East Bengal FC to face Al-Arabi SC in ACL 2 qualifier

East Bengal FC is set to face Kuwaiti side Al-Arabi SC in an AFC Champions League Two preliminary-stage qualifier at the Yuva Bharati Kriangan in Kolkata. The match follows East Bengal’s recent championship in the 2025-26 Indian Super League.

East Bengal enters the contest under new head coach Antonio Lopez Habas with several squad challenges. The team is currently operating with only three available foreign players, as newcomer Effiong has not received a visa and Nacho Monsalve is sidelined with a knee injury. Additionally, Lalchungnunga is serving a suspension. The club is also still in the process of signing a sixth foreign player.

Al-Arabi SC arrives as the runners-up of the 2025-26 Kuwaiti Premier League and winners of the Kuwait Crown Prince Cup. The Kuwaiti side has prepared for the match through training camps and friendlies in Turkey and Egypt. For East Bengal, the defensive unit led by Anwar Ali will be tasked with containing an Al-Arabi squad that features a full complement of foreign talent.