Kuala Lumpur, Despite a narrow 0-1 loss in the second-leg match held in Hiroshima, JDT’s strong 3-1 performance in the first leg at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium secured their advancement. A late 90th-minute penalty by Kosuke Kinoshita for the hosts wasn’t enough to overturn JDT’s lead.
- Round of 16 Aggregates: JDT 3 – 2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
- Significance: This is the furthest any Malaysian club has progressed in Asia’s premier club competition.
- ASEAN Success: JDT joins Thailand’s Buriram United as the only ASEAN representatives in the final eight.
Next Phase: Centralised Finals in Jeddah
The ACLE will now transition to a centralised knockout format in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- The Draw: Scheduled for 18 March 2026, where JDT will learn their quarter-final opponent from the remaining clubs (including Al Hilal, Al Ahli, and Vissel Kobe).
- Match Dates: The quarter-finals are scheduled to take place between 16–18 April 2026.
- Venues: Matches will be held at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium.
ACLE Quarter-Finalists (East Region)
| Club | Country |
|---|---|
| Johor Darul Ta’zim | Malaysia |
| Buriram United | Thailand |
| Vissel Kobe | Japan |
| Machida Zelvia | Japan |
For the 2026/27 season, Malaysia has officially secured one automatic slot for the ACLE and one slot for ACL Two, with JDT and Selangor FC expected to be the representatives.
