Riffa Ready for Gulf Club Champions League Opener Against Al Nasr

Match Preview

Riffa of Bahrain are set to launch their title challenge in the 2026-27 Gulf Club Champions League this evening, meeting Al Nasr SC of the United Arab Emirates in a Group B away fixture at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 Bahrain time.

The match marks the opening game of the tournament for Riffa, Bahrain’s sole representative among the twelve clubs taking part in the competition’s largest ever field.

The competition features sides from Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen and Kuwait.

Coach’s Comments

Head coach Mohamed Mashaan spoke at a pre-game press conference yesterday, expressing confidence in his squad. He said the team possesses excellent players capable of meeting any challenge and that they are committed to delivering a strong performance and securing a positive result against Nasr. Mashaan also praised the Emirati side, describing them as strong opponents with quality players.

Technical Meeting

Earlier yesterday, ahead of the first day of action, a pre-game technical meeting was convened with officials from Riffa, Al Nasr and the Gulf Football Federation. All administrative issues were resolved and the kits for tonight’s encounter were approved.

Group Details and Format

In Group B, Qatar SC and Al Zawraa of Iraq will also contest their opening match today at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, with a 17:45 kick-off Bahrain time. Group A comprises Neom SC (Saudi Arabia), Al Duhail SC (Qatar), Al Shabab SC (Oman) and Shaab Hadramaut SC (Yemen). Group C consists of Al Ettifaq SC (Saudi Arabia), Ajman SC (UAE), Erbil SC (Iraq) and Kazma SC (Kuwait). After the double round-robin stage, the top two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals, joined by the two best third-placed sides, with all knockout ties played over two legs.