AFC Challenge League 2026-27 draw announced
The AFC Challenge League is the third-tier football competition in the men's category. The tournament was introduced by the Asian Football Confederation 21 years ago. It was called the President's Cup at the time, but it was discontinued in 2014. In 2024-25 it was reintroduced as the AFC Challenge League.
What is the AFC Challenge League all about?
The AFC Challenge League is the third-tier football competition in the men's category. The tournament was introduced by the Asian Football Confederation 21 years ago. It was called the President's Cup at the time, but it was discontinued in 2014. In 2024-25 it was reintroduced as the AFC Challenge League.
The tournament is divided into two formats: AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League Two. The tournament's target is to provide a boost to Asian clubs by giving them a platform in continental competitions.
The tournament is divided into East and West regions. Tajikistan-based club Regar TadAZ won the inaugural tournament in 2005 when it was named President's Club. The club also won the tournament in 2008 and 2009. Kyrgyzstan-based club Dordoi Dynamo won the tournament in 2006 and 2007. Myanmar-based club Yadanarbon won the tournament in 2010.
Taiwan-based club Taipower won the tournament in 2011. Tajikistan-based club Istiklol won the competition in 2012. Nebitci Club, which is based in Balkanabat, Turkmenistan, won the tournament in 2013, while another Turkmenistan-based club, HTTU Asgabat, won it in 2014. FK Arkadag, which is also based in Turkmenistan, won it in 2024-25 when it was reintroduced as the AFC Champions League. Kuwait SC, which is based in Kuwait, won the tournament in 2025-26.
Malaysia will host the draw.
The teams that will take part in the 2026-27 tournament will be known on Thursday, the 20th of August, at 12:30 PM at the AFC House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The draw will be conducted for the group games. Eight teams were given direct entry into the group phase, while seven other clubs qualified from the preliminary phase and joined these eight teams. Two teams that were eliminated from the AFC Champions league two 2026-27 (preliminary phase, West) were also given entry.
FC Goa was amongst those teams. Qualification of the other three clubs will be confirmed after the preliminary phase games of the Eastern region. The teams will be divided into five groups, two from the east and three from the western region. They will then compete in a round-robin centralised league format in the league phase from the 17th of October to the 24th of October 2026.
After the group phase, the quarterfinals and semifinals would be played in two legs that would be played from 3rd to 18th of March 2027 and 7th to 15th of April 2027 respectively, with the final to be played on the 8th of May 2027.
FC Goa would be competing in the AFC Challenge League 2026-27.
East Bengal won their AFC Champions League two preliminary phase games and booked their place in the AFC Champions League two 2026-27. FC Goa was the other team from India, but the team lost to Turkmenistan-based club, FK Arkadag, in their preliminary phase game at the Arkadag Stadium, Turkmenistan, and couldn't qualify for the AFC Champions League two 2026-27. However, FC Goa will play in the third division of the 2026-27 AFC Challenge League. FC Goa has been placed alongside Kuwait based club Al Arabi SC in pot 1 from the East Zone. The team had lost to East Bengal.
We analyse how the pots have been divided in detail:
Geographically, the divisions are made as per Eastern and Western regions. The Eastern region comprises 8 teams that have been divided into four pots, with every pot consisting of two teams each. In the Western region, there are 12 teams, and there will be four pots with each pot consisting of three teams. FC Goa are included in Pot 1 alongside Kuwait-based club Al Arabi FC and Turkmenistan-based club Ahal FC. Five new teams will be seen in action this time around: FC Goa, Al Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo SC, Ahal FC, New Taipei City, Hang Huan FC and Qadsia FC. Qadsia FC, Paro FC, FC Istiklol, Borneo FC Samarinda and Shan United FC will be the hosts for the group games. Pot 2 consists of Lebanon based clubs Al Ansar SC and Nehmeh SC. Pot 3 consists of the Tajikistan-based club FC Istiklol, the Bangladesh-based club Fortis FC and Al Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo SC Syria. Pot 4 consists of Paro FC from Bhutan, FC Regar Tadaz from Tajikistan and Homs Al Fidaa SC from Syria. These are the clubs from the Western Region.
Easter Region
In pot 1 either Persib Bandung of Indonesia would qualify or Manila Digger from the Philippines. Borneo FC Samarinda is the other Indonesian club who has qualified. In pot 2 One Taguig FC from Phillipines and Shan United from Myanmar have qualified. Pot 3 consists of Taiwan-based clubs Tainan City FC and New Taipei City Hang Yuan FC. Pot 4 will consist of Yangon United FC from Myanmar or Ezra FC from Laos. The other team would be Kasuka FC from Brunei or Karketu Dili FC from Timor.
Where would the draw be telecast?
Fans can watch live action of the draw on The AFC Hub Youtube Channel.
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