Overview
- Group-stage play in the expanded 32-team Champions League Elite is set to begin in mid-September with teams divided into East and West zones and the top eight from each advancing to the round of 16.
- Five Saudi Pro League clubs qualify for the tournament, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al‑Nassr pursuing a likely final continental title and two-time defending champions Al‑Ahli seeking a third straight crown.
- Saudi clubs have spent heavily on foreign players since 2023—reported at more than $2 billion combined—with Al‑Hilal signing Ollie Watkins and Gabriel Martinelli for a reported combined $150 million this summer.
- Since the 2024–25 rebrand the competition’s quarter-finals, semi-finals and final have been held at a single Saudi venue, a format that reinforces home‑field advantages for Saudi teams.
- Regional security concerns require Iranian sides to stage 'home' fixtures at neutral sites such as Basra and Dubai, adding travel, venue and fan‑access complications that could influence group-stage outcomes while Japan and South Korea remain the strongest non‑Gulf challengers.