ACL Elite: West Zone R16 and Finals Stage play in Jeddah

The Asian Football Confederation has officially confirmed a major restructuring of its club competitions in the West Region, with all remaining knockout matches set to be played as single-leg ties at centralised venues.

The decision follows earlier postponements on March 1 and 3, as the governing body moves to ensure the smooth completion of the 2025/26 continental calendar.

Under the revised format, the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 Round of 16 (West Region) will be staged on April 13 and 14 in Jeddah.

Matches will be played at two venues in Jeddah: King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium.

These fixtures will serve as a prelude to the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026, scheduled from April 16 to 25, creating a compact, festival-style conclusion to the tournament.

To accommodate the tight calendar, the AFC has also confirmed adjustments for its secondary competitions:

AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 – Quarter-finals & Semi-finals (single-leg)

AFC Challenge League 2025/26 – Quarter-finals & Semi-finals (single-leg)

Both competitions will stage their knockout rounds on April 19 and 22, with centralised venues to be announced at a later stage.

Credit Photo : HongZheng Lim/SNE-Photo