KUALA LUMPUR
Indian Super League (ISL) side Mumbai City were Monday drawn in Group B for their debut Asian Champions League campaign.
The ISL league shield winners have been clubbed with Al Jazira, Al Shabab, and Air Force Club in the draw announced by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in Kuala Lumpur. The reigning ISL champions will make their debut in the tournament after winning the League Winners’ shield last season, making them only the second Indian football club to play in the Asian topflight after FC Goa.
Al Jazira are the current champions of the UAE Pro League, their second title in the last six years. Meanwhile, Al Shabab ended as the runners-up of the Saudi Premier League in the 2020-21 season. Their best finish in the AFC Champions League was way back in 2010 when they reached the semifinals. The group also features Air Force Club who have lifted the AFC Cup thrice, completing a hat-trick from 2016 to 2018 after defeating Bengaluru FC in the 2016 AFC Cup final.
As per the revised schedule released by the AFC earlier this week, the 2022 AFC Champions League Group Stages of the West Region will begin from April 7, 2022 to April 27, 2022 with double round-robin matches to be played at one centralized venue, keeping in mind health and safety restrictions.
