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News

PS: Gangwon FC (KOR) 0-1 Gamba Osaka (JPN)

Tue, 11 Aug, 2026

PS: Gangwon FC (KOR) 0-1 Gamba Osaka (JPN)

Gangneung: Gamba Osaka secured their place in the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ on Tuesday as Gaku Nawata’s extra-time strike earned the J1 League side a 1-0 win over hosts Gangwon FC from Korea Republic.

Nawata scored 13 minutes into extra-time for the reigning AFC Champions League Two™ title-holders after neither side had managed to find a way through during the regulation 90 minutes.

Osaka will join compatriots Kashima Antlers, Vissel Kobe, Kashiwa Reysol and Kyoto Sanga in the draw for the league phase, which has been expanded from 24 to 32 teams, in Kuala Lumpur on August 18.

Gangwon were eliminated despite dominating for long periods against a Gamba side that exhibited obvious signs of rustiness in a match that was played after just one week of action in the new J1 League season.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/ps-gangwon-fc-kor-v-gamba-osaka-jpn

PS: Adelaide United (AUS) 0-2 Cong An Ha Noi FC (VIE)

Tue, 11 Aug, 2026

PS: Adelaide United (AUS) 0-2 Cong An Ha Noi FC (VIE)

Adelaide: Vietnam’s Cong An Ha Noi FC defeated Adelaide United of Australia 2-0 to secure their spot in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ League Stage on Tuesday.

Alexandre Polking’s V League 1 champions kept Adelaide quiet throughout with goals from Henen and Koko sealing their place in the draw in Kuala Lumpur on August 18.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/ps-adelaide-united-aus-v-cong-an-ha-noi-fc-vie-1

#ACLElite 2026/27 - All you need to know

Sun, 09 Aug, 2026

#ACLElite 2026/27 - All you need to know

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ kicks off with the preliminary stage this coming week.

The third edition of the revamped continental showpiece promises more thrills and spills and the-AFC.com takes a deep dive into what can be expected from Asia's premier men's club tournament.

Pusic takes charge at Al Ahli

Thu, 06 Aug, 2026

Pusic takes charge at Al Ahli

Kuala Lumpur: Al Ahli Saudi FC have appointed Marino Pusic as their head coach following Matthias Jaissle’s departure to English Premier League side Newcastle United.

German tactician Jaissle guided Al Ahli to consecutive AFC Champions League Elite™ titles, becoming the first head coach to achieve the feat

Preliminary battles to kick off in #ACLElite and #ACLTwo

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

Preliminary battles to kick off in #ACLElite and #ACLTwo

Kuala Lumpur: The quest to reach the league and group stages of both the AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite) and AFC Champions League Two™ (ACL Two) for the 2026/27 campaign gets underway next week with seven high-stakes one-off ties in the Preliminary Stage.

Four League Stage berths are at stake in the ACL Elite—two each in the West and East Regions—as eight clubs do battle on August 11 (Tuesday), with the losing clubs directly entering the Group Stage of the ACL Two.

Japan to host AFC U23 Asian Cup 2028™

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

Japan to host AFC U23 Asian Cup 2028™

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee officially ratified a series of major hosting and regulatory decisions, including the confirmation of Japan as the host of the 2028 edition of the AFC U23 Asian Cup™, which will serve as Asia’s qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.

Japan secured the hosting rights following a competitive bidding process that included submissions from Jordan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Qatar, and Uzbekistan as well as the United Arab Emirates, who subsequently withdrew earlier this year.

AFC Champions League Elite - Downloads

Mahrez bids farewell to Al Ahli

Sun, 05 Jul, 2026

Mahrez bids farewell to Al Ahli

Jeddah: Reigning AFC Champions League™ Elite title holders Al Ahli Saudi FC have announced the departure of Riyad Mahrez from the club.

The 35-year-old former Algeria international, who has just retired from the national team following his country’s elimination at the FIFA World Cup 2026, has left after three seasons in which he won back-to-back Asian titles in 2025 and 2026.

Postecoglou takes charge of Al Nassr

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

Postecoglou takes charge of Al Nassr

Riyadh: Former AFC Asian Cup™ winner Ange Postecoglou has been named the new head coach of Saudi Pro League champions Al Nassr, the club announced on Friday.

Postecoglou replaces Jorge Jesus, who won the SPL title last season while also leading the club to the final of the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26™.

2026/27 line-ups confirmed for AFC men’s club competitions

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

2026/27 line-ups confirmed for AFC men’s club competitions

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) today revealed the list of participating clubs for the 2026/27 seasons of its three men’s competitions.

The line-ups for the newly-expanded AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite), AFC Champions League Two™ (ACL Two) and AFC Challenge League™ (ACGL) were determined in accordance with the AFC Club Competitions – Entry Regulations (Edition 2025) and AFC Club Competitions 2026/27 Slot Allocation—which can be found here and here respectively—and the list of licensed clubs.

