This year’s defeated finalists Al Ain have been drawn against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli, Zobahan of Iran and either FC Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan or Qatar’s El Jaish in next season’s AFC Champions League Group C.

The draw, held in Malaysia on Tuesday, also sees reigning Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ahli drawn in Group A of the same West Asia Zone alongside Lokomotiov of Uzbekistan and Saudi outfit Al Tawoun.

Al Jazira are the other UAE side automatically progressing to the Group Stages as President’s Cup winners, pitted in Group B against Esteghlal Khuzestan [Iran] and Lekhwiya [Qatar].

The winner of the playoff between Tehran side Esteghal and Qatar’s El Sadd will join Al Ahli’s group, while Jazira’s Group B will welcome the winner of Al Fateh of Saudi and either Nasaf or Al Hidd who face off in a further preliminary match before the Playoff stage.

A win for Al Wahda over either Jordan’s Al Wehdat or India’s Bengaluru in those Playoffs will see them progress to Group D where Al Rayyan [Qatar], Al Hilal [Saudi Arabia] and Persepolis [Iran] all await.

The draw in full: