Indian Super League champions East Bengal were on Tuesday handed a challenging draw in Group D of the AFC Champions League Two with the Kolkata giants set to face Jordanian champions Al Hussein SC, Iraqi powerhouse Al Shorta SC and Oman's Al Seeb Club.The group-stage campaign will begin on September 15 and will be played in a home-and-away round-robin format, with each team facing the other three twice. The schedule is yet to be announced.East Bengal, who are the only representative from the country in the group stage, will be making their ninth appearance in the group phase of Asia's second-tier club competition and their first since 2015, when the tournament was known as the AFC Cup.East Bengal earned their place after winning the 2025-26 Indian Super League before overcoming Kuwait’s Al-Arabi SC 4-1 in extra time in the preliminary stage.FC Goa the other club in the preliminary stage however failed to make the cut going down to Turkmenistan outfit Arkadag.East Bengal will now face three clubs with strong domestic and continental pedigrees.Al Hussein are three-time consecutive Jordanian Pro League champions and bring a combination of tactical discipline and physical intensity.Al Shorta are among Iraq’s most successful sides, having won the Iraq Stars League eight times.They have also lifted the Iraq FA Cup once, completing the domestic double in the 2023-24 season, while winning the Iraqi Super Cup twice and the Baghdad Championship three times in succession.Their experience and depth make them one of the strongest sides in the group.Completing the group are Al Seeb, five-time Omani champions and winners of the 2022 AFC Cup.The Omani club are known for their technical quality, defensive organisation and ability to compete effectively in regional tournaments.The group stage is scheduled to conclude on December 9, with the Round of 16 to be played…
This report has been adapted by the PurePlay Sports Desk from coverage by The Bridge, The Hindu Sportstar, NDTV Sports.