AFC Champions League Elite Draw Sets Tough Tests for Al Ain, Shabab Al Ahli and Al Wasl

The draw for the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite has set the League Stage fixtures for the ADNOC Pro League’s three representatives, Al Ain, Shabab Al Ahli and Al Wasl, with the UAE trio set to face clubs from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Uzbekistan and Iraq.

Each club will play eight matches in the League Stage, four at home and four away, with the top eight teams from each region advancing to the Round of 16.

Al Ain will begin their campaign away to Iraq’s Al Quwa Al Jawiya before hosting Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.

They will then travel to face Al Ahli Saudi before returning home to take on Iran’s Esteghlal.

Al Ain will next visit Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, host Al Qadsiah, travel to face Al Hilal and conclude their League Stage campaign at home against Iran’s Tractor.

Shabab Al Ahli will open their campaign at home against Esteghlal before travelling to Saudi Arabia for consecutive away matches against Al Nassr and Al Ahli Saudi.

They will then host Al Hilal and Al Qadsiah before travelling to face Al Ittihad. Shabab Al Ahli will welcome Tractor in their seventh match and conclude the League Stage away to Iraq’s Al Quwa Al Jawiya.

Al Wasl will play four home matches at Zabeel Stadium against Al Ahli Saudi, Uzbekistan’s Neftchi, Al Hilal and Al Ittihad.

Their four away matches will see them face Esteghlal, Al Nassr, Tractor and Al Qadsiah.

The League Stage will kick off in September 2026, with Matchweek 1 scheduled for September 14 and 15. Matchweek 2 will be played on October 12 and 13, followed by Matchweek 3 on October 26 and 27 and Matchweek 4 on November 2 and 3.

Matchweek 5 will take place on November 23 and 24, while Matchweek 6 is scheduled for December 7 and 8.

The competition will resume in February 2027, with Matchweek 7 on February 8 and 9 and the eighth and final matchweek on February 15 and 16. The top eight teams from each region will qualify for the Round of 16, scheduled to take place from March 1 to 17, 2027.