The Holders Al Ahli Were Held in Jeddah as the Asian Champions League Elite Opened With Two Stoppage Time Equalisers
Six matches opened the western half of the competition, with Johor Darul Ta'zim and Buriram United among the eastern sides starting a day later.
The 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite began on 14 September 2026 with six matches in the western section, and the holders Al Ahli needed a stoppage-time goal to draw at home.
Flamarion put Pakhtakor Tashkent ahead in the 86th minute at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah before Firas Al-Buraikan equalised in the third minute of added time for a 1-1 draw. At the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Baghdad Bounedjah scored in the 63rd minute for Al Shamal on the Qatari club's competition debut, and Georginio Wijnaldum equalised for Al Ittihad in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Esteghlal produced the biggest win of the round, beating Al Sadd 3-0 through Jasir Asani in the ninth minute, Saeid Saharkhizan in the 47th and Esmaeil Gholizadeh in stoppage time. Al Qadsiah, making their first continental appearance, beat Al Wasl 2-1 in Dammam with a header from Julian Quinones in the 57th minute and a goal from Mateo Retegui in the 61st. Shabab Al-Ahli beat Tractor 1-0 in Dubai through Yuri Cesar in the 22nd minute, and Neftchi Fergana beat Al Quwa Al Jawiya 1-0 in Uzbekistan through a Zoran Marusic header in the 83rd.
The eastern section opened on 15 September, with Johor Darul Ta'zim hosting Buriram United at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor Bahru at twenty past eight in the evening Malaysian time. Other eastern fixtures included Al Ain against Al Nassr, Al Hilal against Al Gharafa, Beijing Guoan against Pohang Steelers, Ratchaburi against Shanghai Port and Gamba Osaka against Cong An Hanoi.
The competition now runs a 32-team field split into eastern and western sections, with the top eight from each advancing to the round of sixteen.