Kuala Lumpur: The stage is set for the AFC Challenge League™ (ACGL) 2025/26 Group Stage draw, which will take place on Thursday, August 28 at 3pm (GMT+8) at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
A total of 20 teams, 12 from the West and 8 from the East, will be in the draw. The lineup was confirmed after the conclusion of the Preliminary Stage earlier this month, with nine teams advancing to join eight direct entrants and three clubs eliminated from the AFC Champions League Two™ Preliminary Stage.
Among them are five debutants making their first-ever appearance in the Group Stage of an AFC competition:
- Al Shabab Club (Oman)
- Dewa United FC (Indonesia)
- Ezra FC (Laos)
- Manila Digger FC (Philippines)
- FC Muras United (Kyrgyz Republic)
Teams have been seeded into four pots per region based on the latest MA rankings. The country protection principle will apply, and a bespoke draw software will ensure smooth proceedings.
The Group Stage will run from October 25 to November 1, 2025, in a single round-robin centralised format. Hosting duties will be taken up by Kuwait SC (Kuwait), Paro FC (Bhutan), FC Muras United (Kyrgyz Republic) in the West, and Dewa United FC (Indonesia), Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC (Cambodia) in the East.
The Quarter-finals and Semi-finals will be played over two legs in March and April 2026, with the Final scheduled for May 9, 2026.
Fans can follow the latest updates and watch the draw live on August 28, 2025, at 3pm (GMT+8).
