Saudi clubs have proposed a new suggestion regarding the Round of 16 matches of the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League, following the postponement of the first leg due to the current situation in the Middle East.

A meeting was held today, Monday, that included the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and the Saudi Professional League, along with representatives of the clubs participating in Asian competitions, to discuss the implications of the postponement and ways to handle the scheduling pressure in the upcoming period.

According to the "Asharq Al-Awsat" newspaper, the proposed plan includes holding the Round of 16 matches of the AFC Champions League for the elite and also the AFC Champions League 2 as a single match instead of the home-and-away system, with the aim of reducing pressure and ensuring the schedule's regularity.

Representatives of the Saudi quartet Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Nassr expressed their support for the proposal, considering it one of the possible organizational solutions to maintain the stability of competitions and ensure technical readiness.

The newspaper indicated that the final decision will remain in the hands of the Asian Football Confederation after the proposal is officially submitted and studied according to the approved regulations, with the possibility of amending the Saudi league schedule next week if the new system is adopted.