sports · SingTao

Hong Kong Giants Face Tough Draws in AFC Champions League 2

SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago4 MIN

Summary

The AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) group draw was conducted on Tuesday, March 18, at the AFC headquarters in Malaysia, determining the fates of Hong Kong's two representatives. Kitchee, crowned HK Premier League champions after a four-year gap, drew a relatively manageable Group H alongside South Korean outfit Gangwon FC, Malaysia's Kuching City, and Cambodia's Phnom Penh Crown. Meanwhile, Tai Po, the FA Cup champions competing in ACL2 for the second consecutive year, was handed a brutal draw in Group F, facing Australia's Adelaide United, Thailand's Pathum Thani United, and Singapore's Lion City Sailors.

Key Points

Kitchee returns to continental competition after clinching the HK Premier League title, ending a four-year drought
Tai Po, the FA Cup holders, landed in Group F alongside Adelaide United, Pathum Thani United, and Lion City Sailors
Kitchee faces Gangwon FC, Kuching City, and Phnom Penh Crown in Group H, with Gangwon featuring World Cup player Lee Seung-woo
The group stage commences next month, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Round of 16
Hong Kong clubs face potential loss of名额 as the territory currently holds only one playoff spot and one AFC Challenge League spot for 2027-28
Kitchee head coach Caldidoro expressed satisfaction with the draw, noting the relatively short travel distances for Hong Kong fans

Why It Matters

Given Hong Kong clubs' underwhelming performance in recent Asian campaigns, this season's results will critically determine whether the territory retains its reduced competition spots for 2028-29, making every point vital for the future of Hong Kong football on the continental stage .