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Saudi Arabia 2026 hopefuls discover road to glory

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Saudi Arabia 2026 hopefuls discover road to glory

Kuala Lumpur: The teams vying for the title learnt their Group Stage challengers following the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ Official Draw at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.

The 16 teams were divided into four groups with the tournament to be contested between between May 5 and 22, 2026.

R16 (1st Leg): FK Arkadag (TKM) 0-1 Al Nassr Club (KSA)

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

R16 (1st Leg): FK Arkadag (TKM) 0-1 Al Nassr Club (KSA)

Ashgabat: Al Nassr Club had to be satisfied with a 1-0 win over FK Arkadag in their AFC Champions League Two 2025/26™ Round of 16 first leg tie at the Ashgabat Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.

Despite dominating the encounter, Abdullah Al Hamddan’s first half strike gave Al Nassr a slim advantage heading into the return fixture in Riyadh next week.

Conceicao delighted as Al Ittihad hit top form

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

Conceicao delighted as Al Ittihad hit top form

Jeddah: Sergio Conceicao hailed a complete performance after Al Ittihad powered into the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Round of 16 with a commanding 7-0 victory over Al Gharafa SC on Tuesday.

A relentless Al Ittihad overwhelmed the Qatari side to move to 12 points, a tally that guarantees a top-eight finish in the league stage regardless of next week’s results.

MD7: Al Ittihad Club (KSA) 7-0 Al Gharafa SC (QAT)

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

MD7: Al Ittihad Club (KSA) 7-0 Al Gharafa SC (QAT)

Jeddah: Al Ittihad Club turned on the power to book their AFC Champions League Elite  2025/26™ Round of 16 spot with an emphatic 7-0 win against Al Gharafa SC on Tuesday.

The win took Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad to 12 points, ensuring them a top eight finish irrespective of what happens in next week’s final round of League Stage matches. 

Al Gharafa - on six points and 10th in the standings - have a mathematical chance of advancing but it will require results elsewhere to go their way next week. 

Sousa frustrated; Inzaghi content with shared points

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Sousa frustrated; Inzaghi content with shared points

Dubai: Shabab Al Ahli head coach Paulo Sousa was left to rue missed opportunities after his side settled for a goalless draw with Al Hilal SFC in their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ tie on Monday.

The draw snapped Al Hilal’s winning run but Shabab’s Round of 16 fate will go down to the wire, with the Dubai-based side to face defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC next week. 

Mixed feelings for Jaissle, Milanic

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Mixed feelings for Jaissle, Milanic

Abu Dhabi: Matthias Jaissle and Darko Milanic came away with differing opinions about the goalless draw between Al Ahli Saudi FC and Al Wahda FC in their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ tie on Monday.

Milanic was the happier of the two head coaches, satisfied with the point earned at home as his United Arab Emirates side stayed in the top four of the West Zone standings.

MD7: Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) 0-0 Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

MD7: Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) 0-0 Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Dubai: Victory eluded them but Shabab Al Ahli halted Al Hilal SFC’s winning run in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ after the sides shared a goalless draw on Monday.

The stalemate means Shabab Al Ahli’s Round of 16 fate will go down to the wire while already-qualified Al Hilal’s target of a perfect League Stage campaign was dashed, having won their earlier six matches. 

MD7: Al Wahda FC (UAE) 0-0 Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA)

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

MD7: Al Wahda FC (UAE) 0-0 Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA)

Abu Dhabi: Defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC consolidated their position in the top four of the western league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ on Monday as Matthias Jaissle’s team shared a 0-0 draw with Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates.

Neither side was able to find a way through in Abu Dhabi and the result moves last season’s winners onto 14 points from their first seven matches, level on points with Darko Milanic’s hosts.

Both clubs have already booked their places in the Round of 16, with Al Ahli currently third in the standings and Al Wahda in fourth.

Preview: Al Ittihad Club (KSA) v Al Gharafa SC (QAT)

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

Preview: Al Ittihad Club (KSA) v Al Gharafa SC (QAT)

Jeddah: Al Ittihad Club will be seeking the win that should mean Round of 16 qualification when they meet Al Gharafa SC in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad sit sixth in the standings with nine points while Al Gharafa of Qatar are three behind in ninth.

West Asia Wrap: Race remains tight in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

West Asia Wrap: Race remains tight in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE

Doha: Al Hilal SFC and Shabab Al Ahli maintained their pole positions in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates respectively with crucial wins this past week.

Al Sadd SC, meanwhile, took over the Qatar Stars League top spot with all three teams holding single point advantages at the top in their respective leagues.

There was also action in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and Syria so join the-AFC.com in our weekly look back of the domestic action across West Asia.

Preview: Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) v Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Preview: Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) v Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Dubai: It will be a clash between two high quality teams when Shabab Al Ahli host Al Hilal SFC in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ on Monday.

Shabab Al Ahli are in control of the UAE Pro League race while Al Hilal lead the Saudi Pro League standings.

Preview: Al Wahda FC (UAE) v Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA)

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Preview: Al Wahda FC (UAE) v Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA)

Abu Dhabi: Al Wahda FC and Al Ahli Saudi FC will not hold back despite both having confirmed qualification when they meet in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ on Monday.

Both are level on 13 points, with defending champions Al Ahli third in the standings on superior goal difference.