Kuala Lumpur: The journey to discover the AFC Challenge League (ACGL) 2026-27 champions began in earnest following the completion of the Group Stage Draw at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.
The teams were divided in groups of four – three in the West Zone and two in the East.
To be played in a centralised format, Group A hosts Paro FC (BHU) were drawn with Ahal FC (TKM), Al Ansar FC (LBN) and Al Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo SC (SYR).
Group B will see FC Istiklol (TJK) welcoming Al Arabi SC (KUW), Nejmeh SC (LBN) and Homs Al Fidaa SC (SYR) to Dushanbe while FC Goa (IND), hosts Qadsia SC (KUW), Fortis FC (BAN) and FC Regar-TadAZ (TJK) will battle for the sole automatic quarter-final spot in Group C.
FC Goa earned a spot in Asia for the third time in their history by virtue of winning the AIFF Super Cup 2025-26. They went down 0-3 to FK Arkadag in the AFC Champions League Two Preliminary Stage last Wednesday, which saw them drop to the group stage of the AFC Challenge League, Asia’s third-tier men’s club competition.
FC Goa’s opponents Qadsia SC and Fortis FC finished third in the Kuwaiti Premier League 2025-26 and the Bangladesh Football League 2025-26, respectively, while FC Regar-TadAZ were the Tajikistan Cup 2025 winners.
-AIFF Media
Besides the three West Zone group winners, the best second-placed side will also advance to the next stage.
Borneo FC Samarinda (IDN) will host Group D, with One Taguig FC (PHI), Tainan City FC (TPE) and Yangon United FC (MYA)/Ezra FC (LAO) their challengers while Group E will see Persib Bandung (IDN)/Manila Digger (PHI), hosts Shan United (MYA), New Taipei City Hang Yuan FC (TPE) and Kasuka FC (BRU)/Karketu Dili FC (TLS) vying for the two quarter-finals spots.
The Group Stage will be played on October 17 to 24, 2026, with the Quarter-finals and Semi-finals – both double-legged affairs – scheduled for March 3-18 and April 7-15, 2027 respectively, with the Final slated for May 8.
Draw Result
Group A: Ahal FC (TKM), Al Ansar FC (LBN), Al Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo SC (SYR), Paro FC (BHU)*
Group B: Al Arabi SC (KUW), Nejmeh SC (LBN), FC Istiklol (TJK), Homs Al Fidaa SC (SYR)
Group C: FC Goa (IND), Qadsia SC (KUW), Fortis FC (BAN), FC Regar-TadAZ (TJK)
Group D: Borneo FC Samarinda (IDN), One Taguig FC (PHI), Tainan City FC (TPE), Yangon United FC (MYA)/Ezra FC (LAO)
Group E: Persib Bandung (IDN)/Manila Digger (PHI), Shan United FC (MYA), New Taipei City Hang Yuan FC (TPE), Kasuka FC (BRU)/Karketu Dili FC (TLS)
AFC Media
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