FC Seoul is receiving high expectations from fans as they return to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite (ACLE) main stage for the 2025-26 season, after a five-year hiatus. The club's participation in the Asian top club competition, which comes after a long wait since the 2020 season, will be an opportunity to once again elevate FC Seoul's status. This particular participation is even more significant as they advance directly to the main stage without going through the playoffs.
FC Seoul's direct entry into the ACLE main stage became possible after finishing fourth in the 2024 K League 1 season. Initially, the team that finished third in K League 1, Gimcheon Sangmu, could not participate in the AFC club competition due to the nature of their military team, so the play-off entry was granted to FC Seoul, which was the next team in line. Subsequently, in the 2024-25 AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) final, Sharjah (UAE) defeated Lion City Sailors (Singapore), and the opponent for the East Asian region play-offs disappeared, allowing FC Seoul to dramatically seize the ACLE main stage direct entry ticket. This was a piece of news that brought double the joy to FC Seoul fans.
The 2025-26 ACLE will be held in a newly reorganized format. A total of 24 teams will participate, with 12 teams each from East Asia and West Asia, and each team will play a total of 8 league stage matches: 4 home and 4 away matches. Under the rule that they do not compete against teams in the same league, the top 8 teams from each region advance to the round of 16 and continue the tournament rounds. The round of 16 will be held in a home-and-away format, and from the quarterfinals onwards, the winning team will be determined in a single-elimination match in Saudi Arabia, a neutral location.
The 2025-26 ACLE league stage group draw was held at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 15, 2025. FC Seoul will face Buriram United of Thailand, Melbourne City FC of Australia, Sanfrecce Hiroshima of Japan, and Chengdu Rongcheng of China at home, and will play against Shanghai Port, Vissel Kobe, Shanghai Shenhua, and Machida Zelvia of Japan away.
The league stage will run for approximately five months, starting on September 15, 2025, and ending on February 18, 2026. FC Seoul earned 1 point on September 16, drawing 1-1 in their away match against Machida Zelvia of Japan. Subsequently, they played their second match against Buriram United of Thailand, a strong team, at home on September 30. Coach Kim Gi-dong expressed his strong will to show good results in front of the home fans and pledged victory through rotation, considering the K League and ACLE schedules. Since every match is important in ACLE, and early results have a significant impact on advancing to the round of 16, FC Seoul will have to focus on the remaining league stage matches.
The outlook for FC Seoul's advancement to the next round of ACLE is positive. Based on their solid squad and Coach Kim Gi-dong's tactical abilities, they are expected to be competitive on the Asian stage. In particular, the four home matches will play an important role in accumulating points, supported by the enthusiastic support of the fans. It is important to capitalize on the home advantage against strong teams from each league such as Buriram United, Melbourne City, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and Chengdu Rongcheng.
Away matches will be against formidable opponents such as Shanghai Port, Vissel Kobe, Shanghai Shenhua, and Machida Zelvia, but a strategy to secure points through organized defense and quick counterattacks is necessary. Understanding the different match operation methods and characteristics of the opposing teams from the K League is important, and managing the players' injuries and physical condition will also be key tasks. As it is a comeback after five years, good results can be expected if the leadership of experienced veteran players and the passion of young players are combined. FC Seoul is ready to challenge for the Asian title in the 2025-26 ACLE and provide unforgettable excitement to the fans.
Related Links:
* AFC Champions League Elite Official Website
Q1: How did FC Seoul qualify directly for the 2025-26 ACLE main stage?
A1: FC Seoul finished fourth in the 2024 K League 1 and earned a play-off entry as Gimcheon Sangmu, the team that finished third, could not participate in the AFC competition due to military team regulations. Subsequently, the 2024-25 ACL2 champion, Sharjah, eliminated the East Asian region play-off opponent, allowing them to advance directly to the main stage.
Q2: When will the 2025-26 ACLE league stage be held?
A2: The 2025-26 ACLE league stage will start on September 15, 2025, and will run for approximately five months until February 18, 2026.
Q3: Who are FC Seoul's home opponents in the ACLE league stage?
A3: FC Seoul will play against Buriram United of Thailand, Melbourne City FC of Australia, Sanfrecce Hiroshima of Japan, and Chengdu Rongcheng of China at home.
Q4: How do you advance to the round of 16 in ACLE?
A4: In the league stage, each team plays 8 matches, and the top 8 teams from each region in East Asia and West Asia advance to the round of 16.
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