Cristiano Ronaldo and his Al Nassr teammates are headed to Dubai this week for a crucial Asian Champions League match against Iran’s Esteghlal, following a last-minute venue switch by the Asian Football Federation. Originally scheduled to take place in Tehran, the game was moved due to safety concerns and will now be held at Sheikh Rashid Stadium, home to Dubai’s Shabab Al-Ahli, on Tuesday, October 22, at 5 pm GST.
This high-profile fixture promises to be an exciting clash, featuring some of the biggest names in football. Al Nassr’s squad includes former Premier League stars such as Sadio Mané, Aymeric Laporte, and Marcelo Brozović, while Esteghlal can count on the talents of Gaël Kakuta and Didier Ndong.
Tickets for the match are in high demand, with only VIP tickets priced at Dhs5,000 still available on Platinum List. Esteghlal, as the designated home team, will have most of the stadium’s sections reserved for their fans, including sections 1 through 7, along with Premium and VIP areas. Al Nassr supporters, on the other hand, will be seated in sections 8, 9, and 9A.
Both teams are aiming to secure a top spot in the group to advance to the next round of the Asian Champions League, where the best teams from West Asia will compete for a place in the knockout stage. Al Nassr currently sits on four points after two matches, while Esteghlal has three points, having won their opener 3-0 against Al-Gharafa but falling short in their second match against Al-Sadd.
This match is part of the group stage that includes some of the best teams from the region, such as UAE Pro League champions Al Wasl and reigning Asian champions Al Ain. After the group stage concludes, the top eight teams will move forward to the knockout round, ultimately leading to a final between the best teams from West and East Asia.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time a match has been relocated to Dubai recently. A World Cup 2026 qualifier between Iran and Qatar was also moved to Sheikh Rashid Stadium due to similar concerns.
For fans eager to watch this exciting fixture live, limited VIP tickets are still available. The match kicks off at 5 pm on October 22 at Sheikh Rashid Stadium in Al Qusais.
Date: Tuesday, October 22
Location: Sheikh Rashid Stadium, Al Qusais
Tickets: Dhs5,000 (VVIP tickets only) available at platinumlist.net