Videos

PS: Gangwon FC (KOR) 0-1 Gamba Osaka (JPN)

Tue, 11 Aug, 2026

PS: Gangwon FC (KOR) 0-1 Gamba Osaka (JPN)

Gangneung: Gamba Osaka secured their place in the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ on Tuesday as Gaku Nawata’s extra-time strike earned the J1 League side a 1-0 win over hosts Gangwon FC from Korea Republic.

Nawata scored 13 minutes into extra-time for the reigning AFC Champions League Two™ title-holders after neither side had managed to find a way through during the regulation 90 minutes.

Osaka will join compatriots Kashima Antlers, Vissel Kobe, Kashiwa Reysol and Kyoto Sanga in the draw for the league phase, which has been expanded from 24 to 32 teams, in Kuala Lumpur on August 18.

Gangwon were eliminated despite dominating for long periods against a Gamba side that exhibited obvious signs of rustiness in a match that was played after just one week of action in the new J1 League season.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/ps-gangwon-fc-kor-v-gamba-osaka-jpn

PS: Adelaide United (AUS) 0-2 Cong An Ha Noi FC (VIE)

Tue, 11 Aug, 2026

PS: Adelaide United (AUS) 0-2 Cong An Ha Noi FC (VIE)

Adelaide: Vietnam’s Cong An Ha Noi FC defeated Adelaide United of Australia 2-0 to secure their spot in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ League Stage on Tuesday.

Alexandre Polking’s V League 1 champions kept Adelaide quiet throughout with goals from Henen and Koko sealing their place in the draw in Kuala Lumpur on August 18.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/ps-adelaide-united-aus-v-cong-an-ha-noi-fc-vie-1

#ACLElite 2026/27 - All you need to know

Sun, 09 Aug, 2026

#ACLElite 2026/27 - All you need to know

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ kicks off with the preliminary stage this coming week.

The third edition of the revamped continental showpiece promises more thrills and spills and the-AFC.com takes a deep dive into what can be expected from Asia's premier men's club tournament.

Pusic takes charge at Al Ahli

Thu, 06 Aug, 2026

Pusic takes charge at Al Ahli

Kuala Lumpur: Al Ahli Saudi FC have appointed Marino Pusic as their head coach following Matthias Jaissle’s departure to English Premier League side Newcastle United.

German tactician Jaissle guided Al Ahli to consecutive AFC Champions League Elite™ titles, becoming the first head coach to achieve the feat

Preliminary battles to kick off in #ACLElite and #ACLTwo

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

Preliminary battles to kick off in #ACLElite and #ACLTwo

Kuala Lumpur: The quest to reach the league and group stages of both the AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite) and AFC Champions League Two™ (ACL Two) for the 2026/27 campaign gets underway next week with seven high-stakes one-off ties in the Preliminary Stage.

Four League Stage berths are at stake in the ACL Elite—two each in the West and East Regions—as eight clubs do battle on August 11 (Tuesday), with the losing clubs directly entering the Group Stage of the ACL Two.

Japan to host AFC U23 Asian Cup 2028™

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

Japan to host AFC U23 Asian Cup 2028™

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee officially ratified a series of major hosting and regulatory decisions, including the confirmation of Japan as the host of the 2028 edition of the AFC U23 Asian Cup™, which will serve as Asia’s qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.

Japan secured the hosting rights following a competitive bidding process that included submissions from Jordan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Qatar, and Uzbekistan as well as the United Arab Emirates, who subsequently withdrew earlier this year.

AFC Champions League Elite - Downloads

Mahrez bids farewell to Al Ahli

Sun, 05 Jul, 2026

Mahrez bids farewell to Al Ahli

Jeddah: Reigning AFC Champions League™ Elite title holders Al Ahli Saudi FC have announced the departure of Riyad Mahrez from the club.

The 35-year-old former Algeria international, who has just retired from the national team following his country’s elimination at the FIFA World Cup 2026, has left after three seasons in which he won back-to-back Asian titles in 2025 and 2026.

Postecoglou takes charge of Al Nassr

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

Postecoglou takes charge of Al Nassr

Riyadh: Former AFC Asian Cup™ winner Ange Postecoglou has been named the new head coach of Saudi Pro League champions Al Nassr, the club announced on Friday.

Postecoglou replaces Jorge Jesus, who won the SPL title last season while also leading the club to the final of the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26™.

2026/27 line-ups confirmed for AFC men’s club competitions

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

2026/27 line-ups confirmed for AFC men’s club competitions

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) today revealed the list of participating clubs for the 2026/27 seasons of its three men’s competitions.

The line-ups for the newly-expanded AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite), AFC Champions League Two™ (ACL Two) and AFC Challenge League™ (ACGL) were determined in accordance with the AFC Club Competitions – Entry Regulations (Edition 2025) and AFC Club Competitions 2026/27 Slot Allocation—which can be found here and here respectively—and the list of licensed clubs.

