Al-Ittihad and Al-Jazira: Who Will Qualify for the “Elite”?

Al Jazira’s ambition to return to the AFC Champions League Elite faces a test against Saudi side Al-Ittihad after a four-year absence, as the two teams clash in Abu Dhabi in the playoff round for the unified group stage.

In another match representing the West Asia region, Uzbekistan’s Paxtakor hosts Jordan’s Al-Hussein in Irbid in Tashkent.

Al-Ittihad hopes to overcome the difficulties that plagued them before the match, most notably the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by their young Portuguese winger Roger Fernandes (20), and the departure of Brazilian midfielder Fabinho after three seasons with the club, known as “Al-Amid.”

To compensate for Fabinho’s exit, the fifth-placed Saudi league team signed defensive midfielder Dion Lope from Spanish side Almeria, and also added local players Rakan Al-Kaabi and Fares Abadi.

In July, Al-Ittihad appointed young German coach Jens Weßing, who won the AFC Champions League 2 title last season with Japanese club Gamba Osaka.

The 39-year-old coach, who replaced Portuguese manager Sérgio Conceição, expressed satisfaction with his team despite the short time spent working with them.

“Weissing said after concluding the Marbella training camp in Spain: ‘I am satisfied with the players’ performance throughout the camp. I saw a cohesive group and significant progress in both physical and tactical aspects.’”

Al-Ittihad has extensive experience in the continental tournament, having won the title in 2004 and 2005.

Al Jazira, on the other hand, has participated in ten editions, with their most notable achievements being reaching the round of 16 in 2012, 2014, and 2018.

The two clubs previously met twice in the competition, drawing 0-0 in Abu Dhabi and 1-1 in Jeddah during the group stage of the 2009 edition.

Al Jazira’s last participation was in 2022, when they were eliminated in the group stage, reflecting a negative period that saw them absent from major trophy ceremonies. They are participating in the current edition of the continental tournament via the playoff round as fourth-placed finishers in the domestic league, following the Asian Football Confederation’s decision to increase the UAE’s allocation to three direct spots and one-half spot through the qualifiers.

Al Jazira hopes that the technical changes implemented will facilitate their return to the tournament, particularly after appointing experienced Romanian coach Cosmin Olăroiu to replace Dutch manager Marino Pušić, who was recently chosen to lead Saudi club Al-Ahli.

After failing to lead the UAE national team to the 2026 World Cup, which recently concluded in North America, and his subsequent dismissal from managing “Al-Abyad” (The Whites), Olăroiu is looking for a strong comeback in club football, a setting that suits him better.

The 57-year-old Olăroiu is the most successful coach in UAE football history, with 14 titles won during his tenure with Al Ain (2011-2013), Al Ahli Youth (2013-2017), and Al Sharjah (2021-2025).