Legendary Saudi Icon Set to Watch as AFC Elite Round Draw Dates Are Revealed

The Asian Football Confederation has announced the date for the knockout draw of the AFC Elite Round, even though West Zone sides have yet to complete their Round of 16 matches amid the ongoing conflict.

Key details

The quarterfinals will be staged in a centralized format, with single-leg ties from April 16 to 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Four East Asia clubs advanced to the quarterfinals: Machida Zelvia and Vissel Kobe of Japan, Johor Darul Ta'zim of Malaysia, and Buriram United of Thailand.

The Western quartet will be decided later after the Round of 16, with Al Hilal facing Al Sadd, Al Ahli Saudi against Al Duhail, Al Ittihad meeting Al Wahda, and Shabab Al-Ahli taking on Tractor.

The draw ceremony will be held on Wednesday at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, with Saudi legend Hussein Abdul-Ghani as a guest of honor assisting the draw.

Abdul-Ghani is a 49-year-old former international who earned 138 caps and won the 1996 Asian Cup, having played for Al Ahli and Al Nassr among other clubs.

The eight qualified teams will be split into two pots by region, and the higher-seeded team in each pot will be chosen based on group stage results.

The first quarterfinal matches are scheduled for April 16, followed by the second and third on April 17 and 18. Semifinals are on April 20 and 21, with the final on April 25 at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, offering a prize pool of at least $12 million.

In short, Asia’s Elite Round promises drama, surprises, and bragging rights as the continent’s best clubs chase glory.

This draw is so tight, even the ball wears knee pads.

If drama were goals, Asia would be leading the league by a mile—and still somehow avoid traffic.