January 5 – The Asian Football Confederation has drawn the last 16 teams for the Champions League Two 2025/26 knockout rounds that begin in February.
Split into East and West zones (eight qualifying teams in each), clubs will play off through three rounds to qualify a zonal winner for the final.
In the West, clubs from seven nations make the last eight from the group stage.
Group A winners Al Wasl from the UAE were undefeated in the group stage, with four wins and two draws, and will face Group D runners-up Al Zawraa SC of Iraq, who qualified for the knockout rounds with three wins and three losses.
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, who topped their group with 10 points from two wins and four draws, will face current Iranian league leaders Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan FC who finished second in Group C with two wins, a draw and a defeat.
Group C winners Al Hussein of Jordan (three wins against one defeat) were drawn Iranian giants Esteghlal FC (two wins and two losses in Group D).
Al Nassr Club, who topped Group D with a perfect record of six wins and amassed 22 goals, will be favourites against Turkemenistan’s FC Arkadag who scored just five times in qualifying and conceded six times.
In the East zone, like the west, seven different nations are represented amongst the eight qualifiers.
Australia’s Macarthur FC, who topped Group E with four wins and a draw, will play Bangkok United of Thailand who posted 10 points to finish second in Group G.
Japan’s Gamba Osaka led Group F with a perfect record and face Group H runners-up FC Pohang Steelers from South Korea who completed the qualifying group with four wins, a draw and one defeat.
Indonesia’s Persib Bandung advanced from a very tough Group G with 13 points and now meet Thailand’s Ratchaburi FC.
Group H winners from Singapore, Tampines Rovers, will face Group E runners-up Cong An Ha Noi FC of Vietnam.
The two-legged knockout games start with the Round of 16 in February 2026, followed by the Quarter-finals in March, and Semi-finals in April.
The single-leg West-meets-East Final will be played May 16, 2026.
Round of 16 fixtures:
West
Al Zawraa SC (IRQ) v Al Wasl FC (UAE)
FC Arkadag (TKM) v Al Nassr Club (KSA)
Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan SC (IRN) v Al Ahli SC (QAT)
Esteghlal FC (IRN) v Al Hussein (JOR)
East
FC Pohang Steelers (KOR) v Gamba Osaka (JPN)
Ratchaburi FC (THA) v Persib Bandung (IDN)
Bangkok United (THA) v Macarthur FC (AUS)
Cong An Ha Noi FC (VIE) v Tampines Rovers FC (SGP)
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