February 28 – With the AFC Champions League Elite entering the first leg of last 16 stage in 10 days time, the Asian confederation has announced the host stadiums of the centralised final in Saudi Arabia.
All games will be played at either the 63,000-capacity King Abdullah Sports City or the 27,000-capacity Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah from April 25 to May 3, 2025.
Matches begin with the quarter finals with each stadium hosting two quarter-finals and a semi-final. The final will be played at King Abdullah Sports City.
Both stadiums will also host matches at the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.
The round of 16 fixtures see three Saudi teams – Al Hilal SFC, Al Ahli Saudi FC and Al Nassr – separated in the West Zone draw from each other, raising the possibility of a three Saudi clubs making the eight team finals. Two Qatari clubs have made the last 16 along with one club from each of Iran, the UAE and Uzbekistan.
In the East Zone the three Japanese qualifiers are similarly separated. Yokohama F. Marinos and Kawasaki Frontale. Japan’s Vissel Kobe face Gwangju FC from South Korea. In the other tie Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim FC meet Thailand’s Buriram United.
This is the first season of the AFC revamped and renamed Champions League Elite season which will set a record for the highest ever prize pot in Asian club football history of $12 million, three times more than the equivalent of the 2023/24 season. Similarly, the losing finalist will also receive a threefold increase of $6 million.
Round of 16 Match-ups (Two legs)
West
Al Hilal SFC (KSA) v Pakhtakor FC (UZB)
Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) v Al Rayyan SC (QAT)
Al Nassr Club (KSA) v Esteghlal FC (IRN)
Al Sadd SC (QAT) v Al Wasl FC (UAE)
East
Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) v Shanghai Port FC (CHN)
Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) v Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN)
Johor Darul Ta’zim FC (MAS) v Buriram United (THA)
Gwangju FC (KOR) v Vissel Kobe (JPN)
Matches will be played March 3-5 with the return legs a week later.
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