The board of directors of Al-Ittihad Saudi Club announced in an official statement issued today, Sunday, a change of venue for the first team's upcoming football match against Uzbekistan's Nasaf. The match will now be played at Al-Inma Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah (The Shining Jewel), instead of Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium, which was previously scheduled to host the encounter.
The Jeddah club management confirmed that this decision was made after full coordination with the relevant authorities and the Asian Football Confederation to ensure the match is organized in the best possible way. According to the statement, the match time will remain unchanged, with kickoff scheduled for 9:15 PM on Tuesday, December 23.
In a gesture of appreciation to its loyal fans, the club clarified in its statement the procedure for handling tickets purchased before the relocation decision. All fans who purchased tickets for the match at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium will be compensated with identical tickets, in terms of category, class, and features, for entry to King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (The Jewel). This ensures the fans' rights and facilitates their attendance to support the team.
This match is of paramount importance to Al-Ittihad, as it falls within the sixth round of the AFC Champions League group stage. Al-Ittihad aims to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans at Jeddah's largest stadium, a venue that has witnessed many of the team's historic triumphs, to secure a resounding victory that would strengthen their position in the group.
Given the two teams' positions in the standings, Al-Ittihad currently sits in eighth place with six points, a precarious position requiring a fight to secure all three points and guarantee their place in the knockout stages under the new Asian Champions League format. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's Nasaf enters the match at the bottom of the table with zero points, making this a golden opportunity for the Tigers to increase their goal tally and points.
Al-Ittihad Club carries a great historical legacy in Asian championships, as it has previously reigned supreme over the continent twice consecutively in the 2004 and 2005 editions, and its large fan base looks forward to restoring this continental glory through the current edition of the "Elite" tournament, considering that playing in the "Radiant Jewel" gives a great moral incentive to the players to give their best.
