Saudi Arabia to Host AFC Champions League Elite Finals

Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as host of the Asian Champions League Elite finals for the next three editions, covering the 2026–27, 2027–28, and 2028–29 seasons, with all matches to be staged inside the Kingdom.

The hosting rights, which were initially provisional from the 2025–26 season onward, have now been made permanent for these three additional seasons. The decision follows the successful organisation of the 2024–25 and 2025–26 editions in Saudi Arabia.

The finals are run in a centralised format, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final all played as single-leg ties during a fixed window each April. For the 2025–26 edition, the knockout stage from quarter-finals to final is scheduled in Jeddah from 16 to 25 April 2026.

Matches will be held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, which hosts key knockout games and the final, alongside Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium, which stages additional knockout fixtures during the same window. Typical spectator tickets for major continental club matches at these venues generally range around SAR 50–300 for standard categories, with premium and VIP seats higher; exact tariffs are set closer to each event.

Why it matters

For residents and fans in Jeddah and beyond, the confirmation means several more years of top-level Asian club football on home soil. Ticketing and stadium entry use standard Saudi electronic platforms, with digital tickets linked to national ID or mobile numbers, and توكلنا may be used for identity verification where required by local organisers. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation coordinates hosting, scheduling, and logistics with the Asian Football Confederation.

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