2025–26 AFC Challenge League

2025–26 AFC Challenge League
Tournament details
DatesQualifying:
12 August 2025
Competition proper:
25 October 2025 – 9 May 2026
TeamsCompetition proper: 20 (from 27 associations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played30
Goals scored96 (3.2 per match)
Attendance70,408 (2,347 per match)
Top scorer(s) Moses Dyer (Phnom Penh Crown)
(5 goals)
All statistics correct as of 1 November 2025.

The 2025–26 AFC Challenge League is the 12th edition of the Asia's third-tier continental club football competition, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the second under the AFC Challenge League title.[1][2]

Arkadag are the reigning champions, but will not defend their title as the winner of the Challenge League automatically qualifies for the Champions League Two Group stage.

The winner will be given a direct slot for the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Two group stage, if they have not already qualified through their domestic performance.[3]

Association team allocation

The associations are allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking which was published after the 2023–24 competitions were completed.[4][5]

Participation for 2025–26 AFC Challenge League
Participating
Not participating
Notes
  1. ^
    AFC Licensing (AFC): Association did not have a licensed club.[6]
  2. ^
    AFC Slots (AFC2): The indirect slot of one of the Member Associations that did not enter a team was redistributed to the next highest eligible Member Association.[7]
  3. ^
    Lebanon (LBN): The team with the additional indirect slot received a bye in the play-off round due to an insufficient number of participating teams.
  4. ^
    Palestine (PLE): Association did not enter a team.

Teams

Notes
  1. ^
    Bangladesh (BAN): Mohammedan, winner of the 2024–25 Bangladesh Premier League champions, failed to obtain an AFC license. Instead, the runners-up, Abahani Dhaka, qualified for the Challenge League qualifying playoffs.
  2. ^
    Chinese Taipei (TPE): As 2025 Taiwan President FA Cup winners Tainan City TSG already qualified for the Challenge League playoffs via their league position, the spot reserved for the Taiwan President FA Cup winners was transferred to the 2024 Taiwan Football Premier League runners-up, Futuro.
  3. ^
    Lebanon (LBN): Since the 2024–25 Lebanese FA Cup could not take place due to escalation of the conflict in the south with Israel,[8] the AFC Challenge League playoff spot was passed to the Premier League runners-up, Safa.
  4. ^
    Kuwait (KUW): Since the 2024–25 Kuwait Emir Cup could not be completed in time for due to tightness of schedules, the AFC Challenge League playoff spot was passed to the Premier League runners-up, Al-Arabi.
  5. ^
    Maldives (MDV): The 2024 Dhivehi Premier League was not held. The teams from Maldives are determined by the results of the 2023 Dhivehi Premier League. Thus Maziya, the 2023 Dhivehi Premier League champions, participate in the AFC Challenge League group stage.[6]
  6. ^
    Mongolia (MGL): Since the 2024-25 MFF Cup could not be completed in time for due to tightness of schedules and delays, the AFC Challenge League playoff spot will be passed to the Premier League runners-up, Khangarid.
  7. ^
    Syria (SYR): Since the 2024–25 Syrian Cup could not take place due to the ongoing political situation and hostilities in Syria, the AFC Challenge League playoff spots were awarded based on the Premier League standings.[9] Al-Ittihad Ahli, winner of the 2024–25 Syrian Premier League champions, failed to obtain an AFC license. Instead, the runners-up, Al-Karamah and third-place, Hutteen, qualified for the Challenge League qualifying playoffs.[6]
  8. ^
    Turkmenistan (TKM): Arkadag, winner of the 2024 Ýokary Liga and 2024 Turkmenistan Cup, also won the 2024–25 AFC Challenge League and qualified for the Champions League Two group stage. The 2024 Ýokary Liga runners-up Ahal and third place Altyn Asyr qualify for the Champions League Two qualifying playoffs and Challenge League group stage respectively.

Schedule

The schedule of the competition is as follows.[10]

Stage Round Draw date West region East region
Preliminary stage No draw[a] 12 August 2025
Group stage Matchday 1 28 August 2025 25 October 2025 26 October 2025
Matchday 2 28 October 2025 29 October 2025
Matchday 3 31 October 2025 1 November 2025
Knockout stage Quarter-finals No draw[b] 4 and 11 March 2026 5 and 12 March 2026
Semi-finals 7 and 15 April 2026 9 and 16 April 2026
Final 9 May 2026
  1. ^ Pre-determined format. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same tie.
  2. ^ Pre-determined format. Teams are placed in the bracket based on their group stage results.

