The knockout stage draw for the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 was held on December 30, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pairing 16 teams for the round of 16. Notable fixtures include Turkmenistan's FC Arkadag against Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr from Saudi Arabia and Japan's Gamba Osaka versus South Korea's Pohang Steelers. The ties promise competitive battles, with the tournament culminating in a single-leg final on May 16, 2026.
The Asian Football Confederation conducted the knockout stage draw for the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 on December 30, 2025, at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This event determined the round-of-16 matchups for the 16 qualified teams, divided into West and East zones, with all ties played on a home-and-away basis.
In the West Zone, key pairings include FC Arkadag of Turkmenistan facing Al-Nassr Club of Saudi Arabia. Al-Nassr, who dominated Group D with six wins and a 22-2 goal difference, feature stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined in 2023 and holds records as a five-time Ballon d'Or winner and the first player to score over 900 official goals. Arkadag finished second in Group B with one win, four draws, and one loss (5-6 goal difference). The first leg will be in Turkmenistan, with the return in Saudi Arabia. Other West Zone ties are Al Zawraa SC (Iraq) versus Al Wasl FC (UAE), Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan SC (Iran) against Al Ahli SC (Qatar), and Esteghlal FC (Iran) versus Al Hussein (Jordan).
The East Zone features FC Pohang Steelers (South Korea) against Gamba Osaka (Japan), Ratchaburi FC (Thailand) versus Persib Bandung (Indonesia), Bangkok United (Thailand) versus Macarthur FC (Australia), and Cong An Ha Noi FC (Vietnam) versus Tampines Rovers FC (Singapore). Gamba Osaka advanced with a perfect group record, while Pohang were runners-up in their group with four wins, one draw, and one defeat.
Round-of-16 first legs in the West Zone are scheduled for February 10-11, 2026, with returns on February 17-18. East Zone legs follow on February 11-12 and 18-19. Quarter-finals are set for March, semi-finals in April, and the final—a single match between West and East champions—on May 16, 2026, hosted in the West.
Guvanchmuhamet Ovekov, chairman of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan and former FC Arkadag chairman, commented on the draw: “We are happy that ‘Al-Nassr’ will come to us. But we will try to win.” This matchup highlights the tournament's global appeal, blending emerging clubs with established powerhouses.
