East Bengal FC have been handed a challenging draw in the AFC Champions League Two 2026-27, being placed in Group D alongside Al Hussein SC of Jordan, Al Shorta SC of Iraq, and Al Seeb Club of Oman. The group-stage draw was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday, August 18.
The Red and Gold Brigade earned their place in the group stage after an emphatic 4-1 victory over Kuwait’s Al Arabi SC in the preliminary stage last Wednesday. The qualification marks East Bengal’s return to the group stage of Asia’s second-tier men’s club competition for the first time since 2015, when the tournament was known as the AFC Cup.
East Bengal, the Indian Super League 2025-26 champions, will face three domestic champions or high-ranking sides in their group. Al Hussein are the reigning Jordanian Pro League champions, Al Seeb are the Oman Professional League champions, while Al Shorta finished runners-up in the Iraq Stars League in the 2025-26 season.
The complete AFC Champions League Two 2026-27 group-stage draw is:
Group A: Al Wahda FC (UAE), PFC Nasaf (UZB), Kuwait SC (KUW), Al Khaldiya SC (BHR)
Group B: Al Jazira Club (UAE), Golgohar Sirjan SC (IRN), Al Muharraq SC (BHR), FC Arkadag (TKM)
Group C: Al Taawoun FC (KSA), Al Rayyan SC (QAT), Al Faisaly (JOR), Al Nahda Club (OMA)
Group D: Al Hussein SC (JOR), Al Shorta SC (IRQ), Al Seeb Club (OMA), East Bengal FC (IND)
Group E: FC Seoul (KOR), Melbourne Victory FC (AUS), The Cong – Viettel FC (VIE), Persib Bandung (IDN)/Manila Digger (PHI)
Group F: Adelaide United (AUS), BG Pathum United (THA), Lion City Sailors FC (SGP), Tai Po FC (HKG)
Group G: FC Machida Zelvia (JPN), Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN), Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC (CAM), Tampines Rovers FC (SGP)
Group H: Gangwon FC (KOR), Kuching City FC (MAS), Kitchee SC (HKG), Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM)
With three strong opponents standing in their way, East Bengal will now look to make their mark on the continental stage and progress beyond the group stage.
Picture Courtesy: East Bengal Media
