Al-Ahli Saudi FC has qualified for the AFC Champions League final for the second consecutive year, where they will face the winner of the match between Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai and Machida Zelvia in a highly anticipated clash.
Coach Matias Jäissle’s team are the defending champions, having defeated Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 last season, and they hope to secure their second title in the competition’s history, taking advantage of playing on home soil.
For the second consecutive season, the AFC Champions League will be played in a knockout format from the quarterfinals to the final, with Jeddah hosting the matches at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (The Shining Jewel).
The competition has witnessed some surprises, most notably Al-Hilal’s early exit in the Round of 16 against Al-Sadd, and Al-Ittihad’s unexpected 1-0 defeat to Machida Zelvia at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium.
2026 AFC Champions League Final Date
The 2026 AFC Champions League Final will be held on Saturday, April 25th at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Al-Jawhara Stadium).
The highly anticipated final is scheduled to kick off at 7:15 PM Mecca and Doha time, and 8:15 PM Abu Dhabi time.
2026 CAF Confederation Cup Final Date, Broadcast Channels, and Prizes
2026 AFC Champions League Final Broadcast Channels
The 2026 AFC Champions League Final will be broadcast on beIN SPORTS and Al Kass. The final match between Al Ahli and the winner of the Shabab Al Ahli Dubai vs. Machida match will be broadcast on beIN SPORTS 2 HD and Al Kass 5.
You can also watch the live stream of the 2026 AFC Champions League Final through the Tod or Shoof apps, as well as by subscribing to beIN CONNECT.
What are the prize money amounts for the 2026 AFC Champions League?
Since the adoption of the new format for the AFC Champions League, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced a significant increase in prize money. The champion will now receive $12 million, double the amount awarded to the CAF Champions League winner.
The runner-up in the AFC Champions League will receive $6 million. Throughout the knockout stages, teams will receive between $1 million and $4 million (for the semi-finals), in addition to $800,000 for teams eliminated in the group stage.
The date of the 2026 CAF Champions League final, broadcast channels, and prizes
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. Two of these titles were won under the previous name, the “Asian Club Championship,” and two under the current format.
Pohang Steelers of South Korea and Urawa Red Diamonds are tied for second place with three titles each. Esteghlal of Iran, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma of South Korea, Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, and Al-Sadd of Qatar have each won the title twice.
A number of clubs have won the title once, such as Al-Ahli Saudi, Liaoning China, Al-Ain UAE, as well as Kashima Antlers, Western Sydney Australia, and Iwata Japan.
