LATEST NEWS - SAFF

Conceicao salutes Al Ittihad’s focus; Milanic proud of Al Wahda

Wed, 15 Apr, 2026

Conceicao salutes Al Ittihad’s focus; Milanic proud of Al Wahda

Jeddah: Sergio Conceicao attributed Al Ittihad Club’s progression to the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ to the incredible drive of his players to cast aside immense pressure.

Fabinho overcame nerves to convert from the penalty spot in the dying seconds of extra-time as Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad ousted UAE's Al Wahda FC 1-0 following an evenly-matched 120 minutes of a tense Round of 16 encounter at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Tuesday.

Jeddah 2026 cast decided

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

Jeddah 2026 cast decided

Jeddah: The AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ is set for takeoff following the conclusion of the West Zone's Round of 16 matches on Tuesday.

The quarter-final ties will be played between Thursday and Saturday, with matches to be contested at the King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium.

R16: Al Ittihad Club (KSA) 1-0 Al Wahda FC (UAE)

Wed, 15 Apr, 2026

R16: Al Ittihad Club (KSA) 1-0 Al Wahda FC (UAE)

Jeddah: Al Ittihad Club edged Al Wahda FC 1-0 to advance to the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ on Tuesday.

Fabinho scored the winner from the penalty spot in the final seconds of extra-time as Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad booked a meeting with Japan’s FC Machida Zelvia in the quarter-finals on Friday. 

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-r16-al-hilal-sfc-ksa-3-2-3-4-al-sadd-sc-qat

Mancini hails resilient Al Sadd; Al Hilal's Inzaghi rues elimination

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

Mancini hails resilient Al Sadd; Al Hilal's Inzaghi rues elimination

Jeddah: Roberto Mancini was effusive in his praise after Al Sadd SC produced a remarkable performance to advance to the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ on Monday.

The Qatari side came from behind thrice to force extra-time following a 3-3 draw and then saw off the challenge of favourites Al Hilal SFC with a 4-2 win in the penalty shootout.

Mahrez urges Al Ahli to stand and deliver

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

Mahrez urges Al Ahli to stand and deliver

Jeddah: Riyad Mahrez has challenged his Al Ahli Saudi FC teammates to continue raising their performance after the defending champions booked their ticket to the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ on Monday.

Mahrez's sublime free-kick in extra-time settled the nervy tie against Qatar's Al Duhail SC with Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli to face Johor Darul Ta'zim of Malaysia in the quarter-finals on Friday.

R16: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) 3 (2) - (4) 3 Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

R16: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) 3 (2) - (4) 3 Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Jeddah: Al Sadd SC advanced to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ with a 4-2 win on penalties after their Round of 16 tie against Al Hilal SFC ended 3-3 after extra-time on Monday.

Qatar’s Al Sadd amazingly came from behind three times at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium before completing the job against Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in the shootout to set up a last eight tie with Japan’s Vissel Kobe on Thursday. 

R16: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) 1-0 Al Duhail SC (QAT)

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

R16: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) 1-0 Al Duhail SC (QAT)

Jeddah: Riyad Mahrez’s stunning extra-time free-kick took defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC into the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ with a 1-0 win over Qatar’s Al Duhail SC at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Monday.

The former Manchester City winger struck with three minutes left in the second period of extra-time after seeing a penalty from teammate Ivan Toney saved by Al Duhail’s Salah Zakaria that looked set to take a gripping last 16 clash into a shoot-out.
 
But Mahrez’s perfect strike from outside the penalty area eventually took Matthias Jaissle’s side through to the quarter-finals, where they will take on Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim on Friday.

R16 - Preview: Al Ittihad Club (KSA) v Al Wahda FC (UAE)

Wed, 15 Apr, 2026

R16 - Preview: Al Ittihad Club (KSA) v Al Wahda FC (UAE)

Jeddah: Al Ittihad Club will have to be at their best if they are to get the better of Al Wahda FC when the sides meet in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad overcame a slow start in the League Stage to finish fourth in the standings while Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates were a rung lower.

West Asia Wrap: Al Nassr extend winning streak; Al Sadd, Al Seeb on the verge

Mon, 13 Apr, 2026

West Asia Wrap: Al Nassr extend winning streak; Al Sadd, Al Seeb on the verge

Doha: Al Nassr Club achieved a new milestone of winning 13 successive Saudi Pro League matches as they stayed top with a 2-0 win against Al Okhdood on Saturday.

Al Sadd SC are on the verge of retaining their Qatar Stars League crown while Al Ain FC took a firm grip of the UAE Pro League with a crucial win against Shabab Al Ahli.

Al Seeb Club are a point away from the Oman Pro League title while there were also matches in Iraq, Jordan and Syria so join the-AFC.com in our weekly wrap of the West Asia domestic scene.

R16 - Preview: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) v Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

R16 - Preview: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) v Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Jeddah: Al Sadd SC must produce their best if they are to stand a chance against Al Hilal SFC when the sides meet in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ on Monday.

Both are former continental champions but Qatar's Al Sadd have only beaten Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia once in their four previous meetings in the knockout stage.

R16 - Preview: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) v Al Duhail SC (QAT)

Mon, 13 Apr, 2026

R16 - Preview: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) v Al Duhail SC (QAT)

Jeddah: Al Ahli Saudi FC will start as firm favourites when they face Al Duhail SC in their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Round of 16 tie on Monday.

Al Ahli will head into the tie in good form and still very much in the running for the Saudi Pro League title while Al Duhail are enduring a tough season and look set to finish in the bottom half of the Qatar Stars League.