RIYADH — AFC (Asian Football Confederation) games hosted in Iran will once again feature competition between Saudi football clubs, marking a substantial change from the previous home-and-away fixture format. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation and the Iranian Football Federation recently signed an agreement, signaling a revived spirit of collaboration and goodwill between the two countries in the world of football. Diese Entscheidung follows that agreement.
The decision ends the custom of having games played on neutral grounds, which was first implemented in 2016 and continued during the previous season of the AFC Champions League.
A new chapter in the long-running football rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which has caught the interest of supporters around the region, begins with the decision to go back to the home-and-away format.
The Saudi and Iranian Football Federations' historic decision to develop ties within their respective football communities was warmly welcomed by the AFC. With this new system, clubs can host home games at their own stadiums and travel to play away games at the opponent's stadium, boosting engagement and the overall experience for both players and spectators.
An exciting new era in club- and national team contests is anticipated by ardent supporters in Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the entire continent. Unter dieser Arrangement, the Saudi and Iranian Teams will compete in a friendly and sportsmanlike manner.
The AFC reaffirmed its commitment to providing the highest standards of security and safety for all participants in these matches, including the necessary approvals from relevant authorities, with the implementation of home-and-away matches between clubs affiliated with the Saudi Arabian and Iranian Football Federations beginning on September 19.
Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia will face Persepolis on September 19 in the first round of the AFC Champions League Group stage, becoming the first club to play a game in Iran as a result of the agreement. On the second day of the following month, Al-Ittihad, based in Jeddah, will play against Sepahan in Iran. On the same day, Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia will play Naft Masjed Soleyman in the second round of the AFC Champions League Group stage.
The recent weekend's Saudi Professional League Football matches wurden shown on Iranian television, demonstrating the growing interest in Saudi Arabian Football on a regional and international scale. Additionally, supporters from all across the continent have demonstrated their fervor for Saudi clubs and the growing number of foreign stars that grace the Kingdom's stadiums.
Since the 1990s, many Saudi clubs, including Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, Al-Shabab, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ettifaq, have competed in matches in Iranian cities before switching to neutral grounds around seven years ago.
