Adelaide United have been drawn against Vietnamese champions Cong an Ha Noi FC in a crucial AFC Champions League Elite play-off. This significant match will take place on Tuesday, August 11, at Coopers Stadium, marking a return to Asian competition for the club. Former Reds midfielder Stefan Mauk will also make his return to South Australia, having left Adelaide United to join the V.League 1 side at the beginning of the 2025-26 Isuzu UTE A-League season. The match is pivotal as it will determine Adelaide United's pathway in Asian competition for the 2026-27 season. The winner will advance to the ACL Elite league phase, while the loser will drop into the ACL Two competition. Adelaide United's Chief Executive Officer, Nathan Kosmina, expressed excitement about this opportunity, highlighting the club's proud history in Asian football. He noted that this match is a reward for a successful 2025-26 campaign and something that the players and staff can build towards as they return for pre-season training on July 2.