Al-Nassr and Istiklol Clash Live in the AFC Champions League 2: A Comprehensive Preview - Key Facts and Historical Matches
In the world of football, excitement is building as two titans prepare to lock horns in the upcoming AFC Champions League Two 2025-26. FC Goa, a force to be reckoned with in Indian football, will face off against Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr, a team boasting an impressive roster of international stars.
Al-Nassr, who missed out on the AFC Champions League Elite following a third-place finish in the Saudi Pro League last season, will begin their AFC Champions League Two campaign against FC Istiklol on September 17, 2025. The match will be played at Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a kick-off scheduled for 11:45 PM IST. The Al-Nassr vs FC Istiklol head-to-head record shows Al-Nassr leading 1-0, with one draw, from their two meetings in the AFC Champions League 2023-24 edition.
Meanwhile, FC Goa qualified for the group stage via a hard-fought path, edging past Oman's Al Seeb Club 2-1 in the play-offs. The fixture that has drawn the most attention in India is FC Goa's upcoming clash with Al-Nassr on October 22 at the Fatorda Stadium. The spotlight will be even brighter as the match features football legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr earlier this year. However, the availability of Ronaldo for the Goa leg remains uncertain.
FC Istiklol, Tajikistan's Higher League (Ligai Olii Tojikiston) winners, will be led by Igor Cherevchenko. Group D of the AFC Champions League Two 2025-26 also features FC Goa and Iraq's Al-Zawraa. The FC Goa vs Al-Zawraa match is also scheduled for September 17, 2025.
Interestingly, the Al-Nassr vs FC Istiklol match is expected to be a landmark moment for Indian football's visibility, while the reverse fixture is scheduled for November 5, 2025. For football enthusiasts in India, the match will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website. However, it will not be televised on any TV channels in India.
Jorge Jesus leads Al-Nassr after missing out on the AFC Champions League Elite. The team's roster includes stars such as Joao Felix, Sadio Mane, Kingsley Coman, and Marcelo Brozovic, among others. As the countdown to the AFC Champions League Two 2025-26 begins, fans are eagerly awaiting this high-octane clash between FC Goa and Al-Nassr.
