The AFC Challenge League™ (ACGL) 2025/26 Group Stage draw is officially set for Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 3pm at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
This season’s Group Stage features 20 clubs: nine qualifiers from the Preliminary Stage, eight direct entrants, and three teams who exited the AFC Champions League Two™ 2025/26 Preliminary Stage.
New Clubs Making History in the AFC Challenge League
Five teams will make their AFC competition Group Stage debuts this season:
- Al Shabab Club (Oman)
- Dewa United FC (Indonesia)
- Ezra FC (Laos)
- Manila Digger FC (Philippines)
- FC Muras United (Kyrgyz Republic)
AFC Challenge League 2025/26 Group Stage Draw Pots
West Zone
- Pot 1: Al Seeb Club (OMA), FC Regar-TadAZ (TJK), Altyn Asyr FC (TKM)
- Pot 2: Al Shabab Club (OMA), Al Ansar FC (LBN), Safa SC (LBN)
- Pot 3: Kuwait SC (KUW)*, FC Abdysh-Ata (KGZ), Paro FC (BHU)*
- Pot 4: Al Arabi SC (KUW), Bashundhara Kings (BAN), FC Muras United (KGZ)*
East Zone
- Pot 1: Manila Digger FC (PHI), Dewa United FC (IDN)*
- Pot 2: Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC (CAM)*, Shan United FC (MYA)
- Pot 3: Tainan City FC (TPE), SP Falcons (MNG)
- Pot 4: Ezra FC (LAO), Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM)
*Denotes centralised host clubs.
When and Where Will the ACGL 2025/26 Group Stage Be Played?
- Dates: October 25 – November 1, 2025
- Format: Single round-robin, centralised venue
- West Hosts: Kuwait SC (KUW), Paro FC (BHU), FC Muras United (KGZ)
- East Hosts: Dewa United FC (IDN), Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC (CAM)
Knockout Stage Schedule
- Quarter-finals: March 2026 (home and away)
- Semi-finals: April 2026 (home and away)
- Final: May 9, 2026