[Official] Seoul faces a demanding 'Australia away trip' while Gangwon heads to Hong Kong and Southeast Asia with a relatively manageable schedule... ACL2 draw finalized

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The match-ups for FC Seoul and Gangwon FC, who will compete in the 2026–2027 AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2), have been finalized. While Seoul is set to embark on a grueling 'Australia away trip', Gangwon has received a comparatively straightforward schedule.

The 2026–2027 ACL2 group draw took place on the 18th in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A total of 32 teams will be divided into eight groups for this tournament, with two K League clubs participating.

FC Seoul, drawn as the top seed in Group E, will face Melbourne Victory (Australia), The Cong Viettel (Vietnam), and the winner of the Persib Bandung (Indonesia)–Manila Digger (Philippines) playoff in the group stage. The away match against Melbourne Victory, featuring Spanish-born Juan Mata, is expected to pose a significant physical burden on Seoul, which is currently competing for the K League 1 title, due to the long-distance travel required.

Gangwon FC has been placed in Group H and will compete against Kuching City (Malaysia), Kitchee (Hong Kong), and Phnom Penh Crown (Cambodia). Having lost 0–1 to Gamba Osaka (Japan) in a previous playoff, Gangwon joined the ACL2 and is now set to face Southeast Asian clubs. This has led to evaluations that their draw and travel distances are relatively manageable.

The ACL2 group stage begins on September 15 and concludes on December 9. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16 knockout tournament, which starts on February 9 next year, with the final scheduled for May 15 next year.

Group A: Al Wahda (UAE), Nasaf (Uzbekistan), Kuwait SC (Kuwait), Al Qadisiyah (Bahrain)

Group B: Al Jazira (UAE), Golgohar Sirjan (Iran), Al Muharraq (Bahrain), Arkadag (Turkmenistan)

Group C: Al Taawoun (Saudi Arabia), Al Rayyan (Qatar), Al Faisaly (Jordan), Al Nahda (Oman)

Group D: Al Hussein (Jordan), Al Shorta (Iraq), Al Seeb (Oman), East Bengal (India)

Group E: FC Seoul (South Korea), Melbourne Victory (Australia), The Cong–Viettel (Vietnam), winner of Persib Bandung (Indonesia)–Manila Digger (Philippines) playoff

Group F: Adelaide United (Australia), BG Pathum United (Thailand), Lion City Sailors (Singapore), Tai Po FC (Hong Kong)

Group G: Machida Zelvia (Japan), Shanghai Shenhua (China), Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng (Cambodia), Tampines Rovers (Singapore)

Group H: Gangwon FC (South Korea), Kuching City (Malaysia), Kitchee SC (Hong Kong), Phnom Penh Crown (Cambodia)

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original