Returning to the Asian Stage After Six and a Half Years
The AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 is finally about to begin.
This tournament features 32 of Asia's strongest teams. In the league stage, the teams are divided into two regions, East and West, with 16 teams in each. Each team plays eight matches (four home and four away), and the top eight teams from each region advance to the knockout stage (Round of 16).
Kashima Antlers have been absent from the Asian stage since their defeat to Melbourne Victory in the AFC Champions League Play-off (as it was then known) in January 2020. After winning the Meiji Yasuda J1 League in the 2025 season and securing their spot, they will now compete in this tournament for the first time in six and a half years. Their first opponent is Newcastle Jets from Australia.
A press conference was held at Kashima Soccer Stadium the day before the match, with Kashima Antlers head coach Takeshi Oniki and player Tomoki Hayakawa in attendance. Coach Oniki stated forcefully, "We have two goals: winning the J-League and conquering the ACLE, so we want to start the first match with a spirited performance." Hayakawa added, "This will be an important match for our future, so we definitely want to win."
Our one and only goal in this tournament is to stand at the pinnacle of Asia. Let's embark on this new challenge together, aiming for our second Asian title since 2018.
