AFC Champions League Two: Knockout Stage finalised
The 16 hopefuls discovered their challengers following the conclusion of the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26™ Knockout Stage Draw on Tuesday. All eight Round of 16 ties promise to be thrillers with all the hopefuls aiming to lift the coveted trophy for the first time.
Group A winners Al Wasl of the United Arab Emirates will face Group D runners-up Al Zawraa SC of Iraq.
Al Wasl were undefeated in the group stage, registering four wins and two draws while Al Zawraa claimed three wins and were defeated three times.
Qatar’s Al Ahli FC, the Group B winners, will have to fend off the challenge of Group C runners-up Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan FC.
Al Ahli topped their group with 10 points – registering two wins and four draws – while Sepahan had two wins, a draw and a defeat.
Group C winners Al Hussein of Jordan were drawn to face Esteghlal FC of Islamic Republic of Iran.
Al Hussein registered three wins against one defeat in the group stage while Esteghlal only won twice.
Al Nassr Club, who topped Group D with a perfect record of six wins, will be favourites against FC Arkadag.
Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr scored a whopping 22 goals and conceded just two while Turkmenistan’s Arkadag scored five and conceded six in their six group matches.
Macarthur FC will play Bangkok United of Thailand with the Australian outfit having topped Group E with four wins and a draw. Bangkok United garnered 10 points to finish second in Group G.
Gamba Osaka will be confident of their chances against FC Pohang Steelers, with the Japanese side advancing with a perfect record in Group F. Korea Republic’s Pohang, on the other hand, were runners-up in Group H with four wins, a draw and one defeat.
Persib Bandung advanced from a very tough Group G and the Indonesian side will be fired up for the challenge of Ratchaburi FC. Indonesia’s Persib topped their group with 13 points while Thailand’s Ratchaburi gathered nine.
Group H winners Singapore’s Tampines Rovers will face Group E runners-up Cong An Ha Noi FC of Vietnam and both sides will be confident of their chances.
Tampines topped their group ahead of former Asian champions Pohang while Ha Noi finished five points behind Macarthur.
The Round of 16 is scheduled to be played in February 2026 (West: 10-11, 17-18; East: 11-12, 18-19), followed by the Quarter-finals in March (West: 3-4, 10-11; East: 4-5, 11-12) and Semi-finals in April (West: 7 and 14; East: 8 and 15).
The tournament will culminate in a single-leg West-meets-East Final on May 16, 2026.
