Last season, Al Nassr finished third in the Saudi Pro League, qualifying them for the AFC Champions League Two, the second-tier continental club competition in Asia, ranked below the AFC Champions League Elite and above the AFC Challenge League.
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Ronaldo (center) celebrates a goal with Felix (left) during Al Nassr's victory over Toulouse at Grodig Stadium, Austria, 30/7/2025. Photo: Al Nassr |
Ronaldo (center) celebrates a goal with Felix (left) during Al Nassr's victory over Toulouse at Grodig Stadium, Austria, 30/7/2025. Photo: Al Nassr
The 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Two features 32 teams divided into East and West regions. Each region has 16 teams drawn into four groups. Teams play home and away matches, with the top two from each group advancing to the round of 16. Following the draw on 15/8, Al Nassr is in Group D alongside FC Goa (India), Istiklol (Tajikistan), and Al-Zawraa (Iraq).
"This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment for FC Goa," club CEO Ravi Puskur told AP. "Hosting Al Nassr and Ronaldo is arguably the biggest match in the history of Indian club football."
Ronaldo has yet to win a major title since joining Al Nassr in 2022. The Saudi Arabian club is likely to bring a strong squad to India, including stars like former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane and expensive new signings Joao Felix (USD 57 million from Chelsea) and Kingsley Coman (USD 32 million from Bayern Munich).
"For Indian football, this is a historic event," Puskur emphasized. "We earned our place here, and a match like this is an opportunity to prove we can compete at the continental level and contribute to football's biggest stories."
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Kingsley Coman debuts with Al Nassr on 15/8. Photo: Al Nassr |
Kingsley Coman debuts with Al Nassr on 15/8. Photo: Al Nassr
According to FC Goa's leadership, the draw of Ronaldo and Al Nassr will create a ripple effect across India, bringing unprecedented attention to domestic football. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase Indian football globally, and more importantly, to ignite the passion of domestic fans and give the sport the attention it has long deserved," Puskur said.
This historic match takes place amidst a crisis in Indian football. The 2025-2026 Indian Super League (ISL) has been postponed due to a dispute over the hosting agreement between the All India Football Federation and commercial partner Football Sports Development Ltd., currently awaiting a Supreme Court ruling. Some clubs, such as Bengaluru FC, Odisha FC, and Chennaiyin FC, have suspended player salaries or temporarily ceased football operations until a resolution is reached.
"The financial benefits are important, but the bigger picture is the long-term development opportunity," Puskur concluded. "The global attention, sponsorship deals, and fan engagement from this moment will strengthen the club's foundation, allowing us to invest in the future."
Hong Duy (via ESPN)
