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2025–26 AFC Challenge League
International football competition From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 2025–26 AFC Challenge League will be 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.[citation needed]
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Association team allocation
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The associations are allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking which was published after the 2023–24 competitions were completed.[3][4]
- Notes
- ^ AFC Licensing (AFC): Association did not have a licensed club.[5]
- ^ Palestine (PLE): Association did not enter the competition.
- ^ Lebanon (LBN): According to 3.17.1. of AFC Entry Regulation, subject to Articles 3.19 and 3.20, any slot(s) that were forfeited shall be redistributed to the highest eligible Member Association in the same Regional Ranking of the same AFC Club Competition. Therefore, the indirect slot of Palestine has been re-allocated to Lebanon. The team received a bye in the preliminary round.[6]
- ^ Kuwait (KUW): According to 3.17.1. of AFC Entry Regulation, subject to Articles 3.19 and 3.20, any slot(s) that were forfeited shall be redistributed to the highest eligible Member Association in the same Regional Ranking of the same AFC Club Competition. Therefore, the indirect slot of Nepal has been re-allocated to Kuwait.[6]
- ^ Bangladesh (BAN): According to 3.17.1. of AFC Entry Regulation, subject to Articles 3.19 and 3.20, any slot(s) that were forfeited shall be redistributed to the highest eligible Member Association in the same Regional Ranking of the same AFC Club Competition. Therefore, the indirect slot of Sri Lanka has been re-allocated to Bangladesh.[6]
- ^ Syria (SYR): According to 3.17.1. of AFC Entry Regulation, subject to Articles 3.19 and 3.20, any slot(s) that were forfeited shall be redistributed to the highest eligible Member Association in the same Regional Ranking of the same AFC Club Competition. Therefore, the indirect slot of Pakistan has been re-allocated to Syria.[6]
- ^ Kyrgyzstan (KGZ): According to 3.17.1. of AFC Entry Regulation, subject to Articles 3.19 and 3.20, any slot(s) that were forfeited shall be redistributed to the highest eligible Member Association in the same Regional Ranking of the same AFC Club Competition. Therefore, the indirect slot of Yemen has been re-allocated to Kyrgyzstan.[6]
- ^ Cambodia (CAM): According to 3.17.1. of AFC Entry Regulation, subject to Articles 3.19 and 3.20, any slot(s) that were forfeited shall be redistributed to the highest eligible Member Association in the same Regional Ranking of the same AFC Club Competition. Therefore, the direct slot of North Korea has been re-allocated to Cambodia.[6]
- ^ Myanmar (MYA): According to 3.17.1. of AFC Entry Regulation, subject to Articles 3.19 and 3.20, any slot(s) that were forfeited shall be redistributed to the highest eligible Member Association in the same Regional Ranking of the same AFC Club Competition. Therefore, the indirect slot of Macau has been re-allocated to Myanmar.[6]
- ^ Chinese Taipei (TPE): According to 3.17.1. of AFC Entry Regulation, subject to Articles 3.19 and 3.20, any slot(s) that were forfeited shall be redistributed to the highest eligible Member Association in the same Regional Ranking of the same AFC Club Competition. Therefore, the indirect slot of Guam has been re-allocated to Chinese Taipei.[6]
- ^ Mongolia (MGL): According to 3.17.1. of AFC Entry Regulation, subject to Articles 3.19 and 3.20, any slot(s) that were forfeited shall be redistributed to the highest eligible Member Association in the same Regional Ranking of the same AFC Club Competition. Therefore, the indirect slot of NMI has been re-allocated to Mongolia.[6]
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Teams
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- Notes
- ^ Lebanon (LBN): Since the 2024–25 Lebanese FA Cup could not take place due to escalation of the conflict in the south with Israel,[7] the AFC Challenge League playoff spot was passed to the Premier League runners-up, Safa.
- ^ 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]
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.[8] 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.[9]
- ^ 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.
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Schedule
The schedule of the competition is as follows.[10]
Preliminary stage
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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) advance to the group stage and join the 11 direct entrants.[11]
West Region
East Region
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Group stage
The group stage draw is scheduled to take place on 28 August 2025.
See also
Notes
- Al-Karamah will play their home match at Suheim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (Qatar), instead of their regular home stadium Khalid ibn al-Walid Stadium, Homs.
- Paro will play their home match at Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu, instead of their regular home stadium Woochu Sports Arena, Paro.
References
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