Al Ahli Saudi to face Auckland City in FIFA Intercontinental Cup opener

Al Ahli Saudi will face Auckland City FC in the opening round of the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup. The match is scheduled to take place at the Al Inma Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Al Ahli enters the tournament as the Asian champions, following their AFC Champions League Elite title. Auckland City represents Oceania as the OFC Champions League winners. The winner of this match will advance to face South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the Africa-Asia-Pacific Cup.

There is a significant disparity in market value between the two squads. Al Ahli's squad is valued at approximately 199.6 million euros, led by players such as Francisco Trincao, while Auckland City's squad is valued at roughly 2.86 to 8.05 million euros. The tournament structure eventually leads to a final where Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning European champions, awaits the winner of the Challenger Cup.