East Bengal to host Al-Arabi in ACL Two preliminary qualifier at Salt Lake on August 12
East Bengal FC will host Kuwait’s Al-Arabi SC at the Salt Lake Stadium (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan) in Kolkata on Wednesday, 12 August 2026 in an AFC Champions League Two preliminary qualifier, with kickoff set for 7:00 PM IST. The fixture will be streamed live on FanCode.
The match arrives as East Bengal begin their 2026-27 campaign under new head coach Antonio Habas after Oscar Bruzon led the club to the 2025-26 Indian Super League title. East Bengal have home advantage and are aiming to reach the ACL Two group stages for the first time in their history, a stated priority for Habas as he prepares his squad for the challenge.
Al-Arabi arrive with a long history in Kuwaiti football and prior continental experience, having competed in AFC Cup and AFC Champions League editions, and they intend to participate in the remodeled ACL Two for the first time this campaign. The Kuwaiti side, nicknamed the Castle of Trophies, will be managed by Croatian coach Goran Sabilic and are expected to field a fully fit squad for this preliminary qualifier.
East Bengal’s availability issues include Spanish defender Nacho Monsalve, who is a major doubt after sustaining a knee issue in a recent Durand Cup game, while Boris Singh and Danish Farooq are unlikely to feature as they work on fitness. Striker Effiong Nsungusi has not yet joined the East Bengal camp. Players listed for East Bengal in the preview include Prabhsukhan Gill (GK), Hardik Bhatt, Anwar Ali, Lalchungnunga, Sandeep Mandi, Jeakson Singh, Mohammed Rashid, Dani Ramirez, Bipin Singh, Chris Ikonomidis and Edmund Lalrindika.
Al-Arabi’s squad named in the preview reads Sulaiman Abdulghafoor (GK), Mohammed Khaled, Jumma Abboud, Abdullah Essa, Hamad Al-Qallaf, Khaled Al-Marshed, Ali Porusaniei, Hassimi Fadiga, Yousef Majed, Anayo Iwuala and Zaid Qunbar. The Kuwaiti club are expected to approach the tie with energy in key areas and incisiveness in the final third to test East Bengal on their home turf.
Dani Ramirez, recruited to replace Miguel Figueira for the 2026-27 season, has already featured in the Durand Cup for East Bengal and scored in their recent win over South United. The preview identifies Ramirez as a player required to control possession, execute forward passes into danger zones, deliver accurate set-pieces and convert chances in the final third.
Hassimi Fadiga is highlighted as a central figure for Al-Arabi after joining last year and contributing regularly to the team’s goals. The preview notes Fadiga’s tendency to engage in duels, his involvement in key areas of the opposition half, and his role in creating and finishing scoring opportunities to help Al-Arabi reach the ACL Two group stage.
The winner of this preliminary qualifier will advance to the AFC Champions League Two group stage. The East Bengal v Al-Arabi match is scheduled for Wednesday, 12 August 2026 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata with a 7:00 PM IST kickoff and live coverage on FanCode.