Qatar to stage Asian Champions League final as neutral host

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Qatar will host the postponed Asian Champions League final after staging the knockout rounds as a competition hub during the coronavirus pandemic. The Asian Football Confederation has decided to stay in Doha without saying which 2022 World Cup stadium will stage the game on Dec. 19. The single-leg final replaces the two-leg series traditionally played in November between teams which advance from separate east and west regional brackets. Iranian club Persepolis advanced to the final from the west bracket. The eastern section resumes on Nov. 18 in Qatar in the group stage. It includes teams from Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand.