The draw of the 2023 AFC Asian Champions League was released on Thursday (August 24) and India's Mumbai-based football club Mumbai City FC has been placed in Group D. Guess what? This group also has Al Hilal FC, the Saudi Arabia football club who have just hired Brazil legend Neymar Jr. The other two teams in this group as FC Nassaji Mazandaran and Navbhor. 


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Neymar became the biggest signing in the history of Saudi Pro Legaue breaking the record set by Cristiano Ronaldo, who was bought by Al-Nassr earlier this year. Neymar has reportedly been signed for a record sum of Rs 2,492 crore. This will be a two-year contract and the additional perks he has got are a private plane, a 25-bedroom mansion which also includes a big swimming pool, three saunas and a dedicated five-team staff for the family of Neymar.


Coming to Mumbai City FC, they had qualified for the AFC Asian Champions League after winning the League Winner's Shield for the 2022-23 Indian Super League season and then beating Jamshedpur FC in the play-off. That win helped them get into the play-off of the continent's premier club tournament.



Mumbai City FC will play their three 'home' Gropup stage games at Pune's Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi. The venue has been shifted to Pune from Mumbai because the Mumbai Football Arena is enligible to host matches due to the infrastructutal lackings.


Neymar is surely going to be part of the Al-Hilal squad for the AFC Asian Champions League and that means he will be travelling to India to play one match. Not to forget, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr have been clubbed in Group E with Persepolis, Al Duhail, FC Istiklol.


West Zone AFC Champion League groups finalised


Group A


Pakhator


AL Fayha


Ahal FC


Al Ain FC


Group B


Al Sadd


FC Nassaf


Al Faisaly


Sharjah FC


Group C


Al Ittihad


Sepahan SC


Air Force Club


AGMK FC


Group D


Al Hilal


FC Nassaji


Mumbai City FC


Navbahor


Group E


Persepolis


AL Duhail


FC Istiklol


Al Nassr