Refusing to Give Up on the AFC Champions League! Beijing Guoan Unveil Lineup Featuring Eight Foreign Players, Aim to Defeat Pohang Steelers at Workers' Stadium_Chinese Super League_League_Opening Match

The 2026-2027 AFC Champions League Elite will begin next week, with Chinese Super League powerhouse Beijing Guoan returning to Asia's top club competition after five years. At 20:15 Beijing time on September 15, Guoan will host traditional Korean K League side Pohang Steelers at Beijing Workers' Stadium.

Facing a K League powerhouse in their opening match presents both opportunities and challenges for Guoan. If they can secure an opening victory at Workers' Stadium by defeating the strong Korean opponent, it would greatly boost team morale and help them prepare for the remaining AFC Champions League matches.

Pohang Steelers are a traditional powerhouse in Korean and Asian football, with a strong history and considerable overall ability. The club has won the AFC Champions League three times and finished as runners-up once, making it one of the Korean clubs with the most AFC Champions League titles.

For Guoan, using home advantage to defeat Pohang Steelers will undoubtedly be difficult. Historically, Chinese Super League teams have recorded more losses than wins against K League sides, and often find themselves at a disadvantage during matches. Last season, the three Chinese Super League representatives, Shanghai Port, Shanghai Shenhua, and Chengdu Rongcheng, had poor records and finished at the bottom of the East Asia region.

However, Guoan are not without a chance. Pohang Steelers' strength has declined somewhat in recent years, and in their five meetings with Chinese Super League teams over the past two years, they recorded two wins, one draw, and two losses, leaving them basically even with Chinese opponents. Beijing Guoan also defeated the team 2-0 at home in the 2013 AFC Champions League, earning their first AFC Champions League victory over a Korean side.

After 13 years, the two teams will meet again at Workers' Stadium, and Guoan should approach the match with full confidence and determination to win. The team is not only fighting for the club's AFC Champions League campaign, but also for the honor of Chinese football.

In recent years, Chinese Super League teams' AFC Champions League performances have declined significantly. Besides the gap in overall ability, insufficient attention from clubs toward the competition has also been an important factor. Facing the pressure of competing on two fronts, many Chinese Super League teams have been limited by squad depth and have chosen strategically to give up on the AFC Champions League, resulting in continued poor results.

It is encouraging that Guoan's attitude has changed significantly for this AFC Champions League Elite campaign. The club has abandoned the approach of giving up on the competition, clearly stating that it will compete with full commitment, while also investing heavily in recruitment to address squad weaknesses. The team signed two AFC Champions League-specific foreign players, Dudziak and Shadrach, in addition to Nkoulou, who was removed from the Chinese Super League registration list, and midfielder Davan, who is suspended in the Chinese Super League.

These four foreign players can focus entirely on the AFC Champions League matches. Combined with the four foreign players registered for the Chinese Super League, Guoan can theoretically field a luxurious squad featuring eight foreign players plus one naturalized player. The strengthened foreign player lineup has improved the team's overall quality and increased Guoan's chances of winning their AFC Champions League opener.