Sat Apr 26 18:50:00 UTC 2025: ## AFC Champions League Elite Undergoes Major Format Overhaul for Thrilling Finals

**JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia** – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite is experiencing a dramatic shift in its format for the knockout stages. This year’s competition, which began with a reduction from 40 to 24 teams and a switch to a league stage format, will culminate in a newly introduced “Finals” phase. Unlike previous years, the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final will all be single-match ties held in a centralized venue in Saudi Arabia over a ten-day period.

This marks a significant departure from the traditional two-legged knockout rounds, and aims to create a more concentrated, “tournament-like” atmosphere similar to the FIFA World Cup or AFC Asian Cup. The move also breaks down the traditional East-West Asia zonal segregation, allowing for clashes between teams from different regions for the first time since 2013.

While the decision draws inspiration from the successful centralized knockout stages held in Qatar during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are concerns about stadium attendance. While fans are expected to travel to Saudi Arabia, the risk of sparsely populated stadiums remains, as games would typically be played in front of packed crowds at the home teams’ venues.

The quarterfinals kick off on Friday, April 25th, with a series of high-stakes single-leg matches:

* Al Hilal vs. Gwangju (April 25, 7:30 p.m. AST)
* Al Ahli vs. Buriram United (April 26, 7:30 p.m. AST)
* Yokohama F. Marinos vs. Al Nassr (April 26, 10:30 p.m. AST)
* Kawasaki Frontale vs. Al Sadd (April 27, 7:30 p.m. AST)

*(All times listed are in Saudi Arabia Standard Time (UTC+3))*

The success of this new format remains to be seen, but the AFC hopes to create a thrilling and memorable climax to its revamped flagship club competition.

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