Thu, 23 Apr, 2026

Know your coach: Matthias Jaissle (Al Ahli Saudi FC)

Jeddah: Matthias Jaissle stands on the precipice of making history as he attempts to guide Al Ahli Saudi FC to back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite™ title wins on Saturday.

While fellow Saudi Arabia side Al Ittihad Club bagged successive titles in 2004 and 2005, the first win came under the guidance of Dragan Talajic with Anghel Iordanescu then leading the successful title defence.

It opens the door for Jaissle to be the first head coach to win the biggest prize in Asian club football two years in a row.

Know your coach: Go Kuroda (Machida Zelvia)

Thu, 23 Apr, 2026

Know your coach: Go Kuroda (Machida Zelvia)

Jeddah: FC Machida Zelvia head coach Go Kuroda stands on the cusp of a remarkable achievement; three-and-a-half years after starting his first job in professional football, the 55-year-old is one win away from becoming an Asian champion.

Kuroda leads his J1 League outfit into Saturday’s AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ title decider with defending champions Al Ahli having taken an unconventional route to the summit of the continental scene.

Appointed ahead of the 2023 campaign with Machida still in Japan’s second division, Kuroda made his debut in professional football following three decades working in the unique environs of the country’s high school football scene.

Road to Final: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA)

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

Road to Final: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA)

Jeddah: Al Ahli Saudi FC are one match away from defending their title, with the Saudi Pro League side to face Japan's FC Machida Zelvia in the final of the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2025/26™.

The Jeddah-based side are seeking to become just the second team in the AFC Champions League era to win back-to-back titles and the-AFC.com retraces their journey to Saturday's final.

Road to Final: FC Machida Zelvia (JPN)

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

Road to Final: FC Machida Zelvia (JPN)

Jeddah: FC Machida Zelvia are on the verge of adding another chapter to their history with the Japanese side to meet Al Ahli Saudi FC in the final of the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2025/26™.

Tournament debutants Machida have enjoyed a dream campaign and the-AFC.com looks back at the journey which has taken them to within one match of lifting Asian club football's ultimate prize.

Semi-finals: Facts & Figures

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

Semi-finals: Facts & Figures

Jeddah: The AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ is just one match away from crowning the winners.

Al Ahli Saudi FC and FC Machida Zelvia advanced to Saturday's decider after overcoming tough opponents and the-AFC.com highlights several facts and figures from the two absorbing semi-finals.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-semi-finals-fc-machida-zelvia-jpn-1-0-shabab-al-ahli-uae

Soma’s hard work, patience pay off

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

Soma’s hard work, patience pay off

Jeddah: Yuki Soma was glad to have made a spectacular return for FC Machida Zelvia in their AFC Champions League Finals Jeddah 2026™ semi-final win against UAE's Shabab Al Ahli on Tuesday.

Soma scored the only goal of the game as the debutant Japanese side set up a final against defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC on Saturday but the decision for the midfielder to start was made almost at the last minute.

Machida Zelvia peaking nicely, says Kuroda

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

Machida Zelvia peaking nicely, says Kuroda

Jeddah: Head coach Go Kuroda feels that FC Machida Zelvia side are hitting form at the right time after the Japanese side saw off Shabab Al Ahli 1-0 in their AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ semi-final on Tuesday.

A seventh clean sheet of their season saw the debutants advancing to the final, with defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC their opponents on Saturday, a tie Kuroda is relishing.

Soma strike takes Machida Zelvia into dream final

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

Soma strike takes Machida Zelvia into dream final

Jeddah: FC Machida Zelvia continued their AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ fairytale run after defeating Shabab Al Ahli 1-0 in their semi-final tie on Tuesday.

Yuki Soma’s goal earned Machida the chance to emulate Australia’s Western Sydney Wanderers who lifted the coveted title in their debut outing in 2014 as the Japanese side set up a final against defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC of Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/s-final-fc-machida-zelvia-jpn-v-shabab-al-ahli-uae

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-semi-finals-vissel-kobe-jpn-1-2-al-ahli-saudi-fc-ksa