Photos

PS: Gangwon FC (KOR) 0-1 Gamba Osaka (JPN)

Tue, 11 Aug, 2026

PS: Gangwon FC (KOR) 0-1 Gamba Osaka (JPN)

Gangneung: Gamba Osaka secured their place in the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ on Tuesday as Gaku Nawata’s extra-time strike earned the J1 League side a 1-0 win over hosts Gangwon FC from Korea Republic.

Nawata scored 13 minutes into extra-time for the reigning AFC Champions League Two™ title-holders after neither side had managed to find a way through during the regulation 90 minutes.

Osaka will join compatriots Kashima Antlers, Vissel Kobe, Kashiwa Reysol and Kyoto Sanga in the draw for the league phase, which has been expanded from 24 to 32 teams, in Kuala Lumpur on August 18.

Gangwon were eliminated despite dominating for long periods against a Gamba side that exhibited obvious signs of rustiness in a match that was played after just one week of action in the new J1 League season.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/ps-gangwon-fc-kor-v-gamba-osaka-jpn

PS: Adelaide United (AUS) 0-2 Cong An Ha Noi FC (VIE)

Tue, 11 Aug, 2026

PS: Adelaide United (AUS) 0-2 Cong An Ha Noi FC (VIE)

Adelaide: Vietnam’s Cong An Ha Noi FC defeated Adelaide United of Australia 2-0 to secure their spot in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ League Stage on Tuesday.

Alexandre Polking’s V League 1 champions kept Adelaide quiet throughout with goals from Henen and Koko sealing their place in the draw in Kuala Lumpur on August 18.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/ps-adelaide-united-aus-v-cong-an-ha-noi-fc-vie-1

#ACLElite 2026/27 - All you need to know

Sun, 09 Aug, 2026

#ACLElite 2026/27 - All you need to know

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ kicks off with the preliminary stage this coming week.

The third edition of the revamped continental showpiece promises more thrills and spills and the-AFC.com takes a deep dive into what can be expected from Asia's premier men's club tournament.

Pusic takes charge at Al Ahli

Thu, 06 Aug, 2026

Pusic takes charge at Al Ahli

Kuala Lumpur: Al Ahli Saudi FC have appointed Marino Pusic as their head coach following Matthias Jaissle’s departure to English Premier League side Newcastle United.

German tactician Jaissle guided Al Ahli to consecutive AFC Champions League Elite™ titles, becoming the first head coach to achieve the feat

Preliminary battles to kick off in #ACLElite and #ACLTwo

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

Preliminary battles to kick off in #ACLElite and #ACLTwo

Kuala Lumpur: The quest to reach the league and group stages of both the AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite) and AFC Champions League Two™ (ACL Two) for the 2026/27 campaign gets underway next week with seven high-stakes one-off ties in the Preliminary Stage.

Four League Stage berths are at stake in the ACL Elite—two each in the West and East Regions—as eight clubs do battle on August 11 (Tuesday), with the losing clubs directly entering the Group Stage of the ACL Two.

Japan to host AFC U23 Asian Cup 2028™

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

Japan to host AFC U23 Asian Cup 2028™

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee officially ratified a series of major hosting and regulatory decisions, including the confirmation of Japan as the host of the 2028 edition of the AFC U23 Asian Cup™, which will serve as Asia’s qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.

Japan secured the hosting rights following a competitive bidding process that included submissions from Jordan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Qatar, and Uzbekistan as well as the United Arab Emirates, who subsequently withdrew earlier this year.

AFC Champions League Elite - Downloads

Mahrez bids farewell to Al Ahli

Sun, 05 Jul, 2026

Mahrez bids farewell to Al Ahli

Jeddah: Reigning AFC Champions League™ Elite title holders Al Ahli Saudi FC have announced the departure of Riyad Mahrez from the club.

The 35-year-old former Algeria international, who has just retired from the national team following his country’s elimination at the FIFA World Cup 2026, has left after three seasons in which he won back-to-back Asian titles in 2025 and 2026.

Postecoglou takes charge of Al Nassr

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

Postecoglou takes charge of Al Nassr

Riyadh: Former AFC Asian Cup™ winner Ange Postecoglou has been named the new head coach of Saudi Pro League champions Al Nassr, the club announced on Friday.

Postecoglou replaces Jorge Jesus, who won the SPL title last season while also leading the club to the final of the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26™.

2026/27 line-ups confirmed for AFC men’s club competitions

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

2026/27 line-ups confirmed for AFC men’s club competitions

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) today revealed the list of participating clubs for the 2026/27 seasons of its three men’s competitions.

The line-ups for the newly-expanded AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite), AFC Champions League Two™ (ACL Two) and AFC Challenge League™ (ACGL) were determined in accordance with the AFC Club Competitions – Entry Regulations (Edition 2025) and AFC Club Competitions 2026/27 Slot Allocation—which can be found here and here respectively—and the list of licensed clubs.