The Asian Football Confederation confirmed on Tuesday that four Asian Champions League Elite fixtures, previously delayed due to the conflict in the Middle East, will be take place in Jeddah and contest as single-leg matches next month, according to Reuters.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, targeting its leadership and triggering a new conflict in the Middle East.
Iran has been responding with a retaliatory counterattack in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi as a retaliatory move, while launching barrages of missiles and drones toward Israel.
The round-of-16 matches were originally scheduled as home-and-away games in Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates during the first two weeks of March.
Defending champions Al‑Ahli are set to face Qatar’s Al‑Duhail, while four‑time winners Al‑Hilal take on Al‑Sadd. Shabab Al‑Ahli from the UAE will play Iran’s Tractor FC, and Al‑Wahda will meet Saudi Pro League champions Al‑Ittihad.
Now, the matches are scheduled for April 13 and 14 as single-leg ties, preceding the tournament’s finals stage.
Jeddah was originally scheduled to host the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final in a centralized format, with matches running from April 16 to 25.
The round-of-16 matches on the eastern side of the draw have already concluded, with Japan’s Vissel Kobe and Machida Zelvia progressing to the quarter-finals, as well as Thailand’s Buriram United and Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim.
The quarter-final draw is set to take place in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
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