Al Ahli vs Auckland FC: Full lineups confirmed for FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026 match
The Saudi giants will look to get the better of their Kiwi opponents tonight.
Al Ahli will host Auckland FC at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah for a first-round fixture of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026 on Wednesday, August 26. The winner of tonight’s match will win the African-Asian-Pacific Cup Play-off and progress to the second round.
Al Ahli, the reigning AFC Champions League Elite champions, will be the heavy favourites in tonight’s opening fixture in the six-team tournament. The Royals have made a bright start under head coach Marino Pusic, winning their opening two Saudi Pro League games against Al Diriyah (1-0) and Abha Club (4-0).
Ivan Toney scored a hat-trick for his side in their last league game, and the England international will look to continue his hot streak tonight. New signing Francisco Trincao will also seek to impress after a fine goal against Abha.
Auckland FC have also enjoyed a stunning domestic campaign, winning the OFC Professional League. They suffered a 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in a pre-season friendly, but will seek to cause an upset against Al Ahli tonight.
Also Read: Top 10 players who left Saudi Pro League to return to Europe
Al Ahli vs Auckland FC Lineups
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Al Ahli
Starting XI: Edouard Mendy; Mohammed Yousef, Merih Demiral, Roger Ibanez, Zakaria Hawsawi; Ziyad Al Johani, Valentin Atangana; Francisco Trincao, Eduard Sperstian, Galeno; Ivan Toney.
Bench: Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi (gk), Mohammed Sulaiman, Firas Albrikan, Meshal Al Mutairi, Artem Bondarenko, Matheus Goncalves, Abdullah Radif, Saad Yaslam, Rayan Hamed, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, Naif Masoud, Ricardo Mathias.
Auckland FC
Starting XI: Michael Woud; Hiroki Sakai, Aaron Calver, Nando Pijnaker, Francis De Vries; Logan Rogerson, Daniel Normann, Felipe Gallagos, Lachlan Brook; Lachlan Bayliss, Sam Cosgrove.
Bench: Joseph Knowles (gk), Eli Jones (gk), Cameron Howieson, Callan Elliot, Marley Leulai, Ronan Wynne, Aaron Cartwright, Luka Robert Vicelich, Jonty Bidois, Van Fitzharris.
When is the Al Ahli vs Auckland FC FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026 match?
The match will be played on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, with kick‑off at 11:30 PM IST in India.
Where is the Al Ahli vs Auckland FC match taking place?
The fixture will be held at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.