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.
Abu Muslim Farah and Ariana Khost played out a 0–0 draw in the 13th match of the sixth season of Afghanistan Champions League Roshan in Kabul on Saturday.
Both sides created chances throughout the match but failed to convert them, as neither team managed to break the deadlock.
Mustafa Omarkhail, a player for Abu Muslim Farah, was named Player of the Match.
Abu Muslim Farah will face Sorkh Poshan Khafi in their next match, while Ariana Khost will take on Istiqlal Kabul.
The sixth season of the Roshan Afghanistan Champions League is being broadcast live on Ariana Television.
Aino Mina Kandahar and Omar Zawak Herat played out a 1–1 draw in the 12th match of the sixth season of Afghanistan Champions League Roshan at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium on Saturday.
Aino Mina made a strong start, with Mohammad Yaqoob scoring the opening goal in the sixth minute to put his team ahead.
Omar Zawak Herat responded eight minutes later, as Nematullah Karimi scored the equalizer in the 14th minute.
Both teams pushed for a winning goal in the second half, but neither side could find the breakthrough, and the match ended 1–1.
Ahlullah Darman of Aino Mina Kandahar was named the Player of the Match.
Aino Mina Kandahar will face Sarsabz Yashlar Faryab in their next match, while Omar Zawak Herat will take on Arman FC.
The sixth season of the Roshan Afghanistan Champions League is being broadcast live on Ariana Television.
Sarsabz Yashlar Faryab defeated Istiqlal Kabul 2–1 in the 11th match of the sixth season of Afghanistan Champions League Roshan.
The match was played on Friday at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul.
The two teams played out a balanced first half, with neither side able to break the deadlock.
In the second half, Istiqlql Kabul’s Haroon Noori opened the scoring to put his side 1–0 ahead.
Sarsabz Yashlar responded by increasing the pressure, with Abdullah Maki equalizing in the 67th minute.
Adnan Nemati then scored Sarsab Yashlar’s second goal in the 82nd minute, completing the comeback and securing a 2–1 victory over Esteqlal Kabul.
Matches from the sixth season of Afghanistan Champions League Roshan are being broadcast live on Ariana Television.
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