The Asian Football Confederation highlighted the national representative team Al-Ittihad, returning to participate in the AFC Champions League Elite after winning the title twice consecutively. Al-Ittihad will face UAE’s Shabab Al-Ahli and Sharjah, Uzbekistan’s Nasaf, and Qatar’s Al-Gharafa at home, and UAE’s Al Wahda, Qatar’s Al Sadd and Al-Duhail, and Iraq’s Al-Shorta away.

The AFC began its report on the Saudi club, stating: “Al-Ittihad Saudi Club showcased the finest football moments that made it dominate the most important continental club competition on two consecutive occasions by winning the AFC Champions League in 2004 and 2005, adding a unique flavor to the club that enjoys great popularity in Saudi Arabia.”

The report added: “Domestically, Al-Ittihad holds a rich record of titles in various Saudi competitions.”

Regarding the coach, the report said: “The team is led by the renowned French coach Laurent Blanc, who won the 1998 FIFA World Cup with his national team as a player, and achieved many domestic titles with Paris Saint-Germain and previously Bordeaux. He also won the league and King’s Cup titles with Al-Ittihad last season.”

The report concluded by highlighting the club’s stars: “The Saudi team includes many global stars, most notably the French Karim Benzema, who still retains great technical skills in front of the opponents’ goal and knows the way to the net well, in addition to his compatriot N’Golo Kanté, Algerian Houssem Aouar, and other important players.”

It is worth noting that Al-Ittihad’s first match in this season’s AFC Champions League Elite will be on Monday, September 15 at 7:00 PM when they visit Al Wahda at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.