JEDDAH — The stage is set for a footballing spectacle in Saudi Arabia as the AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite) Finals Jeddah 2025 kicks off next weekend.
Asia's top eight clubs will compete for continental glory in a unique centralized format from April 25 to May 3, with all matches played in the football-loving city of Jeddah.
This year’s finals mark a historic shift, as the traditional East-West divide has been removed for the first time since 2013. The result? A set of electrifying Quarter-final matchups, three of which will see teams face off for the very first time, raising the stakes and excitement.
Saudi giants Al Hilal SFC, four-time ACL winners, headline the action as they face debutants Gwangju FC, the surprise package from Korea Republic. Gwangju’s fairy tale run has already made history, becoming the first debutant to reach the last eight since Vissel Kobe in 2020.
Joining them in the quarter-finals are Al Ahli Saudi FC and Thailand's Buriram United. Al Ahli are eyeing a return to the final for the first time since 2012, while Buriram aim to become the first Thai side to reach the Semi-finals.
In a clash of continental pedigree and recent form, Yokohama F. Marinos take on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr. The Japanese side topped the League Stage (East) and are seeking back-to-back finals appearances after finishing runners-up last season.
Rounding out the Quarter-final lineup are Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale and Qatar’s Al Sadd SC. Frontale are determined to break their quarter-final jinx, while 2011 champions Al Sadd hope to end a 14-year wait for a second title.
All eyes will turn to King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City as the tournament progresses. Semi-finals are scheduled for April 29 and 30, with the grand finale on May 3, promising a crowning moment worthy of Asia’s elite.
Eleven groups drawn as 44 teams begin the road to Saudi Arabia 2026. Qualifiers kick off this September across Asia.