AFC Champions League Elite
Less than two weeks after the conclusion of the League Stage, the remaining 16 contenders are ready to do battle for a place in the last eight, which will be staged in Jeddah in April.
The cast features six clubs that made it to this stage in the previous season, including defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC, as well as two Continental debutants in Gangwon FC and FC Machida Zelvia. Five former winners are also in the mix to lift the trophy again at the 23rd edition of Asia’s top-tier men’s club tournament under the ACL banner.
West
March 2
The action kicks off at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai at 8pm, where Shabab Al Ahli (6th in the League Stage) welcome Tractor FC (3rd). The United Arab Emirates hosts, who won the domestic double in 2024/25, have reached their fifth Knockout Stage in their 10th tournament appearance and their best finish came in 2015 as runners-up. With two last-16 exits in the past, the Islamic Republic of Iran visitors—who won the league for the first time in 2024/25—will aim to surpass that in their third knockout appearance in seven participations. This is the pair’s third meeting, with the most recent being a draw in the League Stage.
At 9.15pm, Al Duhail SC (7th) host holders Al Ahli Saudi FC (2nd) at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, having played out a 2-2 draw in the League Stage. Semi-finalists in 2022, Qatar’s Al Duhail are featuring for an eighth time in the knockouts on their 13th tournament showing, while their Saudi Arabian opponents have now reached this point for the 10th occasion in 14 appearances.
March 3
Only one point separated Al Wahda FC (5th) and Al Ittihad Club (4th) in the League Stage and the 8pm clash at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi represents a seventh encounter, with the former’s win on the first matchday only their second ever. The United Arab Emirates hosts, who were Semi-finalists in 2007, are playing their fifth Knockout Stage in 11 appearances, while the away side are the reigning Saudi Arabian league champions and playing in the knockouts for a 10th time in 13 showings, with an eye on a third crown to add to their 2004 and 2005 triumphs.
With 18 tournament appearances, the most of any Qatari club, Al Sadd SC (8th) have now advanced to the knockouts for a ninth occasion and the 2011 winners—who reached the quarters last season—will play host at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha to Al Hilal SFC (1st) at 9.15pm. One of Asia’s most successful clubs, the Saudi Arabian visitors are contesting their 16th Knockout Stage on their 20th involvement – both tournament records. They have also reached a record five Finals, claiming the trophy twice in 2019 and 2021, and cruised through the League Stage in unbeaten fashion with seven wins from eight matches – including a 3-1 win over Al Sadd.
East
March 3
Appearing in their third campaign, Melbourne City FC’s (5th) maiden knockout adventure starts at their Melbourne Rectangular Stadium home with a 6.45pm fixture against Buriram United (4th). The home side are the first Australian club to reach this stage since Melbourne Victory in 2020 and defeated the same opponents 2-1 in the League Stage; meanwhile, the visiting Thai champions have progressed to the knockouts for a fourth time in 10 outings and count two Quarter-final finishes (2013, 2024/25) as their best tournament result.
A showdown between two debutants, both hoping to continue their journeys, takes centre stage at the Chuncheon Songam Sports Town Stadium between Gangwon FC (8th) and FC Machida Zelvia (1st) at 7pm, with the latter coming out on top 3-1 during the League Stage en-route to a remarkable first-place finish.
March 4
Runners-up in 2013, Korea Republic’s FC Seoul (7th) marked their ninth participation with a seventh knockout qualification and will face Vissel Kobe at 7pm at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. The Japanese side, who defeated the same opposition 2-0 in the League Stage, have now reached the Knockout Stage in each of their four appearances and went as far as the last four in 2020.
Progress beyond the Round of 16 for the first time will be on the minds of both Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (6th) and Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who also both secured their third knockout berth in six appearances to set up an 8.15pm clash at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri.
The second legs of the Round of 16 are scheduled for March 9-11 and the eight clubs that progress will be in the hat for the ACL Elite Finals Jeddah 2026 draw on March 25, with the centralised Finals to play out between April 16 and 25, 2026.
All times indicated are in respective local times.
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