Intercontinental Cup: Sundowns vs. Al Ahli, a FIFA trophy and the next steps at stake

Mamelodi Sundowns will host Al Ahli on Saturday, September 19, in Pretoria, with the FIFA Africa-Asia-Pacific Cup and qualification for the Challenger Cup on the line. The African champions face the Asian champions in the second match of the 2026 Intercontinental Cup.

Sundowns secured their spot by winning the CAF Champions League 2025-2026. The South African club defeated AS FAR 2-1 on aggregate to claim their second continental title in history and return to a global club competition ten years after their participation in 2016.

Al Ahli advanced through the Africa-Asia-Pacific playoff on August 26 in Jeddah, defeating Auckland FC 1-0. Saleh Abu Al Shamat scored the only goal in the 63rd minute, sending the Asian champions to the showdown in Pretoria.

The winner of Sundowns vs. Al Ahli will immediately lift the Africa-Asia-Pacific Cup and qualify for the Challenger Cup. There, they will face the winner of the Americas Derby, followed by a potential final against Paris Saint-Germain, the European champions who are directly qualified for the last match.

Sundowns also have the chance to extend an African streak in this new format. Al Ahly won the Africa-Asia-Pacific Cup in 2024, followed by Pyramids FC in 2025. A victory on Saturday would make the Pretoria club the third consecutive African representative to win this trophy.

The match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahli is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.