Nam Dinh qualified as V-League champions, while Cong An Ha Noi (CAHN) earned their spot by winning the 2024-2025 National Cup. This marks CAHN's debut in the tournament, while Nam Dinh returns after reaching the round of 16 last season.
In the East Zone, Nam Dinh was placed in pot 2 alongside Macarthur (Australia), Selangor (Malaysia), and BG Pathum United (Thailand). CAHN was in pot 4 with Tampines Rovers (Singapore), Persib (Indonesia), and Eastern FC (Hong Kong).
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Nam Dinh (in white) lost 0-4 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the second leg of the round of 16 of the 2024-2025 AFC Champions League Two, at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima Stadium, Japan on 19/2/2025. Photo: Nam Dinh FC |
Nam Dinh (in white) lost 0-4 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the second leg of the round of 16 of the 2024-2025 AFC Champions League Two, at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima Stadium, Japan on 19/2/2025. Photo: Nam Dinh FC
Pot 1 consisted of Beijing Guoan (China), Gamba Osaka (Japan), Bangkok United (Thailand), and Pohang Steelers (South Korea). Pot 3 included Tai Po (Hong Kong), Ratchaburi (Thailand), Lion City Sailors (Singapore), and Kaya-Iloilo (Philippines).
The draw, held in Malaysia on 15/8, stipulated that teams from the same country could not be placed in the same group. CAHN was drawn into Group A with Beijing Guoan (4th place in the 2024 Chinese Super League), Macarthur (2024 Australian Cup winners), and Tai Po (2024-2025 Hong Kong Premier League champions).
Nam Dinh landed in Group B with Gamba Osaka (4th in the 2024 J-League 1), Ratchaburi (4th in the 2024-2025 Thai League 1), and Eastern (2024-2025 Hong Kong FA Cup winners).
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The four groups of the East Zone of the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Two. Photo: AFC |
The four groups of the East Zone of the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Two. Photo: AFC
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The four groups of the West Zone of the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Two. Photo: AFC |
The four groups of the West Zone of the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Two. Photo: AFC
Formerly known as the AFC Cup, the tournament was rebranded as the AFC Champions League (ACL) Two in the 2024-2025 season. Teams are allowed an unlimited number of foreign players. Last season, UAE representative Sharjah won the title after defeating Lion City Sailors 2-1 in the final.
This season, the AFC continues to divide the tournament into two zones: East (East and Southeast Asia) and West (West, Central, and South Asia). Each zone features 16 teams divided into four groups. Teams play home and away matches in a round-robin format to determine the four group winners and four runners-up who advance to the round of 16.
From the round of 16 to the semi-finals, teams continue to compete within their respective zones over two legs. The final is a single match between the East Zone winner and the West Zone winner.
This season's West Zone features Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, home to superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
The group stage of the 2025-2026 ACL Two runs from 17/9 to 5/12.
Hieu Luong
