FC Goa could not have asked for a difficult group to be drawn in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League 2, but will get the dream fixture of facing Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr. That will be the headline fixture in Group D, although Iraq’s Al Zawraa SC and FC Istiklol of Tajikistan are no less prestigious games. All of the opponents and the nation they are based in rank a lot higher than FC Goa, so it will be an uphill task for them to cause a miracle in the group stages. The ISL giants are determined to put up a strong fight after winning the Kalinga Super Cup and defeating Al-Seeb in the qualifiers to reach this stage. The Super Cup success came as the first trophy under their boss, Manolo Marquez. The Spaniard will now focus entirely on club duties after mutually terminating his contract for the dual managerial role with the national team in July 2025. The Gaur’s 2025-26 AFC Champions League 2 journey begins on 17 September 2025, welcoming Al Zawraa SC at home.
FC Goa’s qualification to the 2025-26 AFC Champions League 2
FC Goa’s second-ever participation in the AFC competition comes courtesy of winning the Kalinga Super Cup 2025. The Gaurs were in the ISL Shield hunt in successive seasons under Manolo Marquez. Still, they again fell short, with Mohun Bagan Super Giant successfully retaining the title after finishing eight points clear at the top and once again booking a direct spot in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League 2 group stage. Goa also suffered a heartbreaking loss in the semifinal stage of the ISL playoffs to Bengaluru FC, even after overturning their first-leg deficit at home. Hence, the Kalinga Super Cup became the only option for them to experience continental football in the 2025-26 season. Winning the competition secured their spot in the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League 2, an opportunity they could not afford to miss.
Marquez’s side showed a rampaging nature by thrashing Gokulam Kerala 3-0 in the Round of 16 before initiating a dramatic comeback after going down in the 57th minute against Punjab FC in the final five minutes of the quarterfinal tie. They had to play another intense game against Shield winners Mohun Bagan in the semifinals, who fielded a junior team in the tournament but had caused a surprise by defeating a senior Kerala Blasters side in the quarterfinals. The Goans came up eventual 3-1 winners, which was a statement win against title rivals ahead of the showpiece. There was no more hesitation in the final as FC Goa claimed a sublime 3-0 victory over Jamshedpur FC to clinch the trophy, which they won for the second time and earn a continental spot.
However, Goa only qualified for the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League 2 and needed to overcome one more obstacle to play in the main competition. Omani club Al-Seeb was the opponent and by no means an easy side to face, having won four domestic league titles since 2019 and also being the champions of the erstwhile AFC Cup in 2022. The game showcased the defensive strength of Manolo Marquez’s team, who capitalised on their opportunities when they arose. Dejan Drazic’s opener in the 24th minute was completely against the run of play before new signing Javier Siverio doubled it up early in the second half following a mishap from the opposition keeper. Despite Al-Seeb reducing the deficit, Goa’s centre-back pair of Pol Moreno and Sandesh Jhingan's valiant effort ensured a 2-1 win and a place in the group stages.
FC Goa’s opponents in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League 2
Group D
Al Nassr FC (Saudi Arabia)
The stiffest of challenges yet an exciting prospect to face, Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, led by a certain Cristiano Ronaldo, will undoubtedly be the fixture to watch out for FC Goa in this group. It also opens up the tantalising prospect of having the Portuguese football superstar in India, although his availability for that match in Goa is not confirmed yet. Not just facing the all-time top scorer in the history of the sport, there will be other star football names that will take to the pitch, like former Liverpool star Sadio Mane and the newly bought serial winner Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich or Joao Felix from Chelsea. Normally, competing in the top-tier continental competition and having reached the semifinal stage last time, Al Nassr are forced to participate in the AFC Champions League 2 this time after an underwhelming domestic campaign, finishing third with five points away from an AFC Champions League Elite place. Nine-time winners of their domestic top-flight, Ronaldo and co will be hot favourites to win this competition to add the first continental trophy to their cabinet.
Al Zawraa SC (Iraq)
Another difficult outing for FC Goa will be against the most successful club in Iraqi football history, Al Zawraa SC. They weren’t supposed to be in the competition in the first place, having finished as runners-up in their domestic league the previous season. However, they gained entry only because Iraq FA Cup winners Duhok failed to obtain an AFC license, which transferred the group stage spot to the league runners-up. Nevertheless, they will be a feared proposition, having played the current tiers of the AFC competitions 17 times, including the former AFC Cup seven times and have been runners-up in the 1999–2000 Asian Club Championship. Domestically, they have won a record 14 Iraq Stars League titles, 16 Iraq FA Cups, and 5 Iraqi Super Cups. Nicknamed "Al-Nawaris", the club will pose a lot of threat with their vast experience in continental competition.
FC Istiklol (Tajikistan)
Similarly, Tajikistan's heavyweights and regular participants in AFC competitions, FC Istiklol, will be a force to reckon with, having reached the AFC Cup final twice, the latest being in 2017 and also having title-winning experience in 2011 and 2012 in the form of the AFC President’s Cup. Although having less AFC competition experience than the other two teams, the club known as 'The Lions' has made more frequent appearances since their debut in 2012. They have participated 11 times in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup, with the majority coming in the latter tournament, totalling eight. Istiklol qualified for the 2025-26 AFC Champions League 2 after clinching their record-extending 13th league title and their 11th consecutive honour last year.
FC Goa’s Fixtures in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League 2
17 September 2025
FC Goa vs Al Zawraa SC - Fatorda Stadium, Goa (19:15)
1 October 2025
FC Istiklol vs FC Goa - Hisor Central Stadium, Hisor (19:15)
22 October 2025
FC Goa vs Al Nassr FC - Fatorda Stadium, Goa (19:15)
11 November 2025
Al Nassr FC vs FC Goa - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh (23:45)
26 November 2025
Al Zawraa SC vs FC Goa - Zawra Stadium, Baghdad (21:30)
24 December 2025
FC Goa vs FC Istiklol - Fatorda Stadium, Goa (21:30)
FC Goa anticipated a challenging start in their tough group, with Al Zawraa SC from Iraq as their first opponent. However, the Gaurs were relieved that their journey in the competition would begin with a fixture at Fatorda. Two weeks later, Marquez’s side will make the first trip in the group stages to Tajikistan to face FC Istiklol before the two gigantic clashes against Al Nassr. All eyes will be on 22nd October to see if Ronaldo makes the trip to India to mark a very special occasion, but he is certain to face the Gaurs in the reverse clash in the Middle East a month later. FC Goa’s final group game will be at home against FC Istiklol on Christmas Eve as they hope to be in the running for something by then.
