Ronaldo was kicked in the round to pick up the AFC Champions League
Saudi Arabia has four places to attend the AFC Champions League 2023-2024, of which three teams directly entered the group stage: Al Hilal, Al Ittihad and Al Fayha. Al Nassr won the remaining spot but had to play a match to meet the winner in the match between Sharjah (UAE) and Al-Wehdat (Jordan). If you win this match, Ronaldo and his teammates will be able to participate in the group stage of the AFC Champions League.
Al Hilal won the Saudi League 2021-2022 and the King Cup 2022-2023, Al Ittihad won the Saudi League 2022-2023, and Al Fayha won the King Cup 2021-2022. These achievements help the three teams to enter the group stage of the AFC Champions League. And Al Nassr finished second in the Saudi League 2022-2023, also had a chance to kick the round.
The AFC Champions League round will take place from 8/8/2023 to 22/8/2023. The runner-up of the V-League 2022 - Hai Phong Club - also has a place to participate in the pick-up round, but competes in the Eastern region of AFC. Hai Phong will meet Rangers (Hong Kong) in the first match, if they win, they will play Incheon United (South Korea) to compete for a place in the group stage.
The AFC Champions League group stage kicks off from September 18, 2023, with 40 teams divided into 10 groups, East and West. These 40 teams have been determined, just waiting for the results of the draw to divide the group. Vietnam has a representative straight into the group stage, Hanoi FC - the defending champion of the V-League.
Al Nassr reached the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League in the last season they attended in 2021, but was eliminated by Al Hilal. Last season, Al Nassr ranked third in the Saudi League, so he did not have a place in the continental arena.
The defending AFC Champions League champion is Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), after defeating Al Hilal 2-1 in the final in early May 2023.
If he helps Al Nassr pass the rescue, Ronaldo can become the first "Golden Ball" to play in the AFC Champions League since Rivaldo for Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan) in 2010, when the Brazilian star was also at the age of 38. Ronaldo's contract and Al Nassr will expire in summer 2025.