Preliminary stage

The bracket of the preliminary stage was determined based on each team's seeding, with the team with higher seeding hosting the match. Teams from the same association could not be placed into the same tie. The winners of the preliminary stage (five from West and four from East) will advance to the group stage and join the 11 direct entrants.[11]

Team 1ScoreTeam 2
West Region
Dhaka Abahani 0–2 Muras United
Al-Karamah 0–1 Bashundhara Kings
Abdysh-Ata 5–2 Hutteen
Maziya 0–4 Al-Arabi
Paro 1–0 Abu Muslim
East Region
Tainan City 4–1 Khangarid
SP Falcons 3–1 Taichung Futuro
Yangon United 1–1 (3–5 p) Ezra
Kasuka 0–6 Phnom Penh Crown

West Region

Dhaka Abahani 0–2 Muras United
AFC Report
GSA Report
  • Dzhumashev 48', 90+2'
Attendance: 3,628
Referee: Torphong Somsing (Thailand)
Al-Karamah 0–1 Bashundhara Kings
AFC Report
GSA Report
Attendance: 2,667
Referee: Firdavs Norsafarov (Uzbekistan)
Abdysh-Ata 5–2 Hutteen
 AFC Report
GSA Report
  • Younes 59'
  • Shoufan 90+4'
Attendance: 3,856
Referee: Ngô Duy Lân (Vietnam)
Maziya 0–4 Al-Arabi
AFC Report
GSA Report		 Iwuala 3'
Ngoy 41'
John 55'
Ashkanani 87'
Attendance: 500
Referee: Ahmed Faisal Al-Ali (Jordan)
Paro 1–0 Abu Muslim
  • Asante 90+4'
 AFC Report
GSA Report
Attendance: 3,200
Referee: Clifford Daypuyat (Philippines)

East Region

Tainan City 4–1 Khangarid
  • Aranda 22'
  • Sakkouh 58'
  • Benchy 81'
  • Bilguun 90+4'
 AFC Report
GSA Report
  • Asano 71'
Attendance: 1,079
Referee: Zayniddin Alimov (Kyrgyzstan)
SP Falcons 3–1 Taichung Futuro
 AFC Report
GSA Report
  • Saito 60'
Attendance: 846
Referee: Abdullo Davlatov (Tajikistan)
Yangon United 1–1 (a.e.t.) Ezra
 AFC Report
GSA Report
  • Anantaza 109'
Penalties
 3–5
Attendance: 512
Referee: Wong Wai Lun (Hong Kong)
Kasuka 0–6 Phnom Penh Crown
AFC Report
GSA Report
Attendance: 1,263
Referee: Virendha Rai (Bhutan)

Group stage

Main article: 2025–26 AFC Challenge League group stage
Location of the 2025–26 AFC Challenge League group stage teams
Brown: Group A; Green: Group B; Orange: Group C;
Yellow: Group D; Pink: Group E

West Region

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ALS ATA AAK PAR
1 Al-Shabab 3 3 0 0 6 2 +4 9 Advance to Quarter-finals 3–1 2–1 1–0
2 Altyn Asyr 3 2 0 1 5 4 +1 6 1–0 3–1
3 Abdysh-Ata Kant 3 0 1 2 4 6 −2 1 3–3
4 Paro (H) 3 0 1 2 4 7 −3 1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ALK ALA ASB BSK
1 Al-Kuwait (H) 3 2 1 0 6 3 +3 7 Advance to Quarter-finals 3–2 1–1 2–0
2 Al-Ansar 3 2 0 1 7 4 +3 6 2–1 3–0
3 Al-Seeb 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 4 3–2
4 Bashundhara Kings 3 0 0 3 2 8 −6 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification MRU AAR SSC RTT
1 Muras United (H) 3 1 2 0 3 1 +2 5 Advance to Quarter-finals 1–1 2–0 0–0
2 Al-Arabi 3 1 2 0 5 4 +1 5 2–2 2–1
3 Safa 3 1 1 1 4 5 −1 4 2–1
4 Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda 3 0 1 2 2 4 −2 1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

Ranking of second-placed teams

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 B Al-Ansar 3 2 0 1 7 4 +3 6 Advance to Quarter-finals
2 A Altyn Asyr 3 2 0 1 5 4 +1 6
3 C Al-Arabi 3 1 2 0 5 4 +1 5
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) fair play ranking; 5) drawing of lots

Combinations of matches in the Quarter-finals

The specific match-ups involving the second-placed team depended on which second-placed team qualified for the quarter-finals

