Doha, Qatar: The Gulf Football Federation (GFF) has announced that the draw for the 2026-27 Gulf Champions League will be held on August 24.
The qualifying rounds for the third edition of the tournament are scheduled to begin on October 13 and will continue until April 30, 2027, with the participation of 12 clubs representing the member national federations.
The GFF confirmed that the draw ceremony will be conducted via video conference.
According to the competition regulations, the 12 participating teams will be divided into three groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will qualify for the quarter-finals, which will be played on a home-and-away basis.
The third edition is expected to feature the largest participation in the tournament’s history since its inception, following the decision to increase the number of clubs from eight to 12. The move reflects the competition’s growth and the expansion of participation among member federations, helping raise the standard of competition and strengthen its standing in the region.
The participating clubs are Al Duhail (Qatar), Al Ettifaq and Neom (Saudi Arabia), Al Nasr and Ajman (UAE), Erbil and Al Zawraa (Iraq), Al Shabab (Oman), Al Riffa (Bahrain), Kazma (Kuwait), and Shaab Hadramout (Yemen).
The early announcement of the draw is intended to give clubs and national federations sufficient time to complete their technical and organisational preparations ahead of the competition, enhancing team readiness and the overall quality of the tournament.
Qatar's Al Rayyan won the second edition of the tournament last year after defeating Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia 3-0 in the final.
