JDT and Kuching City Await Opponents in Historic AFC Clubs Draw

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Tomorrow is the big day for Malaysian club football! On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will conduct the official live draw ceremonies at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Kuala Lumpur for the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite) and AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two). For the first time under the AFC's revamped competition hierarchy, Malaysia will feature direct entrants in both tiers of men's club competition.

Draw Ceremony Schedule (Tuesday, 18 August 2026)
ACL Two Group Stage Draw: 2:00 PM MYT
ACL Elite League Stage Draw: 4:00 PM MYT

The Malaysian Representative Breakdown;-

• Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT)
  As the 2025–2026 Malaysia Super League Champions, Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) is in the ACL Elite League Stage. JDTs will be assigned to Pot 2 in tomorrow's ceremonies. Under the enlarged ACL Elite structure, JDT will play eight League Stage games (four home and four away) against eight different opponents in the East Region.

ACL Elite – Club Seed Participating Club (East Region)

Pot 1
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR)
Buriram United (THA)
Shanghai Port FC (CHN)

Pot 2
Newcastle Jets FC (AUS)
Johor Darul Ta’zim FC (MAS)
Vissel Kobe (JPN)
Daejeon Hanacitizen (KOR)

Pot 3
Port FC (THA)
Beijing FC (CHN)
Kashiwa Reysol (JPN)
FC Pohang Steelers (KOR)

Pot 4
Ratchaburi FC (THA)
Kyoto Sanga F.C. (JPN)
Gamba Osaka (JPN) - Winner of Preliminary Stage 1.1 (East)
Cong An Ha Noi FC (VIE) - Winner of Preliminary Stage 1.2 (East)

• Kuching City FC
  Kuching City FC, the Malaysia Super League 2026–2027 runners-up, will play The four-team round-robin group stage consists of three home and three away games. The Cats, who are making their Asian debut, represent the development of indigenous football in East Malaysia as they head into the East Region draw.

ACL Two – Club Seed Participating Club (East Region)

Pot 1
Gangwon FC (KOR)- ACL Elite Preliminary Stage 1.1 (East)
Adelaide United FC (AUS) - ACL Elite Preliminary Stage 1.2 (East)
FC Machida Zelvia (JPN)
FC Seoul (KOR)

Pot 2
BG Pathum United (THA)
Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN)
Melbourne Victory FC (AUS)
Kuching City FC (MAS)

Pot 3
The Cong – Viettel FC (VIE)
Lion City Sailors FC (SGP)
Kitchee SC (HKG)
Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC (CAM)

Pot 4
Tampines Rovers FC (SGP)
Tai Po FC (HKG)
Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM)
Persib Bandung (IDN)/Manila Digger (PHI) - Winner of ACL Two Preliminary Stage (East)*

Malaysian football will be tuned in to AFC House tomorrow afternoon to see who stands in the way of JDT and Kuching City FC on their continental journeys!