Al Ahli Beat Auckland FC 1-0 to Reach Cup Final

Al Ahli defeated Auckland FC 1-0 at the Alinma Bank Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, advancing to the final of the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup within the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026.

The only goal of the evening match came in the 63rd minute through Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, whose strike proved enough to settle the tie. He tops the tournament's scoring chart so far with one goal. The Egyptian referee Amin Omar officiated the fixture, which kicked off at around 19:00 local time.

A crowd of 46,628 spectators attended the game at the stadium, which has a listed capacity of about 62,345. The venue, located in the King Abdullah Sports City complex north of Jeddah along the coastal corridor, features a natural grass pitch built to FIFA international standards.

The result carries Al Ahli into the African-Asian-Pacific Cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns, scheduled for 19 September 2026. Al Ahli entered the competition as AFC Champions League Elite winners representing Asia, while Auckland FC took part as OFC Pro League champions representing Oceania.

The win is a notable moment for football fans in Jeddah and across the Kingdom, keeping a Saudi side in contention on a global stage. Tickets for major international fixtures at King Abdullah Sports City are typically sold through the official online platform linked to the host club and tournament pages, as well as approved box offices at the stadium on match day.

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