On September 15, at the pre-match press conference, Jeonbuk Hyundai head coach Chung Jung-yong stated that the team will go all out in the AFC Champions League Elite to achieve ideal results in Asian competitions.

On September 16, Jeonbuk Hyundai will host Japanese club Kashiwa Reysol in their opening match of the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite group stage at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.

This season's AFC Champions League Elite features East and West regional divisions, with 12 teams competing in the league stage in each region. The top 8 teams from each region will advance to the knockout round. Jeonbuk Hyundai qualified by winning the 2025 K League 1 title. The two teams face off in their first match, with Kashiwa Reysol representing a formidable opponent.

The sides have met 8 times in Asian competitions, with Kashiwa Reysol holding a 5-1-2 record. However, Jeonbuk Hyundai had the final word in their most recent encounter. In 2018, Jeonbuk Hyundai won 3-2 at home at Jeonju World Cup Stadium. Currently, both teams sit third in their respective domestic leagues.

The day before the match, both teams held pre-match press conferences at Jeonju World Cup Stadium. Jeonbuk Hyundai was represented by head coach Chung Jung-yong and veteran defender Kim Tae-hwan. The team suffered a disappointing loss to FC Seoul in the league and hopes to bounce back in Asian competition.

Chung Jung-yong said, "As a head coach, I'm personally very much looking forward to this. I coached my previous club for three years and had the opportunity to participate in this competition, but it didn't materialize. I'm very honored to have this opportunity now. Tomorrow is our first match, and it's at home, so we will be fully prepared to win and make a strong start to this competition."

Given the congested K League schedule, Jeonbuk Hyundai must balance fixture demands with squad rotation. On this point, Chung Jung-yong said, "As you know, this is a very important competition, and tomorrow is the first match. We should utilize all available players. Fortunately, after one more league match, there will be a break, so we should focus all our energy on this match now."

The AFC Champions League Elite has fewer restrictions on foreign player deployment compared to the K League. When asked whether more foreign players would feature, Chung Jung-yong said, "It's hard to say. I believe all registered players currently in top form should play, and we also need to consider whether they can fulfill their roles effectively in their positions. We have been preparing on this basis, and I believe the starting eleven who play tomorrow will all perform well."

In recent years, the AFC Champions League Elite has been dominated by Middle Eastern clubs, particularly those from Saudi Arabia, who have leveraged their financial resources. When asked about Jeonbuk Hyundai's realistic ambitions this season, Chung Jung-yong acknowledged the challenge ahead.

"Of course, this will not be an easy journey. Not just us, all teams face a very congested schedule."

However, he also emphasized, "Even so, this is the highest competition in Asia, and I don't have even 1% thought of missing this opportunity. Our goal is to target the top four in Asia as much as possible, and then take it step by step."

Regarding their opponent Kashiwa Reysol, Chung Jung-yong highlighted their midfield control as a key concern.

He said, "Overall, Kashiwa Reysol is a team that can achieve over 60% possession, and their pressing intensity is very high—that's their strength."

"We need to limit what they excel at while showcasing our own characteristics. Kashiwa Reysol's midfielders, including player number 39 Atsuya Nakagawa, are excellent at ball control and linking play, so we must pay extra attention. Additionally, international matches differ from league matches; the two sides don't speak the same language, so players must communicate effectively on the pitch."

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