Latest news with #AsianFootballConfederationChampionsLeagueElite
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
JDT faces tough ACL Elite draw with top Asian clubs in 2025
JOHOR DARUL TA'ZIM (JDT) will face a stern test in the 2025/26 Asian Football Confederation Champions League Elite (ACL Elite). The Malaysian champions were drawn against Chinese Super League winners Shanghai Port FC and Shanghai Shenhua FC. Japan's titleholders Vissel Kobe and Machida Zelvia will also visit the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri. Shanghai Port are the current Chinese champions, while Vissel Kobe claimed Japan's top-tier league last season. For away matches, JDT will travel to Thailand to face Thai League winners Buriram United. The Southern Tigers will then head to Australia to take on Melbourne City FC. Further fixtures include clashes with Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima and China's Chengdu Rongcheng FC. JDT avoids South Korean sides Gangwon FC, Ulsan HD, and FC Seoul in this edition. Last season, JDT's campaign ended in the round of 16 after a 1-0 aggregate loss to Buriram United. The 2025/26 ACL Elite will run from September 15 to April 25 next year. Teams are split into West and East zones, with each side playing eight matches (four home, four away). Defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC headline the West zone alongside Al Hilal and Al Ittihad. The top eight teams from each zone advance to the knockout stage in March 2026. The final stages will be held in Saudi Arabia under a centralised format in April. - Bernama
Barnama
2 days ago
- Sport
- Barnama
Challenging Path Awaits JDT In ACL Elite League Stage
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- Eleven-time consecutive Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) have been handed a challenging draw for the 2025/26 Asian Football Confederation Champions League Elite (ACL Elite) which includes some of the top clubs from East and Southeast Asia. At the league stage draw held here today, JDT will host Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port FC and Shanghai Shenhua FC of China, as well as Japan's Vissel Kobe and Machida Zelvia at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri. Shanghai Port are the reigning Chinese Super League champions while Vissel Kobe hold the title. bootstrap slideshow For their away fixtures, the Southern Tigers under Xisco Munoz will travel to Thailand to face Thai League holders Buriram United followed by to Australia against Melbourne City FC before taking on Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima and China's Chengdu Rongcheng FC. However, JDT will avoid facing three South Korean clubs namely Gangwon FC, Ulsan HD and FC Seoul in this season's campaign. For the record, JDT's campaign last season ended in the round of 16 after losing to Buriram United 0-1 on aggregate. The 2025/26 ACL Elite is scheduled to take place from Sept 15 to April 25 next year. Under the tournament format, the teams are divided into two leagues, the West zone and East zone with each side in their respective league set to face eight different opponents, comprising four home matches and four away fixtures. The West zone features defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC of Saudi Arabia, together with Al Sadd SC, Shabab Al Ahli, Tractor FC, PFC Nasaf, Al Shorta, Al Duhail SC, Sharjah FC, Al Hilal SFC, Al Gharafa SC, Al Wahda FC and Al Ittihad Club.
Korea Herald
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Korea Herald
Underdogs Gwangju FC set to duel richer, deeper Al Hilal at AFC Champions League Elite
Gwangju FC will try to add a new chapter to their underdog story when they take on a heavily favored Saudi Arabian opponent in a knockout match at the top Asian club football tournament this week. Gwangju FC, the lone remaining K League 1 club, will face Al Hilal in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League Elite at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, or 1:30 a.m. Saturday. After the two-legged round of 16, the quarterfinals, the semifinals and the championship final will all be one-and-done affairs. Saudi Arabia will be the centralized host country for all remaining knockout matches, including the final on May 3. Coached by Lee Jung-hyo, Gwangju FC have developed a reputation as a feisty team punching above their weight. In the round of 16 at the AFC tournament, they dropped the first leg against Vissel Kobe 2-0 but then won the second leg 3-0 to advance with a 3-2 aggregate win. Al Hilal will present a whole new challenge. They are among the most decorated clubs in the world, having captured 70 official trophies, including four AFC Champions League titles before the tournament was renamed and restructured ahead of the 2024-2025 season. Their star-studded squad features Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo and Aleksandar Mitrovic. Following Gwangju FC's 2-1 win over FC Seoul in their most recent K League 1 match Saturday, Lee said his team will thrive on their underdog label. "I hope a lot of people will feel inspired by watching us play," he said. "I've told my players that no matter who our opponents are, they should just go play and take on the challenge courageously. The more experience they gain, the better they will become." In a press release issued by the club Wednesday, Lee said he felt confident in Gwangju's chances. "I've analyzed Al Hilal and I think we are better in terms of organization," the coach said. "Football is a team sport and I believe in our team's possibilities. We really want to win the tournament, and we will keep playing our brand of football the way we always have." Midfielder Park Tae-jun, who scored the winning goal Saturday, said he couldn't wait to face Al Hilal. "I'm excited. I know they have some great players but I think we can more than hold our own," he said. "We may not have their individual skills but if we can battle as a team, we should be able to come away with a good result." Gwangju FC, a city-run club with persistent financial issues, can improve their bottom line with a win this week. By reaching the round of 16, cash-strapped Gwangju FC earned US$200,000 in prize money. They made another $400,000 by making it to the quarterfinals. Semifinalists will receive $600,000 each. The runner-up will earn $4 million while the champion will grab $10 million. Last season, Gwangju FC spent about 9.6 billion won in player salaries, or about $6.7 million, according to the K League. (Yonhap)
