Gulf Club Champions League draw sets groups for 12 clubs

The Gulf Football Association has conducted the official group stage draw for the third edition of the Gulf Club Champions League for the 2026-2027 season. The tournament features an expanded field of 12 clubs, up from eight in previous editions.

Following the draw held via video link in Doha, the groups are as follows:

Group 1: Neom (Saudi Arabia), Al-Duhail (Qatar), Al-Shabab (Oman), and Shaab Hadramaut (Yemen). Group 2: Al-Nasr (UAE), Qatar SC (Qatar), Al-Zawraa (Iraq), and Riffa (Bahrain). Group 3: Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia), Ajman (UAE), Erbil (Iraq), and Kazma (Kuwait).

The group stage will follow a home-and-away format starting October 13, 2026, and concluding on February 17, 2027. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarter-finals. The tournament is scheduled to reach its final in late April 2027.

Additionally, preparations are underway in Jeddah for the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup, scheduled to take place from September 23 to October 6, 2026, featuring eight national teams.