TOKYO: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr travel to Iran in the Asian Champions League next week with his side one of three from Saudi Arabia in the last 16 of the region’s top club competition.
Saudi teams dominated the tournament’s West zone league stage, with four-time Asian champions Al-Hilal leading Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr in the top three in the final table.
Saudi Arabia has shaken up football by spending heavily on stars from Europe, starting with Ronaldo’s move in late 2022, and the desert nation will host the World Cup in 2034.
Al-Hilal, the last side from Saudi Arabia to win the Champions League in 2021, topped the league stage on goal difference from Al-Ahli with both unbeaten in eight matches.
Al-Nassr finished five points clear of fourth-placed Al-Sadd of Qatar and Ronaldo’s side take on Iran’s Esteghlal over two legs, the first in Tehran on Monday.
Former Real Madrid and Manchester United star Ronaldo scored six goals in the league stage and is still going strong at the age of 40.
A first Asian crown would add to a bulging trophy haul that already includes five UEFA Champions League titles.
The Portuguese has been joined at Al-Nassr by Colombian striker Jhon Duran, although the big-money signing from Aston Villa was sent off during a Saudi league game last week.
The red card infuriated Ronaldo, who lashed out at the referee and booted the ball into the stands before continuing to remonstrate with the officials.
Coach Stefano Pioli will need his players to keep their heads against Esteghlal, who Al-Nassr beat 1-0 in the league stage thanks to a late goal from former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte.
“We must try to improve every day as we have not yet reached the level where we can compare ourselves with the first level of world football,” Pioli said.
Al-Hilal can no longer call on the services of Brazil’s Neymar but they will still start as heavy favorites in their last-16 tie against Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor.
Al-Ahli meanwhile saw their front three of England’s Ivan Toney, Brazil’s Roberto Firmino and Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez all enjoy goalscoring form in the league stage.
German coach Matthias Jaissle will need them keep it going in the last 16 against Qatar’s Al-Rayyan.
“We achieved a historic record in this edition without losing, and this is not easy,” he said.
“We have the support of the fans and we look forward to winning this tournament.”
Japanese sides led the way in the East zone’s league phase, with last season’s runners-up Yokohama F-Marinos topping the table ahead of compatriots Kawasaki Frontale.
Yokohama, now coached by Gareth Southgate’s former England assistant Steve Holland, play China’s Shanghai Port in the last 16.
Kawasaki face Shanghai Shenhua while a third Japanese team, the domestic champions Vissel Kobe, take on South Korea’s Gwangju.
At least one non-Japanese team is guaranteed to advance in the East zone, with Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim meeting Thailand’s Buriram United.
Johor’s Argentine coach Hector Bidoglio has been impressed with his team’s performances so far.
“Before the start of the competition we set our target to qualify for the next stage,” he said after they booked their place with a 5-2 win over South Korea’s Pohang Steelers.
“But now we have not only qualified but we did it by showing our type of football.”
Last-16 games are played over two legs, with the winners going through to a finals stage to be played in Saudi Arabia in April and May.
Ronaldo eyes Asian Champions League crown as Saudi sides resume campaigns in Round of 16
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Ronaldo eyes Asian Champions League crown as Saudi sides resume campaigns in Round of 16
- Al-Hilal topped the league stage on goal difference from Al-Ahli with both unbeaten in eight matches
- Al-Nassr finished five points clear of fourth-placed Al-Sadd of Qatar and Ronaldo’s side take on Iran’s Esteghlal over two legs, the first in Tehran on Monday
Forever Young features among strong field for Saudi Cup 2026
- Title-holder on course to clash with top-level winners from US and Japan in world’s most valuable race
RIYADH: Defending champion Forever Young heads a stellar list of names put forward for this year’s Group 1 $20 million Saudi Cup, which will take place at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.
The two-day meeting, which begins on Feb. 13, has attracted 57 individual thoroughbred Group or Grade 1 winners in its entirety and 14 Purebred Arabian Group 1 winners. The nominations, spread among 22 different countries, will be competing for total prize-money of almost $40 million.
Prince Bandar bin Khaled Al-Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said: “This is only the seventh time we have staged the Saudi Cup meeting and it has already delivered countless memorable races and performances.
“With the nominations we have received for this year, we can be sure that the spectacular racing will continue. It is wonderful to see such a collection of both familiar and new names from all around the world due to be involved at King Abdulaziz Racecourse next month.”