Group QF1 QF2
B 2B v 1C 1A v 1B

East Region

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SVR MDF SPF EZR
1 PKR Svay Rieng (H) 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 7 Advance to Quarter-finals 2–2 3–0 3–0
2 Manila Digger 3 2 1 0 7 3 +4 7 2–0 3–1
3 SP Falcons 3 1 0 2 3 6 −3 3 3–1
4 Ezra 3 0 0 3 2 9 −7 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification DUB PPC TNC SNU
1 Dewa United Banten (H) 3 2 1 0 9 2 +7 7 Advance to Quarter-finals 1–1 4–0 4–1
2 Phnom Penh Crown 3 2 1 0 7 4 +3 7 3–2 3–1
3 Tainan City 3 1 0 2 4 8 −4 3 2–1
4 Shan United 3 0 0 3 3 9 −6 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

Knockout stage

Main article: 2025–26 AFC Challenge League knockout stage

Bracket

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
          
Al-Ansar
Muras United
 
West Region
 
Al-Shabab
Al-Kuwait
 
 
Phnom Penh Crown
PKR Svay Rieng
East Region
 
Manila Digger
Dewa United Banten

Quarter-finals

The first legs will played on 4–5 March, and the second legs will be played on 11–12 March 2026.

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
West Region
Al Ansar QF1 Muras United4 Mar11 Mar
Al-Shabab QF2 Al-Kuwait4 Mar11 Mar
East Region
Phnom Penh Crown QF3 PKR Svay Rieng5 Mar12 Mar
Manila Digger QF4 Dewa United Banten5 Mar12 Mar

Semi-finals

The first legs will played on 8–9 April, and the second legs will be played on 15–16 April 2026.

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
West Region
Winner QF1SF1Winner QF28 Apr15 Apr
East Region
Winner QF3 SF2Winner QF49 Apr16 Apr

Final

Main article: 2026 AFC Challenge League final

The final is scheduled to take place on 9 May 2025, with the team from the West Region hosting the final. The winners will also qualify for the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Two group stage, unless they have already qualified for the Champions League Two through their league performance.

Top scorers

  Team eliminated / inactive for this round
As of 1 November 2025
Rank Player Team MD1 MD2 MD3 QF1 QF2 SF1 SF2 F Total
1 Moses Dyer Phnom Penh Crown 1 2 2 5
2 Ousman Gai Manila Digger 1 1 2 4
3 Abdul Aziz Al-Muqbali Al-Seeb 1 1 1 3
Mohamad Hebous Al Ansar 1 1 1
Riku Ichimura Paro 1 2
Egy Maulana Vikri Dewa United Banten 1 1 1
Alexis Messidoro Dewa United Banten 2 1
Kwame Peprah PKR Svay Rieng 2 1
9 Hatem Al-Rushadi Al-Shabab 2 2
Artem Bilyi Abdysh-Ata 1 1
Tidiane Camara Safa 1 1
Anayo Iwuala Al-Arabi 1 1
Hichem Khalfallah Al Ansar 1 1
Kenean Markneh Al-Shabab 1 1
Rahman Myratberdiyew Altyn Asyr 2
Yousef Nasser Al-Kuwait 1 1
Takashi Odawara PKR Svay Rieng 1 1
Note
  • Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs and matches voided by AFC are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Al-Karamah was required to play their home match at a neutral venue due to security concerns relating to the Israeli invasion of Syria.
  2. ^ Paro played their home match at Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu, instead of their regular home stadium Woochu Sports Arena, Paro, which did not meet AFC requirements.

References

  1. ^ "Asian Champions League to relaunch with fewer teams and more prize money in 2024–25 season". Associated Press. August 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women's Champions League". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation.
  3. ^ "More Member Associations to benefit from inclusive AFC Champions League". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 23 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  4. ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  5. ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2024". FootyRankings. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "List of Licensed Clubs - AFC Club Competitions 2025/26" (PDF). 5 June 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  7. ^ "FC Club Competitions – Entry Regulations" (PDF). 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Lebanon indefinitely postpones all football matches amid Israel's attacks". Aljazeera. 26 September 2024.
  9. ^ "الاتحاد العربي السوري يحدد آلية اختيار الأندية التي ستشارك في بطولة كأس التحدي الآسيوي لموسم 2026/2025" [The Syrian Arab Federation determines the mechanism for selecting the clubs that will participate in the 2025–26 AFC Challenge Cup]. Retrieved 2025-06-27 – via Facebook.
  10. ^ "AFC Competitions Committee approves key decisions on reformatted competitions". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 1 July 2023.
  11. ^ "2025/26 AFC Challenge League Official Match Schedule - Preliminary Stage" (PDF). AFC. 10 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
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