The draw for the AFC Champions League Two 2025-26 has placed FC Goa in Group D alongside Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, Al Zawraa SC of Iraq, and FC Istiklol of Tajikistan. This has sparked immense excitement among Indian football fans, raising the possibility of witnessing Ronaldo play in India for the first time against an Indian club.

Will Ronaldo Travel to India?

While the prospect of Ronaldo playing in India is thrilling, his participation in the away match against FC Goa remains uncertain. Reports suggest that Ronaldo's contract with Al Nassr includes a clause that allows him to skip certain away matches in the tournament. This clause is purportedly due to security reasons.

Last year, during Al Nassr's participation in the AFC Champions League Elite, Ronaldo played in three away matches but skipped two and missed another due to injury. He did not play in his club's away match against Mumbai City FC in 2023.

Despite the uncertainty, Ronaldo is expected to play in the home match against FC Goa in Riyadh.

Significance for FC Goa and Indian Football

The clash against Al Nassr is set to be one of the most high-profile games in FC Goa's history. FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskur described the opportunity to host Al-Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo as arguably the biggest game in Indian club football history.

Puskur believes that this match is historic for Indian football, offering a platform to showcase the country's ability to compete on the continental stage. He is confident that the excitement generated by the match will give the local game a much-needed boost, attracting global attention, sponsorship interest, and increased fan engagement.

FC Goa secured their spot in the AFC Champions League Two group stage after defeating Al Seeb Club of Oman 2-1 in the play-off match. They will be playing continental football for the second time, having represented India in the 2021 AFC Champions League. FC Goa had won Kalinga Super Cup 2025.

AFC Champions League Two 2025-26

The AFC Champions League Two 2025-26 group stage will commence on September 16 and conclude on December 24. The Round of 16 will be held between February 10-19, 2026, while the quarter-finals and semi-finals are scheduled for March 3-12 and April 7-15, respectively. The final is slated for May 16, 2026.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the other Indian team in the competition, has been drawn in Group C alongside Sepahan SC of Iran, Al Hussein of Jordan, and Ahal FC of Turkmenistan.

Group stage draw results:

• Group A: Al Wasl FC (UAE), Esteghlal FC (IRN), Al Muharraq SC (BHR), Al Wehdat (JOR)
• Group B: Al Ahli SC (QAT), PFC Andijon (UZB), FC Arkadag (TKM), Al Khaldiya SC (BHR)
• Group C: Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan SC (IRN), Al Hussein (JOR), Mohun Bagan Super Giant (IND), Ahal FC (TKM)
• Group D: Al Nassr Club (KSA), Al Zawraa SC (IRQ), FC Istiklol (TJK), FC Goa (IND)
• Group E: Beijing FC (CHN), Macarthur FC (AUS), Tai Po FC (HKG)

The top two teams from each group will proceed to the Round of 16.

FC Goa's Matchdays

FC Goa's matchdays for the AFC Champions League Two 2025-26 group stage are:

• Matchday 1: September 16 – September 18
• Matchday 2: September 30 – October 2
• Matchday 3: October 21 – October 23
• Matchday 4: November 4 – November 6
• Matchday 5: November 25 – November 27 / October 28 – October 29 (Matches of BHR Clubs)
• Matchday 6: December 23 – December 24

Whether Cristiano Ronaldo will ultimately travel to India remains to be seen, but the possibility has undoubtedly generated significant buzz and anticipation among football fans in the country.