ACL 2 Drawing Result: Persib to Face Thai Representative Ratchaburi FC

The journey of Persib Bandung on the Asian stage continues to the knockout phase. Based on the draw results for the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Two (ACL 2) 2025/2026 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, Maung Bandung is confirmed to face Ratchaburi FC from Thailand.

Persib advanced to the round of 16 with the prestigious status of Group G champions in the East region, after collecting 13 points in the group stage. This achievement earned Persib the right to be seeded in the draw, while Bangkok United finished as the group runner-up.

As group champions, Persib is confirmed to face a second-place team from another group in the East region. Before the draw, there were three potential opponents that Bojan Hodak's team could face: Cong An Ha Noi (Vietnam, Group E runner-up), Ratchaburi FC (Thailand, Group F runner-up), and Pohang Steelers (South Korea, Group H runner-up).

In the draw process conducted by Persib legend, Atep, the draw ball eventually paired Persib with Ratchaburi. This presents a particular challenge for Maung Bandung, considering the Thai representative is known for their high-intensity play and extensive experience in Asian competitions.

This meeting also opens an opportunity for Persib to assert their ambitions in ACL 2. With the seeded status, Persib will play the second leg at home, a strategic advantage in the two-legged format that often determines a team's fate in the knockout stage.

Meanwhile, other draw results in the East region also present several exciting matches. Pohang Steelers will face the Japanese representative, Gamba Osaka, while Bangkok United is paired with Tampines Rovers from Singapore. As for Cong An Ha Noi, they are scheduled to meet Macarthur FC from Australia.

In the West region, the round of 16 draw paired several clubs with strong reputations. Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia will face Arkadag (Turkmenistan), while Al Zawraa (Iraq) meets Al Wasl (United Arab Emirates). Other matches feature Sepahan (Iran) against Al Ahli (Qatar), and Esteghlal (Iran) versus Al Hussein (Jordan).

The round of 16 of ACL 2 2025/2026 will be held in a two-legged format. The first leg is scheduled for February 10–12, 2026, while the second leg will be played on February 17–19, 2026. According to regulations, the group runner-up teams will host the first leg, while the group winners including Persib will host the second leg.

For Persib Bandung, the duel against Ratchaburi is not just a knockout match, but an important test to gauge their readiness to compete further at the Asian level.

Results of the ACL 2 2025/2026 Round of 16 Draw

West Region

Al Zawraa (Iraq) vs Al Wasl (United Arab Emirates)
Arkadag (Turkmenistan) vs Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia)
Sepahan (Iran) vs Al Ahli (Qatar)
Esteghlal (Iran) vs Al Hussein (Jordan)

East Region

Pohang Steelers (South Korea) vs Gamba Osaka (Japan)
Ratchaburi FC (Thailand) vs Persib Bandung
Bangkok United (Thailand) vs Tampines Rovers (Singapore)
Cong An Ha Noi (Vietnam) vs Macarthur FC (Australia)