Derby Drama: AFC Reshuffles the Stage for Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad’s Elite Asia Showdown
19 February 2026
A surprising decision by the Asian Football Confederation ends the months-long tug-of-war between the fans of Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli ahead of the Elite Asia Champions League knockout rounds.
Both clubs advanced to the Round of 16, finishing in the top four of the West Group, which means the second legs will be hosted at their own stadiums, a situation that previously threatened a venue change.
Media reports said the Al-Ittihad administration pushed to stage the away leg at Al-Enmaa Stadium rather than Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal, in a bid to calm the rivalry and favor their traditional rival.
Because of those rumors, a dispute spread among supporters over which team deserved to host the second leg at Al-Enmaa.
The Asian Confederation ended the standoff by announcing both teams would play the second leg at Al-Enmaa on consecutive days, with each club hosting on the opposite day.
Al-Ahli will host Al-Duhail of Qatar on Monday, March 9, at Al-Enmaa, the same venue where Al-Ittihad will welcome Al-Wahda from the UAE on Tuesday, March 10.
Al-Ahli are the defending champions of last season's Elite Asia, while Al-Ittihad has not won the tournament since 2005.
What happens next
The two fixtures set the stage for a weekend of intense regional rivalry and a chance for both clubs to stake a continental claim, all under the glow of a packed stadium and, likely, social media fireworks.
Punchlines: Punchline 1 — My calendar just learned to juggle dates; it’s now doing a two-step with Al-Enmaa. Punchline 2 — If the match is as tight as the schedule, the stadium might need a snooze button.
