
Change of Venue for the Al-Police and Al-Gharafa Match in the Elite Asian Champions League
The Asian Football Confederation announced today, Wednesday, a change of venue for one of the home matches of the Qatari team Al-Gharafa in the league stage of the Elite Asian Champions League for the 2025-26 season.
Al-Gharafa participates in the tournament after winning the Amir Cup title last season 2024-25, where the draw placed the team in a strong group that includes Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad from Saudi Arabia, Al-Ahli Youth, Sharjah, and Al-Wahda from the UAE, Al-Police from Iraq, and Tractor from Iran.
Al-Gharafa is scheduled to play its first match on September 15 at the Sharjah Stadium in the UAE, before hosting the Iraqi Police team on September 29 in the second round.
It was originally planned for the four home matches of the Qatari team (against Police, Al-Hilal, Al-Wahda, and Tractor) to take place at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium; however, the Asian Confederation decided to move the Police match to the Khalifa International Stadium, while the other three matches will take place without any changes at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium.
Al-Gharafa will travel to play four away matches against Sharjah, Al-Ahli, Al-Ahli Youth, and Al-Ittihad, noting that the tournament stipulates that the top eight teams in the Western region league standings qualify for the Round of 16.
It is worth mentioning that Al-Gharafa started its local season in the Qatar Stars League 2025-26 strongly, winning in the first two rounds against Umm Salal 4-2 and Al-Arabi 2-1, placing them second, just one goal behind the leader Al-Shamal, which gives the team a morale boost before their Asian matches.
Al-Gharafa participates in the tournament after winning the Amir Cup title last season 2024-25, where the draw placed the team in a strong group that includes Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad from Saudi Arabia, Al-Ahli Youth, Sharjah, and Al-Wahda from the UAE, Al-Police from Iraq, and Tractor from Iran.
Al-Gharafa is scheduled to play its first match on September 15 at the Sharjah Stadium in the UAE, before hosting the Iraqi Police team on September 29 in the second round.
It was originally planned for the four home matches of the Qatari team (against Police, Al-Hilal, Al-Wahda, and Tractor) to take place at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium; however, the Asian Confederation decided to move the Police match to the Khalifa International Stadium, while the other three matches will take place without any changes at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium.
Al-Gharafa will travel to play four away matches against Sharjah, Al-Ahli, Al-Ahli Youth, and Al-Ittihad, noting that the tournament stipulates that the top eight teams in the Western region league standings qualify for the Round of 16.
It is worth mentioning that Al-Gharafa started its local season in the Qatar Stars League 2025-26 strongly, winning in the first two rounds against Umm Salal 4-2 and Al-Arabi 2-1, placing them second, just one goal behind the leader Al-Shamal, which gives the team a morale boost before their Asian matches.