Defending champions Al Ain will face record titleholders Shabab Al Ahli in the round of 16 after the draw for the 2026-2027 President’s Cup was held at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi.
Manarat Al Saadiyat Draw Sets Up Opening Round Heavyweight Clash
The 50th edition of the President’s Cup officially kicked off its final stages with a draw ceremony at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi involving 14 Adnoc Pro League clubs alongside Al Orooba and Fujairah, the two sides advancing from the First Division preliminary qualifiers.
Defending champion Al Ain draws Shabab Al Ahli, who hold the record with 11 tournament titles, opening their campaign directly on the road at Rashid Stadium in Dubai.
Round of 16 Matchups and Hosting Venues
The knockout rounds run as single-elimination matches from the round of 16 through to the final, with home venues for the opening round determined by an electronic draw.
Obaid Salem Al Shamsi, second vice president of the UAE Football Association, welcomed attendees and participants during his speech at the draw ceremony, thanking everyone who contributed to the success of the event. He noted that the President’s Cup is the most cherished tournament because it receives significant fan followings and special care from the wise leadership.
- Shabab Al Ahli versus Al Ain at Rashid Stadium
- Al Wasl versus Kalba at Zabeel Stadium
- Sharjah versus Al Orooba at Sharjah Stadium
- Hatta versus United at Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium
- Fujairah versus Al Wahda at Fujairah Stadium
- Khor Fakkan versus Al Dhafra at Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qassimi Stadium
- Al Nasr versus Baniyas at Al Maktoum Stadium
- Al Jazira versus Ajman at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium
Players React as History Shapes the Competition
The pairing between Al Ain and Shabab Al Ahli drew immediate attention inside the ceremony hall.
The match is an early final between two major teams accustomed to traditional competition. Everyone saw how the draw hall shook when the match between Shabab Al Ahli and Al Ain was announced, as it is a special match between the two teams that will bring them together in the most precious tournament.
Behind Shabab Al Ahli’s 11 titles stand Sharjah with 10 championships and Al Ain with eight in a history stretching back to the 1974-1975 season. Other past winners include Al Nasr with four, Al Wasl and Al Jazira with three each, and Al Wahda with two, while Ajman, Baniyas, Emirates, and Al Shaab have each won the competition once across nearly five decades that saw 12 different clubs claim the trophy and three cancelled seasons in 1975-1976, 1977-1978, and 2019-2020.
Path to the Final at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium
Quarter-finals and semi-finals will be contested on neutral grounds, with a separate draw conducted for each subsequent round.
Official announcements confirmed that the tournament final will return to Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in the city of Al Ain.
Which club will survive the opening round between Al Ain and Shabab Al Ahli to advance toward the final?
