Shopee Cup 2026/27 draw sets Buriram with Ratchaburi and Tampines in Group A
Shopee Cup 2026/27 officially expanded to 16 teams and introduced quarter-finals after a draw in Jakarta that placed Buriram United with Ratchaburi and Tampines Rovers in Group A.
Buriram United, the reigning two-time champion, were drawn into Group A alongside fellow Thai club Ratchaburi and Singapore’s Tampines Rovers as the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup 2026/27 draw was completed in Jakarta on June 5, 2026. The expansion of the Shopee Cup 2026/27 to 16 clubs comes with a new knockout quarter-final stage and a larger match calendar running from September to next June.
Buriram paired with Ratchaburi and Tampines in Group A
Buriram United will open their title defence in a group that mixes familiar rivals and new challengers. Ratchaburi provides a domestic test early in the campaign, while Tampines Rovers brings regional experience from the Singapore Premier League.
Also drawn into Group A are Malaysia’s Kuching City and Indonesian side Borneo FC Samarinda, alongside the Vietnam domestic cup winners and the winner of the Kasuka versus Manila Digger play-off. That combination guarantees a wide range of playing styles and travel demands for Buriram during the group stage.
Group B features JDT, Công An Hà Nội and Persib debut
Group B pairs Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim with Vietnamese runners-up Công An Hà Nội, creating what looks set to be one of the competition’s most competitive pools. Persib Bandung makes its tournament debut in the same group, offering Indonesian supporters a new marquee tie to follow.
Also in Group B are Thailand’s Port FC, Singapore’s Lion City Sailors and Cambodia’s PKR Svay Rieng, plus the winner of the Ezra versus Shan United play-off. The presence of established powerhouses and first-time entrants makes Group B unpredictable and likely to provide several high-stakes matches.
Qualifying play-offs scheduled for early September
The qualifying round play-offs are set for September with two-legged ties on the 1st and 10th, deciding the final group stage places. Kasuka FC from Brunei will face Manila Digger of the Philippines in Play-Off 1, while Ezra FC of Laos meet Myanmar’s Shan United in Play-Off 2.
Winners from those ties will join Groups A and B respectively, completing a 16-team field. The early-September schedule means clubs will be finalizing preparations and travel logistics through August as they await confirmation of opponents and venues.
Format change increases matches and introduces quarter-finals
Organizers confirmed that the Shopee Cup 2026/27 will expand from 14 to 16 teams, increasing the total fixtures from 40 to 56. The new structure includes a home-and-away quarter-final round followed by two-legged semi-finals and a two-legged final, preserving the regional home advantage that has defined recent seasons.
Under the revised format the top four teams from each group will progress to the quarter-finals, elevating the importance of finishing in the top half of each pool. The change is intended to create more knockout drama and commercial opportunities while giving additional clubs exposure to cross-border competition.
Newcomers and returning clubs highlight regional growth
The expanded field brings a mix of debutants and established names, reflecting growth across Southeast Asian domestic leagues. Debut appearances from Persib Bandung, Kuching City and Port FC sit alongside repeat entrants such as Tampines Rovers, Lion City Sailors and PKR Svay Rieng.
Tournament stakeholders have framed the enlargement as both recognition of stronger domestic competitions and an effort to broaden the Shopee Cup’s reach. Clubs from seven nations will be represented directly in the group phase, with four more national champions contesting the play-offs for the final berths.
Organizers and sponsors underline regional ambition
Officials at the draw highlighted the competition’s role in raising club standards and building regional connectivity. ASEAN Football Federation leadership said the tournament’s expansion will create more chances for players and clubs to develop in higher-pressure matches across the region.
Commercial partners emphasized fan engagement and community impact as key outcomes from the enlarged calendar. Sponsoring executives welcomed the wider slate of fixtures as a way to connect with supporters across markets and to showcase Southeast Asian club football on an expanded stage.
The draw confirmed several notable storylines to monitor during the season, including potential domestic derbies on the regional stage, high-profile debuts and the logistics of an extended knockout phase. Clubs now head into pre-season planning with firm knowledge of opponents, venues and the calendar, setting the stage for what promises to be a more congested and competitive Shopee Cup 2026/27.
Buriram United enter the tournament seeking a third straight title, with domestic rivals and regional challengers aiming to halt their run. The expanded Shopee Cup will test squad depth and travel resilience as teams balance domestic commitments alongside the longer continental campaign.
