FOOTBALL – BAHRAIN’S Muharraq and Al Khaldiya will today learn of their opponents in the group stage of the 2025-26 AFC Champions League (ACL) Two.
The tournament’s official draw is scheduled to take place at InterContinental Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, scheduled for a 10am start, Bahrain time.
Formerly known as the AFC Cup, the ACL Two is the second-tier club competition of the AFC – one level below the AFC Champions League Elite and one above the AFC Challenge League.
Muharraq are the only former winners of the tournament who will be competing in this edition. They triumphed in 2008 and 2021 when it was still the AFC Cup.
Muharraq and Khaldiya are amongst a 32-strong cast representing 22 member associations from across the continent who will be playing in a home-and-away round-robin format, starting from September 16. The group stage is scheduled to continue until December 24 before moving into the round of 16 between February 10 and 19 in 2026. The quarter-finals and semis will then be held in March and April, respectively, with the final pencilled in for May 16.
Muharraq earned their spot in the ACL Two as champions of the 2024-25 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League, while Khaldiya have their berth as winners of the 2024-25 His Majesty the King’s Cup.
Muharraq will be participating in the ACL Two for the first time, but are two-time former champions of the AFC Cup, while Khaldiya are set to return for a second straight season.
Both Bahraini sides are currently in Izmit, Türkiye holding training camps ahead of their respective seasons, which get underway next month. Muharraq departed the kingdom for their camp yesterday, while Khaldiya have been at their camp since the beginning of the month.
The ACL Two field has been divided into West and East regions.
Muharraq and Khaldiya are part of the Western sides that also includes Al Nassr Club of Saudi Arabia, Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan SC and Esteghlal FC of Iran, Al Wasl FC of the UAE, Al Ahli SC of Qatar, PFC Andijon of Uzbekistan, Al Hussein and Al Wehdat from Jordan, Al Zawraa SC of Iraq, Mohun Bagan Super Giant and FC Goa from India, FC Istiklol from Tajikistan, and FC Arkadah and Ahal FC from Turkmenistan.
From the ACL Two East, the participating teams are Gamba Osaka from Japan, FC Pohang Steelers from South Korea, Beijing FC from China, Macarthur FC from Australia, Selangor FC from Malaysia, Nam Dinh FC and Cong An Ha Noi FC from Vietnam, Tai Po and Eastern from Hong Kong, Lion City Sailors FC and Tampines Rovers FC from Singapore, Kaya FC Iloilo from the Philippines, Persib Bandung from Indonesia, and Bangkok United, Ratchaburi FC, and BG Pathum United from Thailand.
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