Cristiano Ronaldo's Club Affected by Iran Conflict, AFC Postpones ACL and ACL 2 Matches

The escalating situation in the Middle East has prompted the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) to reschedule several Round of 16 matches in the AFC Champions League Elite and Two competitions for teams based in the Western region.

This action was triggered by the United States and Israel launching attacks on Iran’s capital, Tehran, beginning Saturday, 28 February 2026. Missile and drone warfare intensified following the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, as a result of continued US-Israeli strikes on Sunday, 1 March 2026.

The conflict has affected two major AFC competitions: the AFC Champions League Elite and Two, as well as the AFC Challenge League.

According to the latest AFC statement, the confederation has officially postponed matches in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Elite and the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Two. In the AFC Challenge League, Indonesian Super League club Dewa United continues to participate and will face Manila Digger in the quarter-final stage.

According to the AFC’s official website, the Round of 16 matches for the AFC Champions League Elite and Two are scheduled to begin Monday, 2 March 2026. Several postponed fixtures involve Middle Eastern clubs, including Al Ahli Dubai versus Tractor, Al Duhail versus Al Ahli Saudi, Al Wahda versus Al Ittihad, and Al Sadd versus Al-Hilal.

The AFC Champions League Two 2025-2026 quarter-finals were originally scheduled for Wednesday, 3 March 2026. Additionally, the match between Qatari League club Al Ahli and Al Hussein of Jordan has also been postponed indefinitely.

Matches in the Eastern region will proceed as normal. The AFC stated it will continue to monitor the situation resulting from the conflict in Iran. Player safety, team members, and supporter safety remain the AFC’s priority.