Al Sadd players share a light moment during a training session on Sunday night.
Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd will face Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in a thrilling quarter-final matchup, following the exciting draw for the AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite Finals 2025 held yesterday in Kuala Lumpur.
Al Sadd, the only Qatari club remaining in Asia’s premier club competition, aim to capture their first title since 2011. They come into the clash following a 4-2 aggregate win over Al Wasl in the Round of 16, after a 1-1 draw in the first leg. Kawasaki Frontale advanced with a commanding 4-1 aggregate victory over Shanghai Shenhua.
Qatar’s Al Rayyan were eliminated in the Round of 16, while Al Gharafa failed to qualify for the knockout stages.
Al Sadd team manager Abdullah Al Buraik acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting that no match will be easy in the finals.
“All the teams in the quarter-finals are strong, and they’ll be aiming for the title,” he said at Al Sadd’s website following the draw.
“We’re focused on Kawasaki Frontale, and we’ll be fully prepared for the challenge.”
Star forward Akram Afif, after the win over Al Wasl had said, “The best is yet to come from Al Sadd. We aim to reach the furthest stage in the tournament.”
Head coach Felix Sanchez also expressed his confidence, stating, “We are taking it step by step. Now, we’re among Asia’s top eight, and we will strive to go further.”
The one-leg quarter-final matchups mark the first time that teams from West and East Asia will face off in the revamped tournament format.
In other quarter-finals, four-time AFC Champions League winners Al Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia, the top-seeded team, will take on Korea Republic’s Gwangju FC.
Japan’s second-seeded Yokohama F. Marinos will face Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, with both teams aiming for their first-ever title. Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli FC, undefeated this season with nine wins and a draw, will meet Thailand’s Buriram United.
The finals will feature seven exciting matches held in a centralised format from April 25 to May 3 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The first quarter-final is scheduled for April 25, with the second and third taking place on April 26, and the final quarter-final on April 27.
The semi-finals will be held on April 29 and 30, with the championship match taking place at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on May 3.
The final will not only determine the champion but also offer a record prize pool of at least $12m.
Draw Result
Quarter-finals
Al Hilal SFC (KSA) vs Gwangju FC (KOR)
Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) vs Buriram United (THA)
Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) vs Al Nassr Club (KSA)
Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) vs Al Sadd SC (QAT)
Semi-finals
Al Hilal SFC (KSA)-Gwangju FC (KOR) vs Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA)-Buriram United (THA)
Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)-Al Nassr Club (KSA) vs Kawasaki Frontale (JPN)-Al Sadd SC (QAT)
