Mumbai City FC made history for Indian Football last season when they became the first Indian club to win a match in the AFC Champions League and this time around will look to do better with the home and away format returning.

Mumbai City FC secured their second appearance in Asia’s biggest club football competition after clinching the ISL title in 2022-23 and then defeating ISL winner Jamshedpur FC (2021-22) 3-1 in a single-leg playoff back in April this year.

Mumbai City FC will start its campaign in the AFC Chmpions League on 18th September while the team will play their home match against Al-Hilal on 6th November before facing them in the away match on 23rd October at Balewadi Stadium in Pune. 

The AFC Champions League is going to be held in India for the first time and VAR system will be implemented in the group stage. 

The fans are naturally exited to watch Mumbai City against Al-Hilal where Brazilian World Cupper Neymar has joined recently. 

When asked about the issue, Mumbai City FC coach Des Buckingham revealed that he does not want to give importance separately to Al-Hilal and Neymar. 

In an interaction with News 18 Buckingham said, “We don’t look too much at that. We know obviously the strength of Al Hilal already before they brought in the likes of Neymar and the tradition now there’s no doubt that they are Asia’s one of the most successful clubs prior to that happening anyway, so we know the strength of that club."

"The other two teams that we will face are both champions of their own country. The countries are both very strong football countries as well. So I think we look at the game against Nassaji Mazandaran first. And hopefully, we prepare ourselves as far as we can to play well. And if we do that, we’ll position ourselves well, hopefully to come away with the result.”