Overview
- Gwangju FC will face Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinals at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah this Friday evening local time.
- The revamped tournament format features single-match knockout rounds from the quarterfinal stage, all hosted in Saudi Arabia.
- Gwangju advanced by overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Vissel Kobe with a 3-0 second-leg victory, winning 3-2 on aggregate in the round of 16.
- Al Hilal, one of the most decorated clubs globally with 70 official trophies, boasts a roster featuring stars like Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo, and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
- Gwangju, a city-run club with limited finances, has already earned $400,000 in prize money by reaching the quarterfinals, with potential for significant financial gains if they progress further.