Bahrain Represented, Asia Expanded

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed on Tuesday that Bahrain will receive two direct slots in the newly structured AFC Champions League 2 for the 2025–26 season, which brings a great opportunity for domestic clubs to make their presence felt on the continental stage.

Muharraq and Khalidiya Set for Asia

Reigning Bahraini league champions Muharraq SC and Khalidiya SC, winners of the King’s Cup and league runners-up, will represent the Kingdom in this competition. The two sides earned automatic qualification based on their domestic success during the 2024–25 season.

This marks a continuation of Bahrain’s growing stature in AFC competitions, with the allocation reflecting the Kingdom’s rising performance in regional football and the AFC's broader restructuring of its club tournaments.

New Chapter in Asian Football

The AFC Champions League 2 is part of the revamped AFC men’s club competition framework, which now includes three tiers: the elite AFC Champions League Elite, the AFC Champions League 2, and the AFC Challenge League. Of the three, the second tier features the largest pool of participating clubs.

The upcoming edition of AFC Champions League 2 will comprise 29 teams—14 from the West Zone and 15 from the East Zone, including clubs that fall out of qualification for the top-tier tournament. A further six teams will compete in preliminary rounds for the remaining group-stage spots.

Group Stage Set for September

The group stage of the competition is scheduled to kick off on 16 September 2025, with the official draw taking place on 18 August. The competition structure ensures that clubs from smaller footballing nations like Bahrain have an expanded platform to compete against comparable sides across the continent.

This development could prove vital for the growth of Bahraini clubs, offering them a consistent stage to test themselves regionally and attract higher-calibre talent, both on and off the pitch.