---
title: "East Bengal drawn in ACL Two Group D with Al Hussein, Al Shorta and Al Seeb"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/east-bengal-acl-two-group-d-iyovs
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Sports
published: 2026-08-18T08:03:00.283Z
modified: 2026-08-18T10:30:06.781Z
language: en-IN
---

# East Bengal drawn in ACL Two Group D with Al Hussein, Al Shorta and Al Seeb

East Bengal FC were placed in Group D of AFC Champions League Two 2026-27 along with Al Hussein, Al Shorta and Al Seeb after the draw in Kuala Lumpur on August 18, 2026. The group stage runs from September 15 to December 9, with home-and-away fixtures and a Round of 16 looming for the top two in eac

## Key takeaways

- East Bengal FC will compete in Group D of AFC Champions League Two 2026-27.
- Group D opponents are Al Hussein, Al Shorta, and Al Seeb, with the draw held on August 18, 2026 in Kuala Lumpur.
- Group-stage matches run from September 15 to December 9, 2026, with the top two advancing to the Round of 16.
- East Bengal earned group-stage qualification by defeating Al Arabi SC 4-1 in the preliminary round in August 2026.

## What Happened

The AFC Champions League Two 2026-27 group stage draw placed East Bengal FC in Group D, alongside Al Hussein SC (Jordan), Al Shorta SC (Iraq), and Al Seeb Club (Oman). The draw took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on August 18, 2026. East Bengal qualified for the group stage after a 4-1 victory over Al Arabi SC of Kuwait in the preliminary round the prior week.

East Bengal’s opponents in Group D are home-and-away fixtures in a double-round robin format. The group stage is scheduled to run from September 15 to December 9, 2026, with the top two teams advancing to the Round of 16. The subsequent knockout rounds are set to proceed in 2027, with the final penciled in for May 15, 2027.

## Why It Matters

The draw confirms East Bengal’s return to Asia’s second-tier club competition’s group phase for the first time since 2015, when the competition was known as the AFC Cup. The matchup places the India-based club alongside regional runners-up and champions, creating a pathway to the Round of 16 and potential progression to the AFC Champions League Elite in 2027/28 if successful.

## Background

East Bengal FC won the Indian Super League title in the 2025-26 season, earning a place in the ACL Two group stage. The club is one of two Indian entrants in ACL Two for the 2026-27 cycle, with the other Indian side not appearing in this fixture list. The AFC reorganized clubs into eight groups of four, spanning West and East zones, with group-stage matches running through late 2026 into early 2027.

## Key Facts

 
- East Bengal FC were drawn in Group D of AFC Champions League Two 2026-27.
 
- Opponents in Group D: Al Hussein SC (Jordan), Al Shorta SC (Iraq), Al Seeb Club (Oman).
 
- Draw held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on August 18, 2026.
 
- East Bengal qualified for the group stage after a 4-1 victory over Al Arabi SC in the preliminary round (August 2026).
 
- Group stage dates: September 15 to December 9, 2026; Round of 16: February 9-18, 2027; Quarterfinals: March 2-18, 2027; Semifinals: April 6-14, 2027; Final: May 15, 2027.

## What Happens Next

The group-stage matches will be played on a home-and-away basis, with the top two teams from Group D advancing to the Round of 16. The later knockout rounds are scheduled to be held in early to mid-2027, culminating in the final on May 15, 2027.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/east-bengal-acl-two-group-d-iyovs
Reported from: Multiple Sources