name in the 2024-2025 season, and this step is part of a series of strategic amendments adopted by the continental federation aimed at developing the competition and enhancing its competitiveness.
The league stage competitions will officially kick off on September 14, featuring 16 clubs from both the West and East zones, an increase of 4 clubs in each region compared to previous editions, with all teams competing to secure their spots in the round of 16.
Broadcast Channels for the Asian Champions League Elite Draw
The draw for the various stages of the elite Asian Champions League competition is likely to be broadcast on the Qatari network beIN Sports, specifically the open news channel.
Asian football fans can follow the details of the draw in real time via digital platforms and the official accounts of the Asian Football Confederation on social media and YouTube.
The draw proceedings can be followed moment by moment through the Al Jazeera Net website.
Al Ahli Saudi Seeking a Historic Achievement
Al Ahli Saudi, the reigning champions, enters the new competition dreaming of etching their name in the history of the tournament by becoming the first team to win the title three consecutive times, while 8 teams that have previously won the title prepare to regain the continental throne, including:
Al Ain from UAE, Gamba Osaka from Japan, Al Hilal Saudi, Al Ittihad Saudi, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from South Korea, Kashima Antlers from Japan, Pohang Steelers from South Korea, Al Sadd from Qatar.
On the other hand, Al Shamal from Qatar, Kyoto Sanga from Japan, and Cong An Hanoi from Vietnam are participating for the first time ever in the elite Asian Champions League.
Team Distribution Across Four Levels
The list of participants includes clubs representing 13 member national federations, and they will be distributed across 4 levels in each region based on the rankings of the national federations and clubs.
West Zone
- Level One: Al Ahli Saudi, Al Ain UAE, Al Sadd Qatar, Esteghlal Iran.
- Level Two: Neftchi Uzbekistan, Air Force Club Iraq, Al Nassr Saudi, Shabab Al Ahli UAE.
- Level Three: Al Gharafa Qatar, Tractor Iran, Al Hilal Saudi, Al Wasl UAE.
- Level Four: Al Shamal Qatar, Al Qadisiyah Saudi, Al Ittihad Saudi, Pakhtakor Uzbekistan.
East Zone
- Level One: Kashima Antlers Japan, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors South Korea, Buriram United Thailand, Shanghai Port China.
- Level Two: Newcastle Jets Australia, Johor Darul Ta'zim Malaysia, Vissel Kobe Japan, Daejeon Hana Citizen South Korea.
- Level Three: Port Thailand, Beijing China, Kashiwa Reysol Japan, Pohang Steelers South Korea.
- Level Four: Ratchaburi Thailand, Kyoto Sanga Japan, Gamba Osaka Japan, Cong An Hanoi Vietnam.
Draw Mechanics
According to the new draw system, each team will play 8 matches against 8 different opponents, with 4 matches at home and 4 away. Matches are determined by a fixed draw grid containing 4 columns, where each team faces opponents from the column to its right at home, and opponents from the column to its left away.
The draw also applies the principle of protecting national associations by not placing clubs from the same association in adjacent columns, alongside the principle of sporting fairness to limit repeat encounters between clubs of the same two associations.
Dates for the Knockout Stages and Finals
After the league stage ends, the top eight clubs from each region will qualify for the round of 16, which will be held from March 1 to 17, 2027.
As for the final stages, the tournament will switch to a central cluster system, where all matches from the quarter-finals onward will be held in Saudi Arabia, from April 23 to May 1, 2027.
Broadcast Channels for the Asian Champions League Elite Draw
The draw for the various stages of the elite Asian Champions League competition is likely to be broadcast on the Qatari network beIN Sports, specifically the open news channel.
Asian football fans can follow the details of the draw in real time via digital platforms and the official accounts of the Asian Football Confederation on social media and YouTube.
