OFC Pro League champions Auckland FC have suffered elimination in the first round of FIFA Intercontinental Cup™ 2026, after losing 1-0 to AFC Champions League Elite winners Al-Ahli FC at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah. 

Tasting FIFA competition for the first time, Auckland struggled to adjust to the hot conditions and came unstuck to a second half goal from Al-Ahli substitute Abu Al-Shamat in the African-Asian-Pacific Play-off phase of the tournament.

OFC Pro League Golden Ball winner Daniel Normann started in midfield for Auckland FC, with five of his Pro League title-winning teammates on the bench, whilst Al-Ahli's starting eleven featured a cast of former European headliners in contrast, including Ivan Toney, Francesco Trincao, Edouard Mendy, and Roger Ibanez.  

The Black Knights did a good job of keeping their star-studded opposition at bay through a goalless first half though, creating the better of the chances in front of an intimidating crowd in Jeddah.  

Both of their best opportunities fell to New Zealand international winger Logan Rogerson. First, he forced Mendy to divert the ball away at his near post from a run down the left-hand side of the box, before luring the goalkeeper into an acrobatic save from the top-right corner following a header from a free kick delivery.  

Trincao and Galeno both had lively moments for the Asian champions, but it wasn’t until coach Marino Pušić turned to his bench in the second half that the Al-Ahli attack finally found the breakthrough. Al-Shamat pierced the back of the net with his first touch in the 63rd minute, poking the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Michael Woud after being played in-behind the Auckland FC defence by Eduard Spertsyan.  

Al-Shamat almost set up a second five minutes later too, only for Trincao to pull his left-footed effort inches wide of the right post from inside the box.  

His goal proved the game’s defining moment though, and things got worse for Auckland when Sam Cosgrove was shown a straight red card with three minutes of normal time to play for collecting an opponent on the follow-through.  

Pro League-winning squad members Ronan Wynne and Van Fitzharris made appearances off the bench, but neither were able to get the OFC representatives back in the contest, as Al-Ahli progressed at Auckland FC's expense. 

Al-Ahli FC: 1 (Abu AL-SHAMAT 63’) 
Auckland FC: 0

HT: 0-0