Sept. 9: Zhang Yuning and Two Other Internationals to Miss AFC Champions League; Beijing Guoan Have Eight Foreign Players Available

In the intense 26th round of the Chinese Super League, the highly anticipated Beijing-Shanghai clash came to an end, with Beijing Guoan drawing 1-1 against the strong Shanghai Port despite fielding only one foreign player. Although the draw caused Beijing Guoan to drop to second place in the league standings, the team has clearly shifted its focus away from the rankings. Its attention will now turn firmly toward the Chinese FA Cup and the more important AFC Champions League Elite. According to the schedule, Beijing Guoan will play its first AFC Champions League Elite match on September 15 against South Korean side Pohang Steelers. For Beijing Guoan, which hopes to make an impact in the continental competition, the upcoming match presents both opportunities and challenges.

Unfortunately, Beijing Guoan face a significant setback, with as many as three key players unavailable due to various reasons, adding difficulty to their AFC Champions League campaign. The first is Olympic team striker Zhang Yuning, who will definitely miss the important match after being called up by the national Asian Games team. Another young player, Cao Yongjing, was sent off in last season's AFC Champions League Two away match against Cong An Hanoi and was later given an additional three-match suspension by the AFC, which includes the opening match of this AFC Champions League Elite campaign. He will therefore be unavailable. Highly regarded center-back Bai Yang is also suspended after receiving two yellow cards and being sent off in last season's AFC Champions League Two home match against Macarthur FC. Among the three absentees, Zhang Yuning's absence will have the biggest impact. This season, he has contributed 14 goals and six assists for Beijing Guoan and has been the team's leading scorer.

However, Beijing Guoan have also received positive news, with more options available in their foreign player allocation. Since the 2026/2027 AFC Champions League Elite season will remove the foreign player limit, Beijing Guoan took advantage of the opportunity and signed two 'AFC Champions League-specific' foreign players during this summer transfer window: African forward Shadrack and German midfielder Dudziak, who has strong playmaking ability. After arriving at the club, the two new signings quickly integrated and trained with the team. Along with Nkololo, whose registration for the Chinese Super League had previously been withdrawn, and the five foreign players currently competing in the league, Beijing Guoan will have a squad of eight foreign players available for the AFC Champions League Elite. Even without three domestic starters, the team's overall strength is expected to be enhanced by the increased number and improved quality of foreign players.

Looking back at last season, several Chinese football clubs had disappointing performances in the AFC Champions League, with teams from the East Asia region finishing near the bottom and putting pressure on the international reputation of the Chinese Super League. This season, Beijing Guoan and Shanghai Port have earned valuable AFC Champions League Elite qualification, which not only reflects their own strength but also means they carry the responsibility of improving Chinese teams' fortunes in Asian competitions. Both clubs have increased investment in an effort to rebuild their reputation on the continental stage. Fans are eagerly hoping that Beijing Guoan and Shanghai Port can show their quality in this AFC Champions League Elite campaign, achieve strong results and create a new chapter for Chinese football.