Al Gharafa went down 0-2 to Tractor FC at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium on Tuesday, with their 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite campaign coming to an end.

Al Gharafa needed a win against the Iranian side to earn qualification for the Round of 16 but the hosts failed to cash in on some of the opportunities that came their way.

Al Gharafa finished 10th in the 12-team West Zone group with a tally of six points,  while Tractor FC ended up in third place with 17 points, setting up a Round of 16 tie against the UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli.

Mehdi Hashemnejad (61st minute) and Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (81st minute) struck for Tractor after a goalless opening half.

Minutes before Tractor broke the deadlock, a Ferjani Sassi header was saved under the crossbar by the rival goalkeeper. Later, a Florinel Coman shot was spilled by the goalkeeper but luckily for him the ball rolled just wide of the left post.