The rankings of the clubs participating in the draw for the new season of the AFC Champions League that will be held next Friday in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur have been unveiled.
Making the announcement, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said Shabab Al-Ahli has been placed in the first classification for the West Zone of the continent.
They will be alongside Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia, Al-Sadd of Qatar, Tractor Club of Iran, Nasaf of Uzbekistan, and Al-Shorta of Iraq.
The top eight teams in each region will qualify for the Round of 16, scheduled to take place from March 2 to 11, 2026.
The final rounds will be held in a group format in Saudi Arabia, with all matches from the quarter-finals to the final played from April 17 to 25, 2026.
Carlos Alcaraz will miss the Madrid Open for the second consecutive year after withdrawing on Friday with a wrist injury, dealing another blow to the world number two's clay court preparations ahead of his French Open title defence.
Novak Djokovic is still working through the injury problems that forced him to miss recent tournaments in Miami and Monte Carlo and said on Friday that he will not feature at next week's Madrid Open, one of the last stops before the French Open.
Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene has defended Jasprit Bumrah after the struggling pace spearhead went a fifth Indian Premier League match without a wicket in Thursday's seven-wicket defeat by Punjab Kings.
Iranian women's football players Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh thanked the Australian government on Friday for offering a "safe haven" and said they wished to resume their sporting careers after rebuilding their lives.
Ollie Watkins still has hope of making England's World Cup squad despite being dropped for last month's friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, with the Aston Villa forward saying all he can do in the last few weeks of the season is score goals.
Dubai Police, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Interior, have arrested an Irish fugitive accused of involvement in an organised criminal group linked to international crimes in his home country.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has met with His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, to discuss national priorities and the country’s continued development.