ع
The Saudi Press Agency reported that the AFC had approved the centralized format for the competition’s knockout phase in order to consolidate all West region round of 16 fixtures in one location. Matches will be held at King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on April 13 and 14. This setup eliminates the traditional two-legged ties and brings all teams to Saudi Arabia for the decisive encounters.
The decision extends to the subsequent rounds, with the quarterfinals, semifinals and final also taking place in Jeddah from April 16 through April 25. According to a report by ESPN, the centralized model was chosen to minimize travel for participating clubs and to create a festival-like atmosphere for the concluding stages of the tournament. The format had proven successful in past editions affected by external constraints.
Saudi Arabia’s selection as the host continues a trend of the kingdom organizing major Asian football events. The AFC has granted Saudi Arabia hosting rights for the finals through the 2028-29 season. A Wikipedia entry on the competition notes that the champion will qualify for the 2027 FIFA Intercontinental Cup as well as the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
The league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite involves 24 teams divided into West and East zones, with the top eight from each progressing to the knockouts. Seeding for the round of 16 pairs the first-placed team against the eighth and so on. Liquipedia data on the knockout stage shows that pairings follow league rankings to determine the matchups.
Organizers expect the centralized venue to increase fan engagement and media interest in the later stages. Several high-profile Saudi clubs are regular participants and have advanced deep in previous tournaments. The move aligns with broader efforts to elevate the profile of club football across Asia.
