Ivan Toney starts for Al Ahli against Auckland in Intercontinental Cup

\n\nIvan Toney will lead the attack as Al Ahli face Auckland in the opening match of the 2026 Intercontinental Cup.

The English forward has been named in Al Ahli’s starting line-up for the meeting with the New Zealand side, with the Saudi club entering the fixture as Asian champions.

The two teams will contest a semi-final in the Three Continents Cup, with the winner advancing to face African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the final of that competition.

The match will be played at Alinma Stadium, where Al Ahli will be seeking to take another step towards the wider Intercontinental Cup final later in the tournament.

FIFA has appointed an Egyptian refereeing team for the game, led by Amin Omar. He will be assisted by Mahmoud Abouelregal and Ahmed Hossam Taha, while Mahmoud Nagy has been named as the fourth official.

Mahmoud Ashour will serve as the video assistant referee, with Tarek Magdy appointed as the assistant VAR.

Al Ahli’s starting XI is:

Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy

Defenders: Mohammed Abdulrahman, Roger Ibanez, Merih Demiral, Zakaria Al-Hawsawi

Midfielders: Valentin Atangana, Ziyad Al-Jahni, Eduard Spertsyan

Forwards: Francisco Trincao, Ivan Toney, Galeno

Auckland are competing in the Intercontinental Cup for the first time after winning the Oceania Professional League. They are a different Auckland club from Auckland City, the side Al Ahli and Pyramids have faced in previous encounters.

The final of the Three Continents Cup is scheduled to take place in Pretoria, South Africa, on 19 September.

The winner of this match will therefore have the opportunity to reach that final and play Mamelodi Sundowns, the champions of Africa. Beyond that fixture, the winner of the Three Continents Cup will meet the winner of the Americas derby in the Challenge Cup.

A date has not yet been confirmed for the Challenge Cup match.

The winner of that contest will then face European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the final match of the 2026 Intercontinental Cup, with the tournament’s overall champion decided in that fixture.

Al Ahli’s selection places Toney at the centre of their attacking plans for a match carrying significance beyond the opening fixture. The Saudi side will aim to make their continental status count against an Auckland team making its debut in the competition, while the New Zealand club will attempt to progress through the first stage of its Intercontinental Cup campaign.

With the pathway to Mamelodi Sundowns already established, victory at Alinma Stadium would secure Al Ahli or Auckland a place in the Three Continents Cup final in South Africa.