Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s Al Sadd, Al Gharafa and Al Shamal have been handed challenging starts to their AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 campaigns after the League Stage draw was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday.
The three Qatari clubs will face some of the leading teams in West Asia, with Al Shamal hosting Al Ittihad, Al Sadd taking on Esteghlal and Al Gharafa travelling to Riyadh to face four-time champions Al Hilal in their opening matches.
The competition will feature 32 teams for the first time since its revamp under the current AFC Champions League Elite name in the 2024/25 season.
Al Shamal will be the first Qatari club in action when they host Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on September 14. The match will kick off at 7pm.
It will be a tough opening test for Al Shamal against an Al Ittihad side with extensive continental experience. The Qatar club will look to use home advantage to make a positive start to their first League Stage campaign.
Al Sadd will also begin their campaign on September 14, when they face Iranian giants Esteghlal FC. The kick-off time and venue for the match are yet to be announced.
The 2011 Asian champions will be looking for a strong start against an experienced Esteghlal side as they begin their latest continental campaign.
Al Gharafa will face perhaps the toughest opening assignment among the three Qatari clubs when they travel to Riyadh to meet four-time Asian champions Al Hilal on September 15. The match is scheduled for 9.15pm at Kingdom Arena, where Al Gharafa will face a side that remains among the leading contenders for the continental title.
The West Region also features defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC, who are targeting a historic third consecutive ACL Elite title.
Their League Stage opponents include Al Ain FC, Al Sadd, Shabab Al Ahli, PFC Neftchi, Al Gharafa, Al Wasl, Pakhtakor and Al Shamal.
Al Hilal will also meet Al Ain, Al Sadd, Shabab Al Ahli, PFC Neftchi, Al Gharafa, Al Wasl, Pakhtakor and Al Shamal during the League Stage.
The West Region consists of 16 teams, with each club playing eight League Stage matches. The League Stage will begin on September 14 and run until February 2027.
The top eight teams from each region will advance to the Round of 16, which will be played from March 1 to 17, 2027.
The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will be held in Saudi Arabia as part of a centralised Finals from April 23 to May 1, 2027.