Officially rated the joint-top dirt horse in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, Forever Young (JPN) has been successful on both his two previous visits to Saudi Arabia, winning the 2024 Saudi Derby before his gallant performance in the world’s most valuable race last year.
Yoshito Yahagi’s superstar, last seen winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic, could face a major challenge over the 1,800m from the US.
Former Classic champion White Abarrio (US) and Preakness Stakes victor Journalism (US) have been entered along with rising stars Nysos (US), the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile hero, and Magnitude (US), who beat a smart field in the Grade 2 Clark Stakes last time.
Further strength in depth from Japan could be added by W Heart Bond, the mare who won the recent Champions Cup, as well as Diktaean and Mikki Fight. They were first and second in the Tokyo Daishoten, the race used previously as a launchpad by Forever Young.
Sayyah (US), impressive in the recent Crown Prince Cup, and Star of Wonder (US), who claimed the King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Cup in late December, are among a number of promising Saudi Arabian-trained horses looking to secure a spot in the signature race.
This year’s Neom Turf Cup, sponsored by Howden, has been upgraded to Group 1 status, making it the first top-level turf race staged in the jurisdiction, and the purse has been increased to $3 million.
Charlie Appleby and Godolphin’s Rebel's Romance (IRE), the winner of nine top-level races around the world and a former Breeders’ Cup title-holder, is set to extend that extraordinary record in the 2,100m showdown. The likes of Bahrain International Trophy scorer Royal Champion (IRE) and Aidan O’Brien’s multiple Group 1-placed The Lion In Winter (IRE) could be up against him.
The Group 2 $2.5 million Red Sea Turf Handicap, sponsored by Longines, draws the cream of international stayers. Both Japan’s Durezza (JPN) and Joseph O’Brien’s Irish star Al-Riffa (FR) have been given entries for this race and the Neom Turf, while last year’s fourth Presage Nocturne (IRE) has improved again for Alessandro Botti.
This year’s Group 2 $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint, sponsored by SHG, could be an absolute cracker with entries headed by Jose d’Angelo’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint sensation Shisospicy (US) and Europe’s leading sprinter and Royal Ascot winner Lazzat (FR).
Similarly, the Group 2 $2 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint has drawn the cream of the international speedsters, including Book’em Danno and Shisospicy’s Breeders’ Cup-winning stablemate Bentornato, from the US, and two incredible talents from the UAE in Bhupat Seemar’s prolific Tuz (US) and last year’s Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Dark Saffron (US) for Ahmad bin Harmash.
Khamal (CHI), stylish winner of the Group 1 Premio Derby Nacional in Peru in late November, is among the jet-setting entries in the Group 3 $1.5 million Saudi Derby, sponsored by Zood Realty.
The card on Friday, Feb. 13 includes the International Jockey Challenge while the $500,000 Saudi International Handicap, sponsored by Lucid, has attracted potential runners trained as far afield as Bahrain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, Oman, Qatar and Spain.
There are two Group 1 races for Purebred Arabians across the weekend. The main turf event, the $1.5 million Al-Mneefah Cup, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, was taken in brave fashion in 2025 by RB Kingmaker (US) and Helal Alalawi’s grey is set for a return visit.
The $2 million Obaiyah Arabian Classic, the principal event on dirt, was won spectacularly last year by the decorated Tilal Al-Khalediah (KS), who could feature again in a strong field from around the Gulf region.
Alalawi has entered not only RB Kingmaker but HM Alchahine (FR), who was a commanding winner over his third-placed stablemate in the Group 1 HH The President Cup in Abu Dhabi last time.
“We are delighted and honored that so many people have chosen to aim their horses for the 2026 Saudi Cup races and, on behalf of everyone at the JCSA, I would like to extend our gratitude to those owners and trainers,” Prince Bandar said.
“Year-on-year, thanks to the vision of our leadership, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his royal highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the crown prince and prime minister — may God protect them — the Saudi Cup has evolved into The Kingdom’s key sporting and social event.
“It has been especially pleasing to see the races recognised by the international authorities, too. The Saudi Cup has held Group 1 status since 2022 but we will now be staging our first ever Group 1 race on grass, the Neom Turf Cup, after its consistent level of performance.
“The Saudi Cup meeting is not only about world-class racing; it is a celebration of the horse as well as the culture and the hospitality of the Kingdom. The list of nominations only increases the excitement and we look forward to welcoming connections and racing fans alike next month for an event that has quickly made a huge impact on the global calendar.”
