The Road to the ACL Two 2026 Title Begins Now
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - The dust has finally settled across Asia. After a grueling Group Stage campaign that concluded on Christmas Eve, the 2025/26 AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two) has whittled thirty-two hopefuls down to the sweet sixteen.
As we catch our breath during this brief winter intermission, the landscape of the tournament has shifted. The marathon of the group stages is over; now begins the sprint. From the deserts of Saudi Arabia to the bustling metropolises of Japan and the passionate cauldrons of Indonesia, the narrative is no longer about survival it is about conquest. With the Official Knockout Stage Draw scheduled for this Tuesday, December 30, here is the story of the tournament so far, and the drama awaiting us in 2026.
In the West Region, the story is dominated by a familiar juggernaut. Al Nassr, the Saudi Arabian powerhouse, swept through their group with the imperiousness of a team destined for the final. They sit in Pot 1, the team everyone in Pot 2 including Iran’s Esteghlal and Sepahan will be desperate to avoid.
However, the romantic subplot of the season belongs to FC Arkadag. The Turkmen club, in their debut ACL Two campaign, has defied every oddmaker. Playing fearless, counter-attacking football, they have punched their ticket to the knockouts. They enter as unseeded underdogs, but their unpredictability makes them a dangerous "banana skin" for giants like Al Wasl or Al Ahli.
The question for the West is simple: Can anyone stop the Saudi/Qatari dominance, or will the Iranian clubs turn the knockout rounds into a tactical grind?
The Pot 1 Heavyweights (West): Al Wasl (UAE), Al Ahli (QAT), Al Hussein (JOR), Al Nassr (KSA).
If the West is about established hierarchy, the East Region is a story of rebellion. While Japan’s Gamba Osaka and South Korea’s Pohang Steelers (who surprisingly slipped to Pot 2) represent the traditional elite, the real headline is the surge of Southeast Asian football.
Indonesia’s Persib Bandung and Singapore’s Tampines Rovers didn't just participate; they conquered their groups. Their inclusion in Pot 1 is a massive statement for ASEAN football, proving the gap in quality is rapidly closing.
The Round of 16 in the East promises fireworks. We could see a technical masterclass between Macarthur FC and Pohang Steelers, or a raucous regional derby if a Thai club like Bangkok United draws a neighbor. The atmosphere in Bandung or Pathum Thani for these knockout nights will be nothing short of electric.
The Pot 1 Heavyweights (East): Macarthur FC (AUS), Gamba Osaka (JPN), Persib Bandung (IDN), Tampines Rovers (SGP).
All eyes now turn to Kuala Lumpur. On Tuesday, December 30, the balls will be drawn. Will we get a Saudi-Iranian heavyweight clash in the Round of 16? Will the ASEAN darlings be pitted against the K-League giants? The answers are days away. For the 16 teams remaining, the holiday break is short. The dream is alive, but the climb has just become vertical.