The capital of Turkmenistan is actively preparing to host one of the most important sporting events of the season—the first leg of the AFC Champions League Two Round of 16. On the football field, the reigning champion of Turkmenistan, “Arkadag”, will face the star-studded Saudi Arabian club “Al-Nassr”.

In the lead-up to the international match, thematic visual displays have been installed along Ashgabat’s central avenues and squares. Billboards and modern video screens across the city have been adorned with banners supporting the national club, calling on fans to unite behind the country’s strongest team.

FC “Arkadag” approaches the match in optimal form. After completing a training camp in the Republic of Türkiye, the team returned to the capital and began the final stage of preparation on the pitch of the Olympic Stadium. It should be recalled that the Turkmen club successfully advanced through the group stage of the tournament, finishing second in Group B.

The match has attracted heightened interest from the international sports community due to the presence of world-class players in “Al-Nassr’s” squad. The Saudi team is expected to arrive in Ashgabat with such football stars as Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix (both Portugal), Sadio Mané (Senegal), Kingsley Coman (France), Iñigo Martínez (Spain), Marcelo Brozović (Croatia), Bento Krepski, and Gabriel Ângelo (both Brazil).

According to the Transfermarkt portal, the total market value of “Al-Nassr’s” players amounts to €133.4 million.

The match will take place on February 11 and will kick off at 18:45 Ashgabat time. This fixture will mark an important stage in the development of Turkmen football and the strengthening of international sports cooperation. The return leg is scheduled for February 18 and will be held in Riyadh.

Hosting competitions of this level in the capital once again confirms Ashgabat’s status as a recognized sports center of the region, equipped with modern infrastructure for organizing major international tournaments.