According to informed sources, the city of Jeddah will host the Round of 16 matches for western clubs in the AFC Champions League on April 13 and 14. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is expected to announce this decision officially in the coming days, which means that the knockout stage matches will continue from April 14 to 25 in the Saudi city.
Western clubs in the AFC Champions League are awaiting clarifications regarding the match schedules, as the draw for the quarter-finals will take place on Wednesday, March 25 in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, at 3 PM.
As the crucial phase of the AFC Champions League for the 2025-2026 season approaches, Asian football fans can look forward to exciting moments as the quarter-final matches will be held in a single-elimination format, and Jeddah will host them.
The quarter-finals will continue the trend of not dividing teams between the west and east. Four teams from the east have qualified recently, while the four remaining clubs from the west will be determined next month, adding extra excitement to the competition.
Former Saudi star Hussein Abdulghani will play a special role in the draw ceremony as he will attend as a guest, adding a local touch to the event. In terms of team distribution, each club will be assigned to a pot to ensure balance in the draw process.
Expectations indicate that teams will be divided into two groups based on region, with the AFC determining the highest-ranked club in each group according to their performance in the league stage. In this context, western teams are required to select placeholder names until the results of the remaining clubs are clarified, while J-League club Machida Zelvia will be notable in terms of ranking from the east.
These developments are part of a broader context witnessing a shift in the Middle East towards enhancing major sporting events, as many cities seek to attract international championships. Regarding the AFC Champions League, Jeddah's hosting of such an event reflects the city's transformation into an important sports hub in the region.
Hosting such championships marks a milestone in Saudi Arabia's efforts to improve the sports landscape and promote sports tourism within the framework of Vision 2030 adopted by the Kingdom. This vision aims to elevate the standards of sports in the Kingdom and attract global events, enhancing its position on the global sports map.
Thus, the AFC Champions League serves as a platform to spotlight the region's aspirations for the future, amid significant efforts to invest in sporting aspects.
In this event, it can be said that western clubs are seriously striving for excellence and achieving accomplishments at the continental level, as part of efforts to improve their technical and physical level to meet the challenges in this context.