FC Goa to face Ronaldo's Al Nassr in AFC Champions League 2

New Delhi, Aug 15 (PTI) FC Goa, an Indian Super League team, has been drawn into Group D of the AFC Champions League 2 alongside football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia. The tournament, set to kick off on September 16, is Asia's second-tier club competition. Al Nassr, captained by the Portuguese five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo, secured their place in Group D after finishing third in the Saudi Pro League, thus missing out on the top-tier AFC Champions League Elite. Group D also includes Al Zawraa SC of Iraq and FC Istiklol of Tajikistan. The draw for the tournament was conducted on Friday at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

FC Goa qualified for the group stage after beating Al Seeb Club of Oman 2-1 in a play-off match in Margao on Wednesday. They will compete in continental football for the second time after representing India in the 2021 AFC Champions League when it was the continent's top club competition. Group D is a challenging pool, featuring FC Goa, the Super Cup 2025 winners and ISL 2024-25 semifinalists, Al Zawra'a SC, the Iraq Stars League 2024-25 runners-up, and FC Istiklol, the 2024 Tajikistan Higher League champions.

The tournament follows a home-and-away format. However, it's uncertain if Ronaldo will play in India in the home leg against FC Goa. Such concerns are not unfounded; previously in 2023, Neymar Junior's Al Hilal didn't witness Neymar's participation in an away match in Mumbai due to injury, leading to Mumbai City FC's 0-6 defeat. At that time, India secured a slot in the AFC Champions League (ACL), the top club competition in Asia, but now only holds a position in the second tier, ACL 2, with one direct spot and one play-off slot.

Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who took the ISL 2024-25 Shield, have been placed in Group C. There, they will face Sepahan SC from Iran, the runners-up of the Persian Gulf Pro League, Al Hussein SC of Jordan, the champions of the Jordanian Pro League, and Ahal FC from Turkmenistan, runners-up of the Ýokary Liga 2024. This marks Mohun Bagan SG's eighth foray into what is now the AFC Champions League 2, previously known as the AFC Cup.

The competition consists of 32 teams, divided into eight groups of four within the West and East Zones. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16. The group stage runs from September 16 to December 24, with the Round of 16 scheduled for February 10-19, 2026. The quarter-finals and semi-finals will take place between March 3-12 and April 7-15, respectively. The final match is set for May 16, 2026.

AFC Champions League Two 2025-26 Group Stage Draw Results:
Group A: Al Wasl FC (UAE), Esteghlal FC (IRN), Al Muharraq SC (BHR), Al Wehdat (JOR)
Group B: Al Ahli SC (QAT), PFC Andijon (UZB), FC Arkadag (TKM), Al Khaldiya SC (BHR)
Group C: Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan SC (IRN), Al Hussein (JOR), Mohun Bagan Super Giant (IND), Ahal FC (TKM)
Group D: Al Nassr Club (KSA), Al Zawraa SC (IRQ), FC Istiklol (TJK), FC Goa (IND)
Group E: Beijing FC (CHN), Macarthur FC (AUS), Tai Po FC (HKG), Cong An Ha Noi FC (VIE)
Group F: Gamba Osaka (JPN), Nam Dinh FC (VIE), Ratchaburi FC (THA), Eastern FC (HKG)
Group G: Bangkok United (THA), Selangor FC (MAS), Lion City Sailors FC (SGP), Persib Bandung (IDN)
Group H: FC Pohang Steelers (KOR), BG Pathum United (THA), Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI), Tampines Rovers FC (SGP).

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