Al Hilal discover full 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite league-phase schedule

Al Hilal will begin their 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite campaign at Kingdom Arena against Al Ain after the league-phase draw was held on Tuesday.

The Saudi Arabian side’s schedule includes eight matches under the competition’s revised format, with four fixtures at home and four away. Their opponents come from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Uzbekistan, creating a demanding programme that includes several Arab football clashes.

Al Hilal’s complete league-phase schedule is:

– Matchday one: Al Ain (United Arab Emirates) – Kingdom Arena – Matchday two: Al Sadd (Qatar) – away – Matchday three: Shabab Al Ahli (United Arab Emirates) – Kingdom Arena – Matchday four: Neftchi (Uzbekistan) – away – Matchday five: Al Gharafa (Qatar) – Kingdom Arena – Matchday six: Al Wasl (United Arab Emirates) – away – Matchday seven: Al Shamal (Qatar) – Kingdom Arena – Matchday eight: Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan) – away

The draw has given Al Hilal two home matches against clubs from the United Arab Emirates, with Al Ain first up before Shabab Al Ahli visit Kingdom Arena in the third round.

Their home programme will also feature Al Gharafa and Al Shamal, while the away fixtures will take them to face Al Sadd, Neftchi, Al Wasl and Pakhtakor.

The 2026-27 edition of the AFC Champions League Elite will use a new competition format. Clubs from each geographical region have been divided into four balanced levels for the league phase.

Under the system, every team will play two different opponents from each of the four levels. The stated aim of the new structure is to increase the intensity of the competition while improving the balance of opportunities among the participating clubs.

Al Hilal’s eight-game campaign therefore combines opponents drawn from all four levels, with the side alternating between home and away assignments across the schedule. The first fixture, against Al Ain at Kingdom Arena, will be followed by an away meeting with Al Sadd.

The Saudi club will then return home to play Shabab Al Ahli before travelling to Uzbekistan for the match against Neftchi. Al Gharafa will be the next visitors to Kingdom Arena, followed by an away game against Al Wasl.

Al Hilal’s final two league-phase fixtures will be against Al Shamal at home and Pakhtakor away.