AGCFF sets September 9 draw for expanded Gulf Club Champions League

03/06/2026

KUWAIT CITY, June 3 (KUNA): The Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) has announced that the draw for the third edition of the Gulf Club Champions League (GCCL) 2026–2027 will take place on September 9, ahead of the tournament scheduled from October 13, 2026, to April 30, 2027.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the federation confirmed that the competition will be expanded from eight to 12 clubs in the upcoming edition.

Under the new format, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Iraq will each be allocated two slots, while Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Yemen will receive one slot each. The allocations are based on national association rankings in line with Asian Football Confederation criteria.

The AGCFF has also sent official correspondence to member associations requesting the nomination of participating clubs within a maximum period of two weeks, ending on June 17. It emphasized that selected clubs must rank highly in their respective domestic leagues.

The federation said the move reflects its commitment to ensuring strong preparation and high standards ahead of the tournament’s kickoff.

In previous editions, Iraq’s Duhok SC won the inaugural title after defeating Kuwait’s Al-Qadsia 2–1 in the final, while Qatar’s Al Rayyan claimed the second edition crown with a 3–0 win over Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab.