AFC Challenge League
FIFA Region
AFC
Season
2025-2026
Location
Asia/Australia
Abbreviation
AFCCL3
Summary
The AFC Challenge League (2025-2026 AFCCL3) is a 3rd Tier Asian club football tournament where 29 premier league/1st division club teams from 17 of the AFC F/As (football associations) are represented. 2025-2026 AFCCL3 runs from 12 August 2025 to 9 May 2026. The winner will receive a berth in the 2027-2028 AFCCL2 Group Stage.
The 2025-2026 AFCCL3 Allocation table details club team slots earned by each F/A for the 2025-2026 AFCCL3. Overall F/A rankings are based on the AFC F/A Rankings published on 18 May 2025.
FK Arkadag (TKM1) are the defending AFCCL3 champion.
Due to the conflict between the United States and Iran, one set of Quarterfinals and one set of Semifinals Home/Away matches were changed to a single-leg match played at neutral sites.
More Info...
2025-2026 AFC Champions League 3
Team Allocation
Team Allocation
| F/A | AFC Rank | Group | Playoff |
|---|
| Oman | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Turkmenistan | 20 | 1 | 0 |
| Kuwait | 21 | 1 | 0 |
| Lebanon | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Cambodia | 23 | 1 | 0 |
| Indonesia | 25 | 1 | 0 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 26 | 0 | 1 |
| Bangladesh | 28 | 1 | 0 |
| Syria | 29 | 1 | 0 |
| Myanmar | 30 | 1 | 0 |
| Chinese Taipei | 31 | 1 | 0 |
| Maldives | 33 | 1 | 0 |
| Mongolia | 34 | 1 | 0 |
| Palestine | 35 | 1 | 0 |
| Bhutan | 36 | 0 | 1 |
| Laos | 38 | 1 | 0 |
| Nepal | 39 | 0 | 1 |
| Afghanistan | 41 | 0 | 1 |
Competition Structure
| Stage | # Teams | New Teams Entering This Round | Teams From Previous Round | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playoffs | 18 | (SEE PLAYOFF COLUMN OF TEAM ALLOCATION TABLE) | 9 Knockout matches | |
| Group | 18 | (SEE GROUP COLUMN OF TEAM ALLOCATION TABLE) | 9 winners from Playoffs stage | 3 groups of 4, 2 groups of 3; Home/Away matches against each team in group; top 2 teams in Groups D and E, top team in Groups A, B, and C, and 2nd place team with most points in Groups A, B, and C advance |
| Quarterfinals | 8 | None | 8 winners from Round of 16 | 4 sets of Home/Away matches, highest aggregate goals advances |
| Semifinals | 4 | None | 4 winners from Round of 16 | 2 sets of Home/Away matches, highest aggregate goals advances |
| Final | 2 | None | 2 winners from Round of 16 | Home/Away matches, highest aggregate goals wins |
Semifinals
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| Aggregate | Svay Rieng FC (CAM1) | 11 | Manila Digger FC (PHI1) |
| 09.04.26 |  | 11 | Manila Digger FC | Morodok Techo National Stadium |
| 16.04.26 | | FT | Svay Rieng FC | MOA Football Pitch |
Quarterfinals
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| Aggregate | Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM1) | 26 | Svay Rieng FC (CAM1) |
| 05.03.26 |  | 14 | Svay Rieng FC | RSN Stadium |
| 12.03.26 | | 21 | Phnom Penh Crown FC | Morodok Techo National Stadium |
| Aggregate | Manila Digger FC (PHI1) | 32 | Dewa United FC (IDN1) |
| 05.03.26 | | 10 | Dewa United FC | Morodok Techo National Stadium |
| 12.03.26 | | 22 | Manila Digger FC | Banten International Stadium |
| Aggregate | Al-Shabab SC (OMA1) | 00 | Kuwait SC (KUW1) |
| 19.04.26 |  | Kuwait SC | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium |
| Aggregate | Muras United FC (KGZ1) | 00 | Al-Ansar SC (LIB1) |
| 19.04.26 |  | Al-Ansar SC | Stadion Kurmanbek |
Group Stage
| Group A | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | Al-Shabab SC (OMA1) | 3 | 3 -0-0 | 9 | - | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| 2 | Altyn Asyr FK (TKM1) | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | - | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | FK Abdysh-Ata Kant (KGZ1) | 3 | 0 -1-2 | 1 | - | 4 | 6 | -2 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 |
| 4 | Paro FC (BHU1) | 3 | 0 -1-2 | 1 | - | 4 | 7 | -3 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
Quarterfinals Possible Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 25.10.25 |  | 10 | FK Abdysh-Ata Kant | Changlimithang Stadium |
| 10 | Paro FC | Changlimithang Stadium |
| 28.10.25 | | 12 | Al-Shabab SC | Changlimithang Stadium |
| 13 | Altyn Asyr FK | Changlimithang Stadium |
| 31.10.25 | | 13 | Al-Shabab SC | Changlimithang Stadium |
| 33 | FK Abdysh-Ata Kant | Changlimithang Stadium |
| Group B | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | Kuwait SC (KUW1) | 3 | 2 -1-0 | 7 | - | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Al-Ansar SC (LIB1) | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | - | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Al-Seeb Club (OMA1) | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | - | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | Bashundhara Kings (BAN1) | 3 | 0 -0-3 | 0 | - | 2 | 8 | -6 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | -3 |
