On February 11, FC Arkadag of Turkmenistan will host Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Two Round of 16. The match, expected to kick off at 18:45 local time, is set to become a landmark event for football in Turkmenistan. The return leg will be played on February 18 in Saudi Arabia.

Match Venue in Turkmenistan

The game is widely expected to take place at the Olympic Stadium in Ashgabat, the largest stadium in Turkmenistan and Central Asia with a capacity of 45,000. Built for the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, the venue has yet to host an official football match, making this fixture historic for Turkmenistan.

Although AFC documents still list Arkadag’s regular 10,000-seat stadium, training sessions and logistical preparations indicate that the Olympic Stadium will host the match. Ticket sales in Turkmenistan have not yet been officially announced.

Teams’ Current Status

Al-Nassr dominated Group D with six wins out of six, scoring 22 goals and conceding only two. Arkadag finished second in Group B, recording one win, four draws and one defeat.

The football season in Turkmenistan has concluded, with Arkadag winning the league, cup and super cup. In contrast, the Saudi Pro League is ongoing, where Al-Nassr currently sits second.

Star Power and Transfers

Cristiano Ronaldo headlines Al-Nassr’s squad, alongside global stars such as Sadio Mané and João Félix. Arkadag, representing Turkmenistan, strengthened its squad by signing three national team players ahead of the knockout stage.

Expectations

This will be the first ever meeting between the clubs. Football officials in Turkmenistan have expressed confidence that Arkadag will compete fearlessly against the Saudi giants.