AFC Reschedules West Zone Knockout Matches

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed on Sunday that several key West Zone fixtures in its elite club competitions have been rescheduled due to ongoing developments in the Middle East.

Matches in the Round of 16 for the AFC Champions League Elite 2025-2026, originally scheduled for March 2 and 3, will now be played at a later date. High-profile ties affected include Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia vs. Al-Duhail of Qatar in Doha, as well as Shabab Al Ahli Dubai vs. Tractor SC of Iran and Al Wahda of the UAE vs. Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia. Similarly, Round of 16 fixtures in the AFC Cup 2025-2026 and the AFC Challenge League 2025-2026 involving West Zone clubs, originally set for March 3 and 4, have also been postponed until further notice.

Clubs from the East Zone will continue to compete according to previously published schedules across all AFC competitions.

The AFC emphasized that the decision prioritizes the safety and security of players, officials, teams, and fans, and officials will continue to closely monitor the situation. Updated fixtures will be published on the confederation’s official website once conditions allow, underlining the AFC’s commitment to fair and safe competition for all clubs involved.