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Asia’s Elite Knockout Unveiled: Full Dates and Venues for the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite

26 March 2026

Asia’s Elite Knockout Unveiled: Full Dates and Venues for the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite
Asia’s elite teams gear up for a high-stakes knockout phase in Saudi Arabia.

Dates and Venues

The Asian Football Confederation announced today the schedules and venues for all knockout-round matches of the AFC Champions League Elite for the 2025-2026 season, culminating in the final.

The knockout rounds will begin in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Monday, April 13, with the Western Zone Round of 16 matches, which were postponed from early March due to Iranian strikes on several Arab nations.

Knockout Stage Highlights

The ties start with Al-Ahli Saudi FC versus Al-Duhail SC (Qatar) at Al-Inma Stadium at 6:15 pm local time, followed by Al-Hilal Saudi FC against Al-Sadd at 9:00 pm at King Abdullah Sports City.

On Tuesday, April 14, Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai FC meet Tractor SC, at Al-Inma Stadium, 6:15 pm, while Al-Ittihad Jeddah face Al Wahda UAE at Al-Inma Stadium, 9:00 pm.

Quarterfinals begin on Thursday, April 16, when the winner of the Al-Hilal–Al-Sadd clash meets Vissel Kobe of Japan at Al-Inma Stadium, 7:15 pm.

The following day, two matches: the winner of Al-Ahli–Duhail vs Johor Darul Ta’zim at Al-Inma Stadium, 6:15 pm, and the winner of Al-Ittihad–Wahda vs Machida Zelvia at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, 9:00 pm.

The quarterfinals conclude on Saturday, April 18, with the winner of Shabab Al-Ahli–Tractor facing Buriram United of Thailand at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, 7:15 pm.

The two winners from the Al-Ahli/Hilal paths will meet in the semifinals on Monday, April 20 at Al-Inma Stadium, 7:15 pm, while the winners from the Al-Ittihad–Shabab Al-Ahli path meet the following day at the same venue and time.

The final is scheduled for Saturday, April 25 at Al-Inma Stadium, 7:15 pm local time.

Al-Ahli are the defending champions, having won last season’s edition by beating Kawasaki Frontale 2-0.

Punchline 1: If football is a sport, the referee is the punchline—you never know when the joke will be called offside. Punchline 2: In football, the clock runs fast, but somehow the snacks still disappear faster at halftime.

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Michael Whooosh

I am Michael Whooosh, an English sports journalist born in 1986. Passionate about surfing, poetry, and beekeeping, I share my human and sensitive view of sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the knockout rounds begin?

The Western Round of 16 opens on Monday, April 13, 2026, in Jeddah.

Where is the final played?

The final is set for April 25 at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah.

Who are the defending champions?

Al-Ahli Saudi FC are the current title holders from the last edition.

Which teams appear in the quarterfinals?

Winners from the Al-Hilal–Al-Sadd, Al-Ahli–Duhail, Ittihad–Wahda, Shabab Al-Ahli–Tractor matches, along with other advancing sides like Vissel Kobe, Machida Zelvia, Buriram United and Johor Darul Ta’zim.