Southeast Asia’s football heavyweights will go head-to-head in the 2025/26 AFC Champions League Two group stage after True Bangkok United, Selangor FC, Lion City Sailors, and Persib Bandung were drawn together in a tantalizing Group G, setting the stage for fierce regional showdowns.
Thai giants Bangkok United headline the group as top seeds, having dropped into ACL2 following their 3-0 away defeat to Chengdu Rongcheng in the AFC Champions League Elite qualifiers on August 12. Malaysia’s Selangor, who narrowly missed last season’s knockout stage, enter as second seeds, while last year’s ACL2 runners-up Lion City Sailors of Singapore take the third seed. Completing the lineup are Indonesian champions Persib, who booked their spot with a hard-fought 2-1 qualifying play-off win over Manila Digger of the Philippines on August 13.
On paper, the group looks evenly matched, with Bangkok United and the Sailors carrying a slight edge thanks to recent continental experience. Still, with all four sides capable of producing big performances, the battle for knockout spots could go down to the wire.
Elsewhere in the East Region, China’s Beijing Guoan and Australia’s Macarthur FC start as clear favorites in Group E, though Vietnamese debutants Cong An Ha Noi will aim to spring a surprise, with Hong Kong’s Tai Po completing the group. Group F features Japan’s Gamba Osaka as overwhelming favorites, leaving Thailand’s Ratchaburi FC and Vietnam’s Thep Xanh Nam Dinh to fight for second, alongside Hong Kong’s Eastern AA. In Group H, South Korea’s Pohang Steelers and Thailand’s BG Pathum United are expected to lead the way, while the Philippines’ Kaya FC–Iloilo and Singapore’s BG Tampines Rovers add intrigue—particularly with the latter facing BGPU in a “Bangkok Glass derby” between two clubs under the same ownership.
Over in the West Region, defending AFC Challenge League champions FK Arkadag of Turkmenistan—dubbed by some as “the best club in the world”—face FK Andijan of Uzbekistan, Al-Ahli of Qatar, and Al-Khaldiya of Bahrain in their group. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian giants Al-Nassr, led by Cristiano Ronaldo and widely regarded as tournament favorites, will meet India’s FC Goa, Iraq’s Al-Zawraa, and Istiklol of Tajikistan.