OFFICIAL: CAHN faces a series of 'big names' in the 2026/27 Asian Champions League Elite

Hanoi Police will encounter multiple leading clubs from Japan, China, and Malaysia during the East Asia group stage of the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite.

On the afternoon of August 18, the group stage draw ceremony AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. As the only representative of Vietnamese football in the most prestigious continental club competition, Hanoi Police was placed in Pot 4 of the East Asia region.

The draw sent Coach Alexandre Polking's team into an extremely challenging campaign. CAHN will face Kashima Antlers, Shanghai Port, Vissel Kobe, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Beijing FC, Kashiwa Reysol, Kyoto Sanga, and Gamba Osaka in turn.

Among them, the police team will play at home against Kashima Antlers, Vissel Kobe, Beijing FC, and Kyoto Sanga. CAHN's four away matches will take place at the grounds of Shanghai Port, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Kashiwa Reysol, and Gamba Osaka.

Notably, CAHN has to face five Japanese representatives: Kashima Antlers, Vissel Kobe, Kashiwa Reysol, Kyoto Sanga, and Gamba Osaka. These are all teams with outstanding professional foundation, physical fitness, and international experience. Among them, Kashima Antlers have won the Asian championship, while Gamba Osaka entered the group stage as the defending champions of the AFC Champions League Two.

In addition to the Japanese clubs, Shanghai Port and Beijing FC are also major challenges for the Vietnamese representative. These two Chinese teams have quality squads, strong financial resources, and many notable foreign players. Meanwhile, Johor Darul Ta’zim has dominated Malaysian football for many years and regularly participates in high-level AFC competitions.

The format of the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite does not follow the traditional group stage. Each team in the East Asia region plays eight matches against eight different opponents, consisting of four home and four away games. The results of all teams are compiled into a single overall standings to determine which clubs advance.

CAHN entered the group stage after a convincing 2-0 victory over Adelaide United in the qualifying round. Hoàng Hên and Koko were the scorers, helping Coach Polking's team create a historic milestone and enter the official competition for the first time of AFC Champions League Elite.

Although the draw placed CAHN on a very heavy schedule, it is also an opportunity for Quang Hải and his teammates to compete against top Asian clubs. The four matches in Hanoi, especially the home games against Kashima Antlers and Vissel Kobe, promise to be great festivals for Vietnamese football fans.

CAHN's opponents in the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite:

• Home: Kashima Antlers, Vissel Kobe, Beijing FC, Kyoto Sanga.
• Away: Shanghai Port, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Kashiwa Reysol, Gamba Osaka.