AFC Challenge League
FIFA Region
AFC
Season
2026-2027
Location
Asia/Australia
Abbreviation
AFCCL3
Summary
The 2026-2027 AFC Challenge League ( AFCCL3) is a 3rd Tier Asian club football tournament where 18 premier league/1st division club teams from 19 of the AFC F/As (football associations) are represented. 2026-2027 AFCCL3 runs from 11 August 2026 to 8 May 2027. The winner will receive a berth in the 2027-2028 AFCCL2 Group Stage.
The 2026-2027 AFCCL3 Team Allocation table details club team slots earned by each F/A for the 2026-2027 AFC competitions . Overall F/A rankings are based on each association's performance in Asian competitions over the past eight seasons.
Kuwait SC (KUW1) are the defending AFCCL3 champion.
More Info...
2026-2027 AFC Challenge League
Team Allocation
Team Allocation
| F/A | AFC Rank | Group | Prelim |
|---|
| Turkmenistan | 20 | 1 | 0 |
| Kuwait | 21 | 1 | 0 |
| Lebanon | 22 | 2 | 0 |
| Tajikistan | 24 | 1 | 1 |
| Indonesia | 25 | 1 | 0 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 26 | 0 | 2 |
| Philippines | 27 | 1 | 0 |
| Bangladesh | 28 | 0 | 2 |
| Syria | 29 | 0 | 2 |
| Myanmar | 30 | 1 | 1 |
| Chinese Taipei | 31 | 0 | 2 |
| Maldives | 33 | 0 | 1 |
| Mongolia | 34 | 0 | 2 |
| Bhutan | 36 | 0 | 1 |
| Laos | 38 | 0 | 1 |
| Afghanistan | 41 | 0 | 1 |
| Brunei | 42 | 0 | 1 |
| Timor-Leste | 43 | 0 | 1 |
Competition Structure
| Stage | # Teams | New Teams Entering This Round | Teams From Previous Round | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | 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 |
Group Stage
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 03.03.27 |  | Al-Ansar SC | Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium |
 | Homs Al Fidaa SC | Al-Hamadaniah Stadium |
| 11.03.27 |  | Borneo FC | Taunggyi Stadium |
 | Manila Digger FC | Taipei Municipal Stadium |
| 17.03.27 | | Qadsia SC | Beirut Municipal Stadium |
| Al-Ittihad SC Aleppo | Beirut Municipal Stadium |
| 18.03.27 | | Shan United FC | Segiri Samarinda Stadium |
| Tainan City FC | MOA Football Pitch |
| 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-Ittihad SC Aleppo (SYR1) | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | - | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
| 2 | Al-Ansar SC (LIB1) | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | - | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | Ahal FK (TKM1) | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | - | 5 | 8 | -3 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -4 |
| 4 | Paro FC (BHU1) | 3 | 0 -1-2 | 1 | - | 4 | 6 | -2 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 |
Quarterfinals Possible Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 20 | Al-Ittihad SC Aleppo | Al Ansar Stadium |
| 20.10.26 |  | 12 | Al-Ansar SC | Woochu Sports Arena |
| 23.10.26 |  | 21 | Al-Ansar SC | Changlimithang Stadium |
| 21 | Paro FC | Al-Hamadaniah 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 | Homs Al Fidaa SC (SYR1) | 3 | 3 -0-0 | 9 | - | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | Nejmeh SC (LIB1) | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | - | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 3 | FK Istiqlol (TJK1) | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | - | 2 | 3 | -1 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 4 | Al-Arabi SC (KUW1) | 3 | 0 -0-3 | 0 | - | 1 | 6 | -5 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
Quarterfinals Possible Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 17.10.26 |  | 01 | Homs Al Fidaa SC | Sabah Al Salem Stadium |
 | 10 | FK Istiqlol | Rafic El-Hariri Stadium |
| 20.10.26 | | 21 | Nejmeh SC |
| 20 | Al-Arabi SC | Taunggyi Stadium |
| 23.10.26 | | 13 | Nejmeh SC | Sabah Al Salem Stadium |
| 02 | Homs Al Fidaa SC | Hisor Central 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 | Qadsia SC (KUW1) | 3 | 3 -0-0 | 9 | - | 6 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | FC Goa (IND1) | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | - | 4 | 5 | -1 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | Fortis FC (BAN1) | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | - | 4 | 6 | -2 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 |
| 4 | FK Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda (TJK1) | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | - | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | -1 |
Quarterfinals Possible Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 17.10.26 |  | 12 | FK Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda | Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium |
| 01 | Qadsia SC | Woochu Sports Arena |
| 23.10.26 |  | 31 | FK Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda | Bashundhara Kings Arena |
| 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 | Borneo FC (IDN1) | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | - | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 -0-0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Tainan City FC (TPE1) | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | - | 2 | 4 | -2 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 0 | 0 -0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Yangon United FC (MYA1) | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | - | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 | 0 -0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| 4 | One Taguig FC (PHI1) | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 -0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Quarterfinals Possible Quarterfinals Withdrew | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 18.10.26 |  | CANC | Tainan City FC | Rizal Memorial Track & Football Stadium |
| 20 | Yangon United FC | Segiri Samarinda Stadium |
| 21.10.26 | | CANC | One Taguig FC | Rizal Memorial Track & Football Stadium |
| 13 | Borneo FC | Bashundhara Kings Arena |
| 24.10.26 | | 11 | Yangon United FC | Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium |
| CANC | One Taguig FC | Segiri Samarinda 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 | Manila Digger FC (PHI1) | 3 | 2 -1-0 | 7 | - | 10 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Shan United FC (MYA1) | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | - | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | -2 |
| 3 | Kasuka FC (BRU1) | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | - | 2 | 8 | -6 | 1 | 0 -0-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | -4 |
| 4 | Hang Yuan FC (TPE1) | 3 | 0 -2-1 | 2 | - | 3 | 4 | -1 | 2 | 0 -1-1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 | 0 -1-0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Quarterfinals Possible Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 18.10.26 | | 11 | Hang Yuan FC | Taunggyi Stadium |
| 50 | Kasuka FC | MOA Football Pitch |
| 21.10.26 | | 02 | Shan United FC | Thuwunna Stadium |
| 11 | Manila Digger FC | Fu Jen Catholic University Stadium |
| 24.10.26 | | 40 | Shan United FC | Thuwunna Stadium |
| 12 | Kasuka FC | Fu Jen Catholic University Stadium |
Preliminary Round
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
Mon - 10 Aug 2026
 | 22 | Tainan City FC (TPE1) | MFF Football Centre | |||
| Tainan City FC advances on PKs (5-3) | ||||||
Tue - 11 Aug 2026
 | 12 | Hang Yuan FC (TPE1) | MFF Football Centre |
| 10 | Muras United FC (KGZ1) | Bashundhara Kings Arena |
| 20 | Abu Muslim Farah FC (AFG1) | Changlimithang Stadium |
 | 11 | Homs Al Fidaa SC (SYR1) | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium | |||
| Homs Al Fidaa