Hong Kong, March 4 (BNA) The Asian Football Confederation announced, on Thursday, that Saudi Arabia will host the five groups in the western half of the AFC Champions League.
Reuters reported that Riyadh will host matches in which the defending champion Al Hilal will participate in their city in the first group, which also includes Al-Istiklal from Turkmenistan and Qatar’s Al Rayyan and the play-off winner.
The second group, which includes Mumbai City and Al Jazira from the United Arab Emirates, Al Shabab Club of Saudi Arabia and the Iraqi Air Force Club, will play in Riyadh.
Jeddah will host Foolad of Iran, Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, Al Gharafa of Qatar, and Ahle of Turkmenistan in Group C, while Group D, Sepahan of Iran, Al Duhail of Qatar, Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan and the winner of the play-off, will be hosted in Buraidah.
Group E will play in Dammam and will feature Qatar’s Al Sadd and Al Faisaly from Saudi Arabia, Al Wehdat of Jordan and the play-off winner.
Matches are scheduled to begin on April 7, with the winners from each group advancing to the round of 16 along with the three clubs with the best runner-up records.
The five group stadiums on the eastern side of the draw were announced last month, with matches to be played in Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.
The Games will kick off in the East on April 15th.
The group stage of this year’s AFC Champions League is being played out in central biosecurity bubbles to limit travel due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
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