Get to know K League's opponents in AFC Champions League 2025-2026 | OneFootball

With the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League Two about to get underway this week, K League United has come up with a guide to K League's opposition on the continent this season.

Buriram United - Thailand

To play: Ulsan away, Gangwon at home, FC Seoul away

Buriram United, the Jeonbuk of Thailand, you might say, qualified as Thai League 1 champions and Thai FA Cup winners. The 2025-2026 edition of the AFC Champions League Elite will be Buriram's 13th appearance in the competition. Last season, Buriram reached the quarterfinals, which matched the furthest the Thai giants have gone in the competition. Buriram are the Shopee Cup holders, the ASEAN Club Championship, and will pose problems for any team in the competition. The meetings with Ulsan and Gangwon will be their first ever, but Buriram have faced FC Seoul four times before, suffering two defeats and picking up two draws. There are some former K League players currently on Buriram's books, namely Ko Myeong-seok and Fejsal Mulic.

Record against K League clubs: 5 wins, 5 draws, 9 lossesLast meetings with K League clubs: 2024 Pohang 1-0 home win, Gwangju 2-2 away draw

Sanfrecce Hiroshima - Japan

To play: Ulsan away, Gangwon at home, FC Seoul away

Sanfrecce Hiroshima qualify as 2024 J1 League runners-up and will embark on their sixth appearance in the competition, and first since 2019. The furthest they've reached is the Round of 16, having done so in 2019 and 2014. There are two former K League players on their books, with goalkeeper Jeong Min-ki and centre back Kim Ju-sung. Sanfrecce have never faced Ulsan or Gangwon but have played FC Seoul four times, picking up two wins, one draw, and losing once. The most recent meeting was a 2-1 home win in May 2016, but the last time they faced Seoul in Korea, the match ended in a 4-1 Seoul win.

Record against K League clubs: 5 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses

Last meetings with K League clubs: 2019 Daegu FC 2-0 home win, 1-0 away win

Chengdu Rongcheng - China

To play: Ulsan away, Gangwon at home, FC Seoul away

Chengdu Rongcheng are competing in the AFC Champions League Elite for the very first time and qualify after finishing third in the 2024 Chinese Super League. This earned them a place in the qualification playoffs, where they beat Bangkok United 3-0. Chengdu Rongcheng are managed by Suwon Bluewings legend Seo Jung-won and have some familiar faces within their ranks in former Gwangju centre back Timo Letschert, former Busan attacking midfielder Rômulo, and former Gwangju striker Felipe Silva. It's been quite the journey for Chengdu Rongcheng, who were only founded seven years ago, and went from the fourth tier to the first in just four years.

Shanghai Port - China

To play: FC Seoul at home, Gangwon away, Ulsan at home

Chinese Super League champions and Chinese FA Cup winners in 2024, Shanghai Port, enter the competition for the ninth time. The furthest they've reached is the semis in 2017, in what was only their second appearance in the competition. Last year, they reached the last 16. Including last season, they have met Ulsan five times, winning three, losing one, and drawing one, and have beaten FC Seoul twice. Former Jeonbuk striker Gustavo is currently on the books of Shanghai Port, as is former Ulsan forward Leonardo. Kevin Muscat, who was in charge of Yokohama F. Marinos when the J.League side faced Incheon United in 2023, is currently at the helm as manager.

Record against K League clubs: 7 wins, 4 draws, 5 losses

Last meetings with K League clubs: 2024 3-0 loss to Pohang, 3-1 win over Ulsan, 1-1 draw with Gwangju

Vissel Kobe - Japan

To play: Gangwon away, Ulsan at home, FC Seoul at home

The 2024 J1 League champions Vissel Kobe enter the competition for the fourth time. The furthest Kobe have gone in the competition is the quarters in 2022, but were knocked out by Jeonbuk. Last season, Kobe reached the last 16 but lost to Gwangju, despite winning the first leg 2-0. The matches with Gangwon and FC Seoul will be the first ever, but Vissel Kobe have faced Ulsan before. A 2-0 away win was earned in last season's competition, but the first meeting saw Ulsan earn a 2-1 win in the 2020 semis en route to the title.

Record against K League clubs: 4 wins, 4 losses

Last meetings with K League clubs: 2024 3-1 away loss to Pohang, 2-0 home win over Gwangju, 2-0 away win over Ulsan

Shanghai Shenhua - China

To play: Gangwon away, Ulsan at home, FC Seoul at home

Shanghai Shenhua enter the competition as 2024 Chinese Super League runners-up. The 2025-2026 edition of the ACLE will be their 11th appearance, and their run to the quarters in 2006 represents their best finish. Last year, Shanghai Shenhua were knocked out in the Round of 16 by Kawasaki Frontale, despite winning the first leg 1-0. Their record against K League teams is not good, with 12 defeats from 19 matches, but they did beat Pohang last season.

Record against K League clubs: 5 wins, 2 draws, 12 losses

Last meetings with K League clubs: 2024 4-1 win over Pohang at home, 1-0 away loss to Gwangju, 2-1 home loss to Ulsan

Machida Zelvia - Japan

To play: FC Seoul at home, Gangwon away, Ulsan at home

Machida Zelvia are only in their second season in the top flight of Japanese football. After winning the J2 League title in 2023, Zelvia then finished third in J1 to qualify for the ACLE, their first foray into continental football. There are some familiar faces amongst the Zelvia ranks, with Na Sang-ho and Oh Se-hoon currently with the club.

AFC Champions League Two - Pohang Steelers

BG Pathum United - Thailand

BG Pathum United enter AFC Champions League Two having finished third in the 2024-2025 Thai League 1. It's their first appearance in ACL Two but not their first in AFC competition having appeared in ACLE four times, including last season. The furthest BG Pathum United have gone is the quarters, reaching the last eight in 2022 before losing to Urawa Red Diamonds.

Record against K League clubs: 1 win, 1 draw, 4 losses

Last meetings with K League clubs: 2023 3-1 home loss to Ulsan, 3-1 away loss to Ulsan

Kaya FC-Iloilo

Kaya FC-Iloilo enter the competition as 2024-2025 Philippines Football League champions, a competition they have won three times. It's the sixth time entering the AFC's second-tier club competition, and second year in a row. Kaya faced Incheon United in 2023, losing 3-1 and 4-0 in what are the most recent encounters with K League sides. Kaya have only made it as far as the Round of 16 (2016) but have competed in the AFC Champions League Elite on two occasions (2021, 2023-2024), and faced Ulsan in 2021 in what was their first encounter with a K League club.

Record against K League clubs: 4 losses

Last meetings with K League clubs: 2023 3-1, 4-0 losses to Incheon

Tampines Rovers - Singapore

Tampines Rovers, six-time champions of Singapore, qualified as the 2024-2025 Singapore Premier League runners-up. It's their 16th time entering the competition, having been regulars when it was the AFC Cup. K League clubs have only just begun to compete in AFC Champions League Two, or what was the AFC Cup, so Rovers' encounters with Korean clubs has been limited. In fact, Rovers have only come up against K League opposition once, having faced Jeonbuk in the 2021 AFC Champions League and conceded 13 goals in two matches against the Green Warriors.