The 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup is officially underway. The road to crown a new world club champion began in Jeddah, where Al Ahli defeated Auckland FC 1-0 to secure their place in the next round of the competition.
The 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup Is Underway: Al Ahli Take the First Step
The Asian champions had to work hard to overcome the Oceania representatives. The only goal of the match came in the 63rd minute through Saleh Abu Al Shamat, who came off the bench and ultimately became the hero of the night.
The victory keeps the Saudi side alive, but the road to the final is still a long one.
Their next stop will be South Africa.
Al Ahli Now Face Mamelodi Sundowns
Al Ahli’s next opponent will be Mamelodi Sundowns, the African champions.
The match will be played on September 19 in Pretoria, South Africa, with a double prize at stake: in addition to winning the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup, the winner will secure a place in the FIFA Challenger Cup.
That is where the different paths of the competition will begin to come together.
Al Ahli represent Asia after winning the AFC Champions League Elite, while Mamelodi Sundowns qualified as African champions. Auckland FC, meanwhile, entered the tournament as Oceania’s representative.
Toluca Await the Copa Libertadores Champion
On the other side of the bracket are Toluca.
The Mexican side secured their place as Concacaf champions and must wait to discover their opponent, as they will face the winner of the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores in the FIFA Derby of the Americas.
The Libertadores final will be played on November 28 in Montevideo, meaning the sixth and final participant in the Intercontinental Cup has yet to be determined.
The winner of the matchup between Toluca and the South American champions will advance to the FIFA Challenger Cup, where they will face the winner of the Al Ahli-Mamelodi Sundowns path.
PSG Await Directly in the Final
And waiting at the end of the road are Paris Saint-Germain.
The reigning European champions and defending Intercontinental Cup winners have already secured their place directly in the final after winning the UEFA Champions League.
PSG won the 2025 edition after defeating Flamengo in a penalty shootout and will now wait to discover their opponent as they look to defend their crown.
The road to the title looks like this:
Al Ahli vs. Mamelodi Sundowns → FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup winner
Toluca vs. Copa Libertadores champion → FIFA Derby of the Americas winner
The winners of those two paths will then meet in the FIFA Challenger Cup.
And whoever survives that battle will face the ultimate challenge: a meeting with Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
The competition has only just begun, but Al Ahli have already taken the first step.
Mamelodi Sundowns are next, and from there, every match will be a knockout battle for the opportunity to ultimately face the champions of Europe.
