Sport
AFC confirms clubs for 2026/27 competitions; draw set for August 18
Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN) has once again secured the exclusive rights to broadcast the ACL Elite and ACL Two live across Afghanistan.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed the participating clubs for the 2026/27 editions of its three men’s club competitions, with a record 93 teams from 38 Member Associations set to compete across Asia.
The competitions include the expanded AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite), the AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two) and the AFC Challenge League (ACGL).
The preliminary stage will begin on August 11 for the ACL Elite and ACGL, while ACL Two qualifying matches are scheduled for August 12.
Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN) has once again secured the exclusive rights to broadcast the ACL Elite and ACL Two live across Afghanistan.
First up however is the ACL Two Group Stage Draw which will be held on Tuesday, August 18, at 10:30 am Kabul time at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The ACL Elite League Stage Draw will follow at 12:30 pm.
The 2026/27 ACL Elite will feature an expanded 32-team league stage, up from 24 clubs in each of the previous two seasons.
Eighteen clubs from seven Member Associations in both the West and East regions have qualified, with four teams from each region competing in the preliminary stage for the remaining league-stage places. The league stage begins on September 14.
The ACL Two group stage will feature 32 clubs, including teams advancing from the ACL Elite and ACL Two preliminary rounds. The competition gets underway on September 15.
Meanwhile, the AFC Challenge League will feature 20 clubs, with the group stage running from October 17 to November 24.
The AFC said the expanded competitions are designed to provide more opportunities for clubs across the continent to compete at the highest level and further strengthen Asian club football.
Fans in Afghanistan
AFC fans can once again tune in to Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN) to watch the draw on Tuesday, August 18. The events will be broadcast live and exclusively across Afghanistan on Ariana Television.
For schedule updates and more news and information on this event, viewers are encouraged to follow Ariana Television and Ariana News’ social media pages.
Sport
Arman FC secure 3-1 victory over Sarsabz Yashlar in ACL
Arman FC will face Toofan Herat in their next fixture on November 7, while Sarsabz Yashlar are scheduled to take on Sorkh Poshan Khafi on the same day.
Arman FC defeated Sarsabz Yashlar 3-1 in the 70th match of the sixth season of Afghanistan Champions League Roshan on Tuesday at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium.
Sarsabz Yashlar took the lead in the 17th minute, but Arman FC equalized through Fardin Azizi in the closing stages of the first half to make it 1-1 at the break.
Arman FC took the lead in the second half when Malcolm Isaiah Shaw scored directly from a long-range free kick in the 65th minute.
Shaw added his second goal of the match in the 80th minute, extending Arman FC’s lead to 3-1 and securing all three points for his side.
Shaw was named Man of the Match for his two-goal performance.
Arman FC will face Toofan Herat in their next fixture on November 7, while Sarsabz Yashlar are scheduled to take on Sorkh Poshan Khafi on the same day.
All matches of the sixth season of the Roshan Afghan Champions League are broadcast live on Ariana Television.
Sport
Afghanistan futsal team thrash Panama 5-0 in flying start to Dakar Youth Olympics
Under the Dakar 2026 men’s futsal format, eight teams are divided into two groups of four, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the knockout stage.
Afghanistan got their men’s futsal campaign at the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games off to a flying start, defeating Panama 5-0 in their opening Group A match on Monday, November 2.
The Afghan side delivered an impressive performance, scoring twice in the first half and adding three more goals after the break to complete a convincing five-goal victory.
Reza Karimi, Hussain Hassani, Mohammad Akbari, Farhad Nazari and Ali Ahmadi were all on target, with each player scoring once.
Hassani and Zakir Hussain Abdullahi registered two assists, and Akbari registered one.
The emphatic result gives Afghanistan three valuable points and an excellent start to their bid for a place in the semi-finals.
Under the Dakar 2026 men’s futsal format, eight teams are divided into two groups of four, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the knockout stage.
Afghanistan will next face Argentina on November 4 before concluding their Group A campaign against Senegal on November 7.
The five-goal victory provides an early boost for Afghanistan as they look to progress through the group stage and challenge for a medal at the Youth Olympic Games.
Fans can meanwhile tune in and watch the Dakar Youth Olympic Games exclusively on Ariana Radio and Television Network.
Sport
Afghanistan achieve their highest ICC Men’s ODI team ranking
They have won 96 of their 191 matches in the ODI format with an impressive win-loss ratio of 1.09.
Afghanistan have climbed to the sixth spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, surpassing Sri Lanka to secure their highest-ever position.
Since making their ODI debut in 2009, Afghanistan have been ever-rising across formats, with historic feats such as wins over Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023 and a maiden ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final appearance in 2024.
They have won 96 of their 191 matches in the ODI format with an impressive win-loss ratio of 1.09.
Afghanistan were already above experienced teams like Bangladesh, England and West Indies, and have now also overtaken Sri Lanka to achieve their highest-ever position in the Men’s ODI Team Rankings.
Their recent successes include a 4-0 series win over Ireland away from home and an unbeaten run in the recently concluded tri-series against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
They recently clean swept Zimbabwe in the T20I format as well, and are now all set to face Zimbabwe in a two-match Test series.
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