Iranian football club Tractor FC is set to travel to Saudi Arabia, specifically Jeddah, for a playoff match against Shabab Al-Ahli of Dubai to secure a spot in the Asian Champions League Elite quarterfinals against Buriram United of Thailand. This comes as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) attempts to navigate scheduling disruptions caused by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
The AFC conducted the draw for quarterfinal pairings and announced that the western zone playoffs, postponed due to the war in the region, have been rescheduled for April 13-14 in Jeddah. The Saudi city is also slated to host the tournament's quarterfinals, semifinals, and final from April 16 to 25, with organizers expressing hopes for peace but facing uncertainties amid persistent geopolitical strife. AFC General Secretary Windsor John stated, "We all want to play matches as soon as possible. So, hopefully we're able to finish fixtures in April as we have planned. We're hoping that things will calm down very soon."
John added that participating clubs have been "quite supportive of the measures we've put in place to ensure that we only play when things have calmed down," highlighting the challenges of organizing international sports in a volatile environment. In the draw, Japan's Vissel Kobe, which placed second in the east zone, was paired against the winner of the playoff between four-time champions Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia and Al-Sadd of the United Arab Emirates.
Defending champions Al-Ahli Saudi will compete against Al-Duhail of Qatar for a quarterfinal berth against Johor Darul Ta'zim of Malaysia, while Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad take on Al-Wahda for a chance to face Japan's Machida Zelvia, the east zone league stage leaders. Additionally, the AFC Champions League Two and AFC Challenge League quarterfinals were postponed due to the US-Israel war on Iran, with matches now set for April 19 and 22 at centralized venues, including Cristiano Ronaldo's club Al-Nassr in the second-tier competition.
The rescheduling efforts underscore the broader impact of regional conflicts on Asian football, with the AFC striving to maintain tournament integrity while grappling with security concerns and logistical hurdles. The involvement of clubs from Iran, Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern nations adds a layer of diplomatic complexity, reflecting the sport's role in a tense geopolitical landscape.
Source: www.aljazeera.com