Gulf Champions League draw set for August 24 as expanded tournament prepares for kickoff
DOHA: The Gulf Football Federation has scheduled the draw for the 2026-27 Gulf Champions League for Clubs on Aug. 24, with the expanded competition set to feature 12 teams for the first time.
The federation said the draw ceremony will take place at 1200 Doha time via video conference, ahead of the tournament’s start on Oct. 13. The competition will run until April 30, 2027.
Under the tournament format, the 12 clubs will be divided into three groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed sides, will advance to the quarter-finals, which will be played over two legs on a home-and-away basis.
The expanded field marks the largest edition of the tournament since its inception, with the number of participating clubs increasing from eight to 12, a move aimed at broadening representation across the Gulf region and raising the competition’s overall standard.
The participating clubs are Al Duhail and Qatar SC from Qatar; Al Ettifaq and Neom from Saudi Arabia; Al Nasr and Ajman from the United Arab Emirates; Erbil and Al Zawraa from Iraq; Al Shabab from Oman; Al Riffa from Bahrain; Kazma from Kuwait; and Shaab Hadramout from Yemen.
The Gulf Football Federation said announcing the draw date well in advance would allow clubs and member associations sufficient time to complete their technical and organisational preparations before the competition begins.
