The draw for the league stage of the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite has handed CAHN a formidable challenge as Vietnam’s sole representative in Asia’s premier club competition.

After advancing past Adelaide United with a convincing 2-0 playoff victory, Alexandre Polking’s side enter the main competition as the fourth-seeded team in the East region. The draw, however, has set CAHN up for what promises to be an exceptionally demanding campaign.

The Vietnamese club will face Kashima Antlers, Vissel Kobe, Kashiwa Reysol, Kyoto Sanga and Gamba Osaka of Japan, Shanghai Port and Beijing FC of China, and Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia.

Notably, CAHN will take on five representatives from Japan, one of Asia’s strongest footballing nations. Among them, Kashima Antlers are former continental champions, while Gamba Osaka boast a rich history and a strong pedigree in AFC competition.

Beyond the Japanese opposition, Shanghai Port, Beijing FC and Johor Darul Ta’zim will also present formidable challenges thanks to their financial strength, quality squads and international experience.

Under the new AFC Champions League Elite format, teams are no longer divided into traditional groups. Each club plays eight matches against eight different opponents, with four games at home and four away. Results are combined into a single league table to determine which teams advance.

Meanwhile, in the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Two, The Cong Viettel also face a difficult campaign after being drawn in East region Group E alongside FC Seoul, Melbourne Victory and the winner of the Persib Bandung-Manila Digger playoff.

It is a challenging group for the Vietnamese side, with FC Seoul bringing extensive experience from South Korean football and Melbourne Victory known for their physical style of play. Should Persib Bandung qualify, Popov’s side would also have to contend with a strong Indonesian squad and the intense atmosphere of their home ground.

Thien Binh