Hot: Controversial AFC decision regarding the Asian tournament

The decision to let Saudi Arabia host the concluding phase of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 has stirred controversy among Asian fans, given that the home field benefit seems to persistently favor West Asian teams.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially confirmed that Saudi Arabia will host the entire final stage of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26. Matches from the quarter-finals to the final will be held in a centralized format in the city of Jeddah, during the period from April 16 to April 25, 2026.The two selected venues are King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium, which are among the most modern stadiums in the region.

According to the schedule, the quarter-finals will take place over the first three days, followed by the semi-finals and the final on April 25, 2026. This phase gathers the top eight clubs in Asia, competing in a single-elimination format to determine the continental club champion. In theory, the centralized format makes the tournament more streamlined and easier to organize, but in reality, it has sparked many debates about fairness.

The main reason for the controversy is that Saudi Arabia was chosen as the host for the final stage for the second consecutive season. Last season, the decisive matches were also held in Saudi Arabia, and the championship was claimed by a club from this country. This has led many fans and experts to question whether the AFC is unintentionally or deliberately creating a clear advantage for the home clubs, especially as West Asian football is heavily invested in.

Many opinions suggest that playing the semi-finals and final in front of home fans, familiar with the stadium conditions and climate, is a significant advantage, particularly in knockout matches. Concerns grow as the AFC consistently favors Middle Eastern countries for major events, while major East Asian football nations like Japan, South Korea, and China are not given the opportunity to host the final stages of the tournament.

This controversy is not new. Previously, the AFC faced backlash for selecting Saudi Arabia and Qatar as venues for key matches in the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers. When home advantage plays a crucial role, the final results raise questions about the fairness in how match locations are allocated.

From the AFC’s perspective, Saudi Arabia was chosen again due to its organizational capacity, modern infrastructure, and readiness for major events, including the 2027 Asian Cup. However, fans believe Asian football requires not only grandeur but also fairness and transparency.

Therefore, this decision inevitably invites debate. As the AFC Champions League Elite is increasingly positioned as Asia’s premier club competition, questions about geographic bias and home advantage will remain hot topics, at least until the AFC adopts more balanced hosting choices in the future.