20/08/2026
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20/08/2026
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KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20: The AFC Challenge Cup draw in Kuala Lumpur has placed Kuwait’s Al-Arabi in Group B alongside Lebanon’s Al-Najma, Tajikistan’s Istiklol and Syria’s Homs Al-Fida, while Al-Qadsia will compete in Group C with India’s Goa, Bangladesh’s Fortis and Tajikistan’s Regar-TadAZ.
The group stage will be played from October 17 to 24, with the quarter-finals scheduled over two legs from March 3 to 18, 2027. The semi-finals will take place from April 7 to 15, before the final on May 8, 2027.
Al-Qadsia, which will host its Group C matches, will open its campaign against Fortis before facing Regar-TadAZ in the second round and Goa in the final group fixture.
Al-Arabi will begin against Homs Al-Fida, then meet hosts Istiklol in the second round before concluding the group stage against Al-Najma.
In Group A of the West Zone, hosts Paro of Bhutan will face Turkmenistan’s Ahal, Lebanon’s Al-Ansar and Syria’s Al-Ittihad.
The three group winners in the West Zone will advance to the quarter-finals, along with the best second-placed team.
In the East Zone, Indonesia’s Borneo Samarinda will host Group D, where it will face Wan Tagig of the Philippines, Tainan City of Chinese Taipei, and either Yangon United of Myanmar or Ezra of Laos.
Group E features either Indonesia’s Persib Bandung or Manila Digger of the Philippines, hosts Shan United of Myanmar, New Taipei City Hang Yuan of Chinese Taipei, and either Kasuka of Brunei or Carkitu Dili of Timor-Leste. Two teams from the group will qualify for the quarter-finals.
Al-Qadsia returns to Asian competition after spending the past two seasons in the Gulf Champions League. The club will be aiming to add another continental title to its honors, having won the AFC Cup in 2014.
Al-Arabi, meanwhile, featured in the previous edition of the Challenge Cup but was eliminated in the group stage. They drew 1-1 with Kyrgyzstan’s Muras United in their final Group C match last November at Tulin Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek.
The result left both teams on five points, but Muras United advanced on goal difference, with Al-Arabi unable to secure the victory they needed to progress.
By Hassan Mosa
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
