Arab Club Champions Cup future unclear as Arab federation denies 2027 relaunch decision

An Arab Football Association source has denied that a decision has been taken to revive the Arab Club Championship next season, following reports that the competition would return in 2027.

Recent speculation in regional media suggested that the Arab Club Championship, also known as the Arab Club Champions Cup, had been scheduled for a comeback in the 2027 calendar year.

However, speaking to FilGoal.com, an official source at the Arab Football Association insisted that no formal agreement has yet been reached on bringing the tournament back.

The source said: “We have not yet made a final decision regarding the return of the Arab Club Championship next season.”

No further details were given on potential dates, format or host nation, and the federation has not issued any official statement confirming whether discussions are ongoing or when a final call might be made.

Last edition held in Saudi Arabia

The most recent edition of the Arab Club Championship was staged in the summer of 2023 in Saudi Arabia.

That tournament concluded with Al Nassr being crowned champions after defeating fellow Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal in the final.

Al Nassr recorded a 2-1 victory over Al Hilal, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring both goals for the winners to secure the title.

The competition brought together leading clubs from across the Arab world, with Saudi Arabia acting as host for the entire event.

Egyptian representation

Zamalek took part in the 2023 edition as Egypt’s representative.

The Cairo club failed to progress to the knockout stages, exiting the competition at the group phase.

No information has yet been provided by the Arab Football Association on qualification criteria for any future edition or on how many clubs from each country would be expected to participate, should the tournament return.

Uncertain timeline

With the Arab Football Association source stressing that discussions remain unresolved, the timeline for any possible resumption of the Arab Club Championship remains uncertain.

For now, despite reports linking the competition with a 2027 restart, the governing body maintains that no definitive decision has been finalised on staging the tournament next season.