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Preview - 27th Gulf Cup

Tue, 22 Sep, 2026

Preview - 27th Gulf Cup

Jeddah: Eight of the region’s leading sides will battle for supremacy when the 27th Gulf Cup kicks off in Jeddah on Wednesday.

Hosts Saudi Arabia will be seeking a fourth title, while defending champions Bahrain, record 10-time winners Kuwait and four-time champions Iraq are among the teams hoping to emerge victorious.

AG (M): Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia through

Fri, 18 Sep, 2026

AG (M): Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia through

Kuala Lumpur: Uzbekistan became the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Asian Games 2026 after picking up their second win on Friday.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, also advanced after securing an impressive victory against Qatar in Group D.

Group C: Al Rayyan SC (QAT) 4-3 Al Faisaly (JOR)

Thu, 17 Sep, 2026

Group C: Al Rayyan SC (QAT) 4-3 Al Faisaly (JOR)

Al Rayyan: Al Rayyan SC survived a spirited second-half fightback from Al Faisaly to secure a thrilling 4-3 win in their AFC Champions League Two 2026/27™ Group C opener on Wednesday.

The Qatari side looked in control after taking a 3-1 lead at the interval before Mohammad Haddad and Ahmad Ersan struck late to set up a tense finish.

Inzaghi urges Al Hilal to keep pushing hard

Wed, 16 Sep, 2026

Inzaghi urges Al Hilal to keep pushing hard

Riyadh: Simone Inzaghi wants Al Hilal SFC to focus on maintaining their fiery start to the season following their 2-1 win against Al Gharafa SC in their AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ opener on Tuesday.

Ruben Never's first-half penalty and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's strike in the 72nd minute secured the win for the four-time Asian champions.

MD1: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) 2-1 Al Gharafa SC (QAT)

Wed, 16 Sep, 2026

MD1: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) 2-1 Al Gharafa SC (QAT)

Riyadh: Al Hilal SFC overcame stiff resistance from Al Gharafa SC to emerge 2-1 winners in their opening AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ match on Tuesday.

Seeking a fifth Asian title, Simone Inzaghi’s side got the start they wanted but not without a slow start with both sides going down to 10 men midway through the first half.

AG(M): Uzbekistan, Korea Republic make flying starts

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

AG(M): Uzbekistan, Korea Republic make flying starts

Kuala Lumpur: Uzbekistan and defending champions Korea Republic opened their Asian Games 2026 men’s campaigns in emphatic fashion on Tuesday.

Uzbekistan defeated the Philippines 5-1 in Group C, while Vietnam and Kuwait shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw. Korea Republic, meanwhile, powered 4-1 past Qatar in Group D.

Bakhtiarizadeh wants Esteghlal to aim higher

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

Bakhtiarizadeh wants Esteghlal to aim higher

Basra: Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh paid tribute to his players after Esteghlal FC produced a clinical performance to defeat Al Sadd SC 3-0 in their AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ tie on Monday. 

Jasir Asani opened the scoring for the Islamic Republic of Iran side, with further strikes from Saeid Saharkhizan and Esmaeil Gholizadeh confirming the points. 

Prats hails Al Shamal; Al Ittihad's Wissing happy with stalemate

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

Prats hails Al Shamal; Al Ittihad's Wissing happy with stalemate

Al Khor: David Prats did not hold back on his praise after Qatar's Al Shamal SC produced a battling performance to hold Al Ittihad Club to a 1-1 draw in their AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ tie on Monday.

Former champions Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia had Georginio Wijnaldum's late, late goal to thank for the point after Qatar's Al Shamal had taken the lead through Baghdad Bounedjah’s 63rd minute strike at the Al Bayt Stadium.

MD1: Esteghlal FC (IRN) 3-0 Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

MD1: Esteghlal FC (IRN) 3-0 Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Basra: Esteghlal FC took advantage of their chances to overcome Qatar’s Al Sadd SC 3-0 in their AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ opener at the Basra International Stadium on Monday. 

Jasir Asani capitalised on a defensive error to fire the Islamic Republic of Iran outfit ahead in the ninth minute before Saeid Saharkhizan extended their lead two minutes after the break and Esmaeil Gholizadeh sealed the match five minutes into injury time.

In a match largely dominated by the 19-time Qatar Stars League champions, Razvan Lucescu’s side were let down by poor finishing, with only one shot on target and a goal overturned by VAR.

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.

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

Wed, 16 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.

West Asia Wrap: Martinelli stars for Al Hilal; Al Sadd continue sizzling form

Mon, 14 Sep, 2026

West Asia Wrap: Martinelli stars for Al Hilal; Al Sadd continue sizzling form

Doha: Gabriel Martinelli scored a hat-trick as Al Hilal SFC swept to a 6-0 win against Al Taawoun on Saturday to stay top in the Saudi Pro League.

Al Sadd SC moved two points clear in Qatar while Al Jazira and Al Ain FC dropped points for the first time in UAE.

There were also matches in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Oman so join the-AFC.com in our weekly review of the domestic action across West Asia.