[Official] Ulsan, ACLE 'Early eliminated' for 2 consecutive years... Seoul and Gangwon 'Proceeding to the Round of 16'

*This content was translated by AI.

• 1st to 3rd place in East AsiaThree Ulsan-China teams failed to advance to the round of 16

Professional soccer K League 1 FC Seoul and Gangwon FC will continue their challenge to reach the top of Asia. On the other hand, Ulsan HD failed to advance to the tournament tournament for two consecutive seasons and was "eligible early."

Seoul, led by head coach Kim Ki-dong, and Gangwon, led by head coach Chung Kyung-ho, ranked 7th and 8th in East Asia respectively as a result of the final round of the 2025-2026 Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACLE) league stage, which ended on the 18th.

ACLE will be divided into East and West Asia and play a league stage in which 12 teams will participate. According to the draw, teams in the same region will play eight games each, and the first to eighth places in East and West Asia will advance to the round of 16 tournaments.

Seoul accumulated 10 points (2 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses) in the league stage and qualified for the round of 16 in seventh place. Seoul drew 2-2 with Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan) the previous day and had to watch the results of other K-League teams on the day, but both Ulsan and Gangwon failed to miss the victory and qualified for the round of 16.

It is the first time that Seoul has advanced to the round of 16 in ACLE, and it will be on the stage of the tournament for the first time in nine seasons, including the ACL tournament.

Gangwon, which played in Asia for the first time since its foundation, drew with Melbourne City (Australia) without a score in the final match, with only 9 points (2 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses), but at the same time, Ulsan also took the last train to the round of 16 thanks to a 0-0 draw with Shanghai Hai River (China).

Gangwon and Ulsan were tied side by side with points (9) and difference between points (-2), but Gangwon scored nine goals and Ulsan scored six goals in multiple points. Gangwon remained in eighth place, where qualification for the round of 16, while Ulsan remained in ninth place, showing mixed feelings of joy and sorrow.

Gangwon succeeded in advancing to the round of 16 tournaments on its first ACLE stage. On the other hand, Ulsan finished the tournament early without crossing the league stage gateway for the second consecutive season after being eliminated with 1 win and 6 losses last season led by head coach Kim Pan-gon.

Meanwhile, in East Asia, Machida Zelvia (5 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss, 17 points) passed the first place, while Japanese J-League teams such as Vissel Kobe (16 points) and Sanfrecce Hiroshima (15 points) swept the first to third places. It was followed by Buriram United (Thailand) Melbourne City (with 14 points), Johor Darlle Takjim (Malaysia, with 11 points), Seoul and Gangwon. Along with Ulsan, all three Chinese teams were eliminated.

In West Asia, Al-Hilal passed the league stage with an overwhelming 7 wins and 1 draw. Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia), Traktor (Iran), Al-Itihad (Saudi), Al-Wahda, Shabab Al-Ahli (UAE), Al-Duhail and Al-Sad (Qatar) then qualified for the round of 16. Al Sharjah (UAE), Algarapa (Qatar), Alshorta (Iraq), and Nasaf (Uzbekistan) were eliminated.

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*This content was translated by AI.