Saudi Pro League clubs are set to travel to Iran for the Asian Champions League matches, marking a significant change in the competition format.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Monday that games between teams from Saudi Arabia and Iran would now be played on a home-and-away basis, a departure from the neutral territory arrangement that had been in place since 2016.
This development means that Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr will commence their Asian Champions League campaign at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on September 19, where they will face Persepolis.
Additionally, Al Hilal and Al Ittihad will also make trips to Iran during the group stage.
The AFC said it “welcomes the historic move” as it reflects the commitment of Saudi Arabia and Iran “towards fostering closer ties between their respective footballing communities”.
It allows “clubs to host matches on their home turf while visiting the respective away stadiums, creating a more engaging and exciting experience for the fans and players alike”.
In addition to Al Nassr’s upcoming visit to Tehran in Group E later this month, Al Hilal, the club that recently acquired Brazil winger Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain, is slated to travel to Tehran to face Nassaji Mazandaran in Group D on October 3.
The Saudi champions, Al Ittihad, which includes former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, have been drawn to compete against Isfahan-based Sepahan in Group C.
These two teams are scheduled to clash in Iran on October 2.
Saudi Pro League teams have a rich history of success in the Asian club competition, with Al-Hilal securing the title four times and Al Ittihad claiming the championship in 2004 and 2005.
On the other side, Iran’s Persepolis enjoys immense support and has played in front of crowds exceeding 100,000 at the Azadi Stadium, notably during the second leg of the 2018 Asian Champions League final when they faced Japan’s Kashima Antlers.
The group stage is set to commence on September 18 and will run until December 13, with the knockout rounds beginning on February 12. The two-legged final is scheduled for May 11 and 18.