Fayez Hoda, Pune
Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr. will play his first-ever competitive match in India with his new club as Al-Hilal faces off against Indian Super League (ISL) side Mumbai City FC in the AFC Champions League West. Al-Hilal, the tournament’s most successful team with four trophies to their record, was drawn against Mumbai City FC in the AFC Champions League West draw on August 24.
The AFC Champions League 2023โ24 Groups were formed at the Group Stage draw on Aug. 24, 2023, at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur. A total of ten groups have been created, with 40 teams scheduled to compete for Asia’s most prestigious club championship.
The Asian Champions League group stage begins on Sept. 18. However, it is unknown when Al Hilal will play in India because the final match schedule has not been finalized. Along with Al-Hilal, Mumbai City will face Iranian powerhouse FC Nassaji and 2022 Uzbekistan Super League runners-up Navbahor, who will make their AFC Champions League debut this season.
It is not the first time a famous footballer has played in India. Pele captivated thousands in Kolkata in September 1977 when he arrived with the New York Cosmos club to play Mohun Bagan. Decades later, when Argentina met Venezuela in 2011, Lionel Messi played at the Salt Lake Stadium, as did Oliver Kahn and Alessandro del Piero. But this one takes the top spot because, except for Del Piero, who played in one season in the Indian Super League, each occasion occurred during a friendly match. The Asian Champions League is a high-stakes, intense competition in which clubs go all out.