Football fans across Asia and around the world are gearing up for one of the continent’s most exciting club events of the year. The AFC Champions League Elite Finals will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from 16th to 25th April 2026. This centralised finals format brings together Asia’s top eight club teams to battle for the title of continental champions.
For the second year running, Jeddah has been chosen as the host city. The competition’s final stages will be held at two iconic stadiums: King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium. These venues previously hosted the Finals in 2025 and will again be the stage for all seven matches from the quarter-finals through the final.
The AFC Champions League Elite, organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), is the top club competition in Asian football. It features 24 teams from across the continent who compete in the league stage before the best eight qualify for the knockout finals. The Finals consist of single-match knockout ties.
This format makes the Finals especially thrilling. Every match is win-or-go-home, and teams bring their best game for a shot at glory. The winner not only lifts the prestigious AFC Champions League Elite trophy but also earns qualification for major global events like the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
What to Expect in Jeddah
The Finals span ten days, starting with the quarter-final matches from 16-18 April, followed by the semi-finals on 20-21 April, and culminating in the final on 25 April 2026. Each game will be played in front of passionate fans, with stadiums filled with supporters cheering on their clubs.
Last season, the tournament produced memorable moments. In the 2025 final, Al-Ahli Saudi FC lifted the title with a 2-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale, earning their first continental crown in front of over 58,000 fans at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
That historic victory in 2025 set the tone for even greater anticipation in 2026. Clubs from Saudi Arabia, Japan, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iran, and other Asian nations will all be pushing hard to reach the finals stage in Jeddah. The competition in the league stage this season has been fierce, and with the knockout rounds just weeks away, fans are eagerly awaiting which clubs will make the final eight.
