Al-Ahli Saudi secured the 2026 AFC Champions League Elite title after defeating Machida Zelvia 1-0 in the final at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
The match was intense from the opening whistle, and it was clear that the Japanese club would not be an easy opponent for the defending champions. However, in the end, Matthias Jäissle’s men successfully completed their mission.
Goals from the Al-Ahli vs. Machida match in the 2026 AFC Champions League Elite Final
The match was a back-and-forth affair throughout both halves, until a moment that alarmed Al-Ahli fans: Zakaria Hawsawi was sent off in the 68th minute after striking Machida player Eric.
The visitors’ attempts to score were unsuccessful, and the home side’s performance remained unchanged, resulting in a goalless draw at the end of regulation time, forcing the match into extra time.
Just five minutes into the first period of extra time, Firas Al-Buraikan capitalized on a loose ball in the penalty area, firing it powerfully into the back of the Japanese club’s net.
الأهلي السعودي يتقدم في المباراة #دوري_أبطال_آسيا_للنخبة#AFCChampionsLeague | #ACLElite pic.twitter.com/RdGz2GvtOQ
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) April 25, 2026
Al-Ahli maintained a clean sheet, securing the title for the second consecutive year.
Al-Ahli’s second consecutive title and a historic achievement
Al-Ahli had previously won the 2025 AFC Champions League title, defeating another Japanese club, Kawasaki Frontale, at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (The Shining Jewel), by a score of 2-1.
The 2026 title marks their second consecutive victory and their second AFC Champions League title overall since the competition’s inception in 1967.
Al-Ahli was the first Saudi club to participate in the competition in 1986, and they nearly achieved a historic feat by winning the title that year, but they lost the final to South Korea’s Daewoo.
Al-Ahli returned to the final in 2012 under coach Karel Jarolim, but suffered a 3-0 defeat to South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai.
The jinx against Japanese teams was finally broken with the development of the competition, including a change in its format and name starting with the 2024-25 edition.
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Al-Ahli to Receive Huge Financial Reward
By winning the title, Al-Ahli will earn a substantial financial reward of $12 million.
While this figure may not seem large for a club like Al-Ahli, considering their players’ salaries, this competition is among the most lucrative outside of Europe in terms of revenue.
It’s worth noting that runners-up Machida will receive $6 million, while the two semifinalists, Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai and Buriram United, will each receive $4 million.
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Which team has won the most AFC Champions League titles in history?
Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia holds the record for the most AFC Champions League titles, having won the trophy four times: twice under its former name, the Asian Club Championship, and twice under its previous format.
Pohang Steelers of South Korea and Urawa Red Diamonds are tied for second place with three titles each, while Esteghlal of Iran, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma of South Korea, Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, Al-Sadd of Qatar, and Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia have each won the title twice.
