Jeddah to Host Final Stages of AFC Champions League Elite 2026
Jeddah Governorate will host the Round of 16 and final stages of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025–2026 season from April 13 to 25 at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium.
The tournament will feature West Region Round of 16 matches in Jeddah on April 13 and 14 in a single-leg format, after being shifted from the home-and-away system. Participating clubs include Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad, as well as Qatar’s Al-Sadd and Al-Duhail, the UAE’s Al-Wahda and Shabab Al-Ahli, and Iran’s Tractor.
Asian football fans are also turning their attention to the tournament finals, which will be held in a centralized format from April 16 to 25 amid anticipation of an exceptional edition following the knockout-stage draw at the headquarters of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The quarterfinals will begin on April 16, with the remaining matches to be played on April 17 and 18. The two semifinal matches will be held on April 20 and 21, leading up to the final on April 25 at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
The quarterfinal draw resulted in several high-profile matchups. The winner of Al-Hilal vs. Al-Sadd will face Japan’s Vissel Kobe, while the winner of Al-Ahli (title holders) vs. Al-Duhail will meet Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta'zim.
The winner of Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Wahda will take on Japan’s Machida Zelvia, while Thailand’s Buriram United will face the winner of Tractor vs. Shabab Al-Ahli.
All final-stage matches will be played in a single-match format, totaling seven matches, a step that heightens competition and gives the tournament a decisive, exciting character.
Jeddah’s hosting of these advanced stages of the tournament underscores its status as one of the region’s leading destinations for major sporting events, given its advanced infrastructure, including modern sports facilities, integrated logistical services, and organizational expertise that have contributed to the success of numerous continental and international events.
The local organizing committee has also called on fans to book match tickets through the Ahlan application, the dedicated digital platform for fans, to facilitate attendance procedures and improve the overall spectator experience.
