Goa to host AFC Champions League group stage - full schedule of group E matches
The Group E matches involving Indian club FC Goa will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda.
India will host the Group E encounters of the AFC Champions League 2021, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Thursday.
The group stage ties will see FC Goa make India’s maiden foray into the premier Asian club competition.
With the AFC seeking bids from its member nations interested in hosting the group stage games of the AFC Champions League, the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) chose Goa as its preferred venue.
Goa was an obvious choice. While it is FC Goa’s home, the picturesque little state on the Arabian Sea has hosted the long Indian Super League (ISL) with 11 teams playing across three venues.
Plus, Goa has the experience to show. It has hosted matches of the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup and the 2016 AFC Under-16 Championships.
However, it remains to be seen if the 12 matches in Group E will be played in Fatorda alone or if the organisers opt for a second venue. For the record, Bengaluru FC will be playing their qualifying match for the 2021 AFC Cup at the GMC Stadium, Bambolim.
Group E of the AFC Champions League comprises Iranian heavyweights and last season’s runners-up Persepolis FC, Al-Rayyan of Qatar and FC Goa, with the winner of the play-off tie between UAE’s Al-Wahda and Al-Zawraa Iraq to join them.
FC Goa will begin their campaign against Al-Rayyan on April 14 while playing either Al-Wahda or Al-Zawraa next on April 17.
The Gaurs will then be up against Persepolis FC on April 20 before embarking on their reverse fixtures with matches against Persepolis FC on April 23, Al-Rayyan on April 26 and the final group game on April 29.
Meanwhile, the group stage ties of the AFC Cup involving Indian teams will be held in the Maldives.
AFC Champions League 2021 fixtures
Group E
Wednesday, April 14
FC Goa vs Al Rayyan
Persepolis FC vs Al-Wahda / Al-Zawraa
Saturday, April 17
Al Rayyan SC vs Persepolis FC
Al-Wahda / Al-Zawraa vs FC Goa
Tuesday, April 20
Persepolis FC vs FC Goa
Al-Wahda / Al-Zawraa vs Al Rayyan
Friday, April 23
FC Goa vs Persepolis FC
Al Rayyan SC vs Al-Wahda / Al-Zawraa
Monday, April 26
Al Rayyan vs FC Goa
Al-Wahda / Al-Zawraa vs Persepolis FC
Thursday, April 29
FC Goa vs Al-Wahda / Al-Zawraa
Persepolis FC vs Al Rayyan