Jeddah is set to become the epicenter of Asian football as it hosts the Round of 16 and final stages of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025–2026 season.
Matches will take place at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium from April 13 to 25.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, fans are encouraged to secure their match tickets via the Ahlan digital application to ensure a smooth spectator experience.
The action begins on April 13 and 14 with the West Region Round of 16. These matches will feature a high-stakes single-leg format.
The competing clubs represent the region’s elite, including Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad, alongside Qatar’s Al-Sadd and Al-Duhail, the UAE’s Al-Wahda and Shabab Al-Ahli, and Iran’s Tractor.
Following the knockout-stage draw recently held at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, the tournament will transition into a centralized final format.
The quarterfinals are scheduled for April 16, 17, and 18, while the semifinals will follow on April 20 and 21. The competition will culminate in the championship final on April 25 at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
The quarterfinal draw has produced several high-profile matchups that heighten the tournament’s anticipation. The winner of the Al-Hilal and Al-Sadd clash will face Japan’s Vissel Kobe, while the victor of the match between defending champions Al-Ahli and Al-Duhail will meet Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim.
On the other side of the bracket, the winner of Al-Ittihad versus Al-Wahda will take on Japan’s Machida Zelvia, and Thailand’s Buriram United will face the winner of the Tractor and Shabab Al-Ahli fixture.
All final-stage fixtures will consist of seven single-leg matches. This decisive format is intentionally designed to intensify the competition and provide an exciting, high-pressure character for this edition of the tournament.
