Kuala Lumpur, August 14 (QNA) - The draw for the group stage of the AFC Elite Champions League for the 2025–2026 season will be held Friday in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Following the great success of the inaugural edition of the competition in its new format during the 2024–2025 season, the tournament returns with highly anticipated and thrilling matchups.

The competition will kick off with the participation of 24 teams in the group stage starting from September 15. The new edition will feature the Qatari clubs Al Sadd, Al Duhail, and Al Gharafa, aiming for a strong challenge for the title.

The 24 participating clubs will be divided into two tiers in each region. Al Sadd, the continental champion in 1989 and 2011, is placed in Tier 1 of the West Region alongside Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia (title holder), Shabab Al Ahli Dubai of the UAE, Tractor of Iran, Nasaf of Uzbekistan, and Al Shorta of Iraq.

Tier 1 in the East Region includes Vissel Kobe of Japan, Ulsan of South Korea, Shanghai Port of China, Buriram United of Thailand, Melbourne City of Australia, and Johor of Malaysia.

Al Gharafa and Al Duhail are placed in Tier 2 of the West Region along with Al Hilal and Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, Sharjah and Al Wahda of the UAE.

Tier 2 in the East Region includes Sanfrecce Hiroshima of Japan, Gangwon of South Korea, Shanghai Shenhua of China, Machida of Japan, Seoul of South Korea, and Chengdu of China.

For each region, clubs will be drawn into their designated positions in the group table, with Tier 1 clubs occupying the top rows (A1 to C2) and Tier 2 clubs occupying the bottom rows (A3 to C4). This ensures that each team faces eight different clubs from the other columns (e.g., clubs in column A will play against clubs in columns B and C).

The match schedule guarantees that each team plays four home matches and four away matches, with an equal number of opponents from both tiers. The draw prohibits teams from the same country from being placed in the same group.

The same process will be applied in the East Region, with teams classified from D1 to D4, E1 to E4, and F1 to F4.

The 24 teams will be divided into two groups, East and West, each comprising 12 teams. Each team will play 8 matches, 4 at home and 4 away.

Teams are divided into two tiers, with Tier 1 clubs occupying the top rows (A1 to C2) and Tier 2 clubs occupying the bottom rows (A3 to C4), ensuring each team faces eight different clubs from the other columns.

After winning its first title last May, Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia looks to defend the trophy in the 23rd edition of the continental tournament. It is one of five former champions participating in the draw, which will also include three clubs making their continental debut: Gangwon FC from South Korea, FC Machida Zelvia from Japan, and Chengdu Rongcheng from China.

The top eight teams from each region will qualify for the Round of 16, scheduled to take place between March 2 and 11, 2026, in a home-and-away format. The final stages will be held in a centralized format in Saudi Arabia, with all matches from the quarterfinals to the final played between April 17 and 25, 2026. (QNA)