Quarterfinals Possible Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 25.10.25 |  | 32 | Bashundhara Kings | Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Stadium |
| 23 | Kuwait SC | Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Stadium |
| 28.10.25 | | 03 | Al-Ansar SC | Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Stadium |
| 11 | Al-Seeb Club | Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Stadium |
| 31.10.25 | | 12 | Al-Ansar SC | Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Stadium |
| 20 | Bashundhara Kings | Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Stadium |
| Group C | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | Muras United FC (KGZ1) | 3 | 1 -2-0 | 5 | - | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 -2-0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Al-Arabi SC (KUW1) | 3 | 1 -2-0 | 5 | - | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | Safa Beirut SC (LIB1) | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | - | 4 | 5 | -1 | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| 4 | FK Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda (TJK1) | 3 | 0 -1-2 | 1 | - | 2 | 4 | -2 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
Quarterfinals Possible Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 25.10.25 |  | 22 | Al-Arabi SC | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium |
 | 00 | Muras United FC | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium |
| 28.10.25 | | 21 | FK Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium |
| 20 | Safa Beirut SC | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium |
| 31.10.25 | | 12 | Safa Beirut SC | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium |
| 11 | Muras United FC | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium |
| Group D | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | Svay Rieng FC (CAM1) | 3 | 2 -1-0 | 7 | - | 8 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| 2 | Manila Digger FC (PHI1) | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | - | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | SP Falcons FC (MNG1) | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | - | 3 | 6 | -3 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 |
| 4 | Ezra FC (LAO1) | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | - | 1 | 6 | -5 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
Quarterfinals Possible Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 31.12.69 | | 31 | Ezra FC | Morodok Techo National Stadium |
| 26.10.25 | | 30 | SP Falcons FC | Morodok Techo National Stadium |
| 29.10.25 | | 02 | Manila Digger FC | Morodok Techo National Stadium |
| 03 | Svay Rieng FC | Morodok Techo National Stadium |
| 01.11.25 | | 31 | Ezra FC | Morodok Techo National Stadium |
| 22 | Svay Rieng FC | Morodok Techo National Stadium |
| Group E | League | Home | Road | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | Dewa United FC (IDN1) | 3 | 2 -1-0 | 7 | - | 9 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 2 | Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM1) | 3 | 2 -1-0 | 7 | - | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 3 | Tainan City FC (TPE1) | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | - | 4 | 8 | -4 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Shan United FC (MYA1) | 3 | 0 -0-3 | 0 | - | 3 | 9 | -6 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | -5 |
Quarterfinals Possible Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 26.10.25 |  | 12 | Tainan City FC | Indomilk Arena |
| 11 | Phnom Penh Crown FC | Indomilk Arena |
| 29.10.25 | | 31 | Shan United FC | Indomilk Arena |
| 04 | Dewa United FC | Indomilk Arena |
| 01.11.25 | | 23 | Phnom Penh Crown FC | Indomilk Arena |
| 41 | Shan United FC | Indomilk Arena |
Preliminary Round
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
Tue - 12 Aug 2025
| 31 | Taichung Futuro FC (TPE1) | MFF Football Centre |
 | 11 | Ezra FC (LAO1) | Thuwunna Stadium | |||
| Ezra FC advances on PKs (5-3) | ||||||
 | 04 | Al-Arabi SC (KUW1) | National Football Stadium (MDV) |
 | 02 | Muras United FC (KGZ1) | Bangabandhu National Stadium |
| 41 | Khangarid Klub (MNG1) | Taipei Municipal Stadium |
| 10 | Abu Muslim Farah FC (AFG1) | Changlimithang Stadium |
 | 06 | Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM1) | Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium |
| 52 | Hutteen SC (SYR1) | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium |
 | 01 | Bashundhara Kings (BAN1) | Qatar SC Stadium |