Al-Ahli Saudi FC book Sundowns showdown in FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026

Al-Ahli Saudi FC have taken the first step towards a potential FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026 final against Paris Saint-Germain after beating Auckland FC 1-0 in the play-off in Jeddah on Wednesday.

The victory secured Al-Ahli Saudi FC’s place in the second stage of the competition and set up a decisive meeting with Mamelodi Sundowns, the African Champions League winners.

That match will be played on 19 September at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, with the winner claiming the Africa-Asia-Pacific Cup and a direct place in the Challenge Cup.

The tie represents a significant test for Al-Ahli Saudi FC after their narrow success against Auckland FC. The Saudi club have now moved into a section of the tournament where one result will determine whether their route towards the final continues.

Mamelodi Sundowns will provide the opposition in a match that cannot finish with both teams progressing. Victory will secure the Africa-Asia-Pacific Cup title and take the successful side one step closer to the closing stages of the tournament.

The competition’s other route to the Challenge Cup will be decided through the Americas Derby Cup. Toluca, the CONCACAF champions, will face the winners of the Copa Libertadores on 9 December.

The team that wins that meeting will then play the winner of the Africa-Asia-Pacific Cup on 12 December in the Challenge Cup. That fixture will bring together the successful sides from the two separate paths through the tournament.

The winners of the Challenge Cup will advance to the final and most important match of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026. They will face Paris Saint-Germain, the European champions and holders, on 16 December 2026.

FIFA has yet to announce the central venue that will host the competition’s final three matches. Those games are the Americas Derby Cup, the Challenge Cup and the final, meaning the location will be confirmed at a later stage by football’s world governing body.

For Al-Ahli Saudi FC, the immediate focus is the meeting with Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria. The team’s 1-0 victory over Auckland FC has opened the door to a possible run through the tournament, but progress now depends on overcoming the African champions.

A match summary posted after the play-off described the result as Al-Ahli Saudi FC’s 1-0 win over Auckland FC in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026TM.

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