MD1: Al Shamal SC (QAT) 1-1 Al Ittihad Club (KSA)

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

MD1: Al Shamal SC (QAT) 1-1 Al Ittihad Club (KSA)

Al Khor: Georginio Wijnaldum salvaged a point for former champions Al Ittihad with virtually the last kick of the game as Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad drew 1-1 with tournament debutants Al Shamal in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on Monday.

The Dutch midfielder stole in to score deep into added time and cancel out Baghdad Bounedjah’s 63rd minute strike, which had looked like it would earn the Qatari side a dream debut in their first-ever appearance in the continental championship.
 
But Al Shamal, who qualified for the AFC Champions League Elite for the first time with a runners-up finish in the QSL last season, had been forced to defend desperately in the dying moments against the 2004 and 2005 champions and Wijnaldum eventually struck.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3191932

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3191934

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/md1-al-shamal-sc-qat-v-al-ittihad-club-ksa

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3192238

MD1: Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) 1-0 Tractor FC (IRN)

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

MD1: Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) 1-0 Tractor FC (IRN)

Dubai: Shabab Al Ahli opened their AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ campaign with a 1-0 win over Islamic Republic of Iran’s Tractor FC on Monday.

Yuri Cesar’s opportunistic 22nd-minute strike at the Rashid Stadium capped a well-rounded display by the United Arab Emirates side in their competition opener as they look to lift their first continental trophy.

MD1: PFC Neftchi (UZB) 1-0 Air Force SC (IRQ)

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

MD1: PFC Neftchi (UZB) 1-0 Air Force SC (IRQ)

Fergana: Zoran Marusic’s late header earned PFC Neftchi a 1-0 victory over Iraq’s Air Force FC on Monday as the side from Uzbekistan made a winning start to their AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ campaign in Fergana.

The Serbian forward rose to meet Koffi Kouao’s cross from the right in the 83rd minute to ensure Islombek Ismoilov’s side saw their superiority reap a deserved win in the club’s first appearance in this season’s competition.

 

Neftchi had looked destined to end the evening frustrated by a series of missed opportunities that threatened to force the hosts into a share the points with their Iraqi visitors until Marusic nodded in the winner.

MD1 (W): Heavyweights lead the way

Mon, 14 Sep, 2026

MD1 (W): Heavyweights lead the way

Kuala Lumpur: Japan, Korea Republic, DPR Korea, China PR and Chinese Taipei secured winning starts to their Asian Games 2026 campaign on Monday.

Uzbekistan and Philippines, meanwhile, played to a 1-1 stalemate.

#ACLTwo - Preview: Matchday One

Mon, 14 Sep, 2026

#ACLTwo - Preview: Matchday One

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League Two 2026/27™ promises to be a spectacular affair with 32 clubs set to vie for the coveted trophy.

The last two editions of the revamped tournament more than lived up to expectations and fans can expect no less from the upcoming edition.

The-AFC.com previews the matchday one action, which kicks off with the West Zone on Tuesday.

Preview: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) v Al Gharafa SC (QAT)

Mon, 14 Sep, 2026

Preview: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) v Al Gharafa SC (QAT)

Riyadh: Al Hilal SFC will be expecting nothing other than a win when they host Al Gharafa SC in their opening AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ tie on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal last lifted the continental trophy in 2021 and will be determined to end their long wait for a fifth Asian crown.