AFC Champions League Two 2026-27 Complete standings after matchday 1
East Bengal is the sole Indian representative in the AFC Champions League Two 2026/27
After eight teams battled it out in the preliminary stage and four winners progressed to the next round, the AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 group stage is now underway, with 32 teams from across Asia divided into two regions.
The East Region features 16 teams divided into four groups of four, while the same format is followed in the West Region. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, resulting in a 16-team Round of 16, with eight teams from each region.
The first matchday of the AFC Champions League Two began on September 15, with four teams kicking off simultaneously in Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The 16 matches across both regions and all eight groups were spread across September 15–17.
India’s sole representative in the competition, East Bengal, began their campaign with an away fixture against Jordanian side Al Hussein SC.
From incredible comebacks to goalless stalemates, Matchday 1 of the competition had everything. Let’s take a look at how the teams stand in their respective groups at the end of the opening matchday.
West Region
Catch Every Update, Anytime, Anywhere
Group A
Al-Kuwait made an excellent start to their clash against Al-Wahda, taking a two-goal lead within the opening eight minutes. However, the hosts staged a remarkable comeback to secure all three points, scoring an 87th-minute equaliser and a 97th-minute winner.
The other clash between Al-Khaldiya and FC Nasaf in Bahrain ended in a goalless draw.
| Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al Wahda | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 |
| 2 | FC Nasaf | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Al-Khaldiya | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Al-Kuwait | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 0 |
Group B
FK Arkadag, who defeated FC Goa in the preliminary stage to qualify for the AFC Champions League-2 2026/27 group stage, made a winning start by edging past Al-Muharraq SC 1–0. Tajik side Gol Gohar played out a goalless draw at home against Al Jazira in the other game of the group.
| Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FK Arkadag | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 2 | Gol Gohar | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Al Jazira | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Al-Muharraq | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
Group C
Qatari side Al-Rayyan secured a tense 4–3 victory over Al-Faisaly after taking a 3–0 lead at one point in the first half. Al-Taawoun failed to hold on to their lead against Al-Nahda, conceding in the 81st minute to settle for a point.
| Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Rayyan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 3 |
| 2 | Al-Taawoun | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Al-Nahda | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Al-Faisaly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 0 |
Group D
In the opening game of the AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 group D, East Bengal looked set to secure all three points against Al Hussein SC after taking a two-goal lead into half-time. However, the hosts fought back in the second half to earn a 2–2 draw.
Al-Shorta registered a narrow 1–0 victory over Al-Seeb in the other game, with Mohanad Ali scoring the decisive goal.
| Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Shorta | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 2 | East Bengal FC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Al Hussein SC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Al-Seeb | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
East Region
Group E
Indonesian champions Persib Bandung began their AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 campaign with a 1–0 victory over Japanese side FC Seoul, thanks to an early goal from Julio Cesar.
Australian side Melbourne Victory featured in the other game of the group, settling for a 1–1 draw against Vietnamese side The Cong–Viettel.
| Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Persib Bandung | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 2 | Melbourne Victory | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | The Cong–Viettel | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | FC Seoul | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
Group F
Adelaide United recorded the most convincing victory of AFC Champions League Two matchday 1, cruising to a 3–0 win over Hong Kong side Tai Po FC. Singaporean side Lion City Sailors played out a 1–1 draw at home against BG Pathum United in the other game.
| Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 |
| 2 | BG Pathum United | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Lion City Sailors | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Tai Po FC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 0 |
Group G
Japan’s 2025 Emperor’s Cup champions Machida Zelvia began their campaign with a comfortable 2–0 victory over Cambodian side PKR Svay Rieng, the club where former Chennaiyin FC player Connor Shields and Kerala Blasters player Kwame Peprah currently play.
Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua also started their AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 campaign with a victory, defeating Singaporean side Tampines Rovers 2–1. This made Group G the first group where both matches produced a winner.
| Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Machida Zelvia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 2 | Shanghai Shenhua | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 3 | Tampines Rovers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| 4 | PKR Svay Rieng | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 |
Group H
Cambodian Premier League 2025/26 runners-up Phnom Penh Crown FC began their campaign with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Malaysian side Kuching City, courtesy of a 91st-minute winner from John Dyer. In the other game of the group, South Korean side Gangwon FC played out a goalless draw against Hong Kong side Kitchee SC.
| Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phnom Penh Crown FC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 2 | Gangwon FC | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Kitchee SC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Kuching City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 |
Which Indian club participates in the AFC Champions League Two 2026/27?
East Bengal is the sole Indian representative in the AFC Champions League Two 2026/27.
What was East Bengal’s result in the opening game of the AFC Champions League Two 2026/27?
East Bengal drew 2-2 with Al Hussein SC in the opening game of the AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 despite taking a two-goal- advantage in the first half.
How many teams will qualify for the knockouts from the AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 group stage?
Two top teams from each group will earn qualification to the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Two 2026/27.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.