Schedule of matches for the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025-2026

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Schedule of matches for the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025-2026

The curtain fell on Wednesday on the league stage of the AFC Champions League for the 2025-2026 season, thus completing the features of the Round of 16 matches, which promise great football excitement and fierce competition between the giants of the Asian continent, leading up to the anticipated finals in Saudi Arabia.

Roadmap to the continental title

With the group stage concluded, attention now turns to the knockout rounds. The first leg matches of the Round of 16 are scheduled for March 2-4 , with the decisive second leg matches taking place just a week later, between March 9 and 11. This edition is particularly significant due to the new format and the new "Elite" name, which will raise the level of competition and the overall market and technical value of the tournament.

Fierce clashes in the West: A clash of giants

In the western region, Saudi and Qatari clubs have dominated the scene, resulting in high-caliber clashes:

Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia vs. Al-Sadd of Qatar: Al-Hilal enters this match as a strong favorite after topping the West Zone standings with 22 points and remaining undefeated. They will face Al-Sadd in a Gulf classic that pits two former continental champions against each other. Al-Hilal seeks to avenge their semi-final exit last season, while Al-Sadd aims to overcome the quarter-final hurdle where they previously faltered.
Al-Ahli Saudi vs. Al-Duhail Qatar: Al-Ahli, the league runner-up, faces Al-Duhail in another Saudi-Qatari clash. As the tournament progresses, Al-Ahli aims to defend its title hopes, while Al-Duhail seeks to make history and lift the trophy for the first time.
Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) vs. Al-Wahda (UAE): After a shaky start, Al-Ittihad bounced back strongly to finish the league in third place, setting up a clash with Al-Wahda. The task will not be easy for "The Dean" (Al-Ittihad's nickname), especially since Al-Wahda qualified comfortably and has been performing consistently well.
Shabab Al-Ahli UAE vs. Tractor Sazi Iran: A balanced encounter between Tractor Sazi, who delivered a remarkable performance and finished third, and Shabab Al-Ahli, who qualified sixth with high ambitions to go far in the tournament.

The Middle East: The emergence of new powers and traditional conflicts

The East Zone witnessed some pleasant surprises, most notably the impressive performance of Machida Zelvia, who topped their group in their continental debut and will face South Korea's Gangwon. Japanese clubs also secured a strong presence with three teams qualifying: Vissel Kobe will meet FC Seoul, while Sanfrecce Hiroshima will face Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim, who enter the match with high morale.

In another match, Australia's Melbourne City will meet Thailand's Buriram United, in a meeting that brings together two teams that have proven their worthiness to reach this stage by delivering consistent and strong performances against the continent's giants.

Finals in Jeddah: A global sporting event

All eyes are on Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which will host the finals in a centralized format from April 16 to 25. The selection of Jeddah to host this event confirms the Kingdom's growing sporting stature and its ability to organize major events, adding significant public and media interest to the final rounds. The draw for the centralized knockout stage will take place on March 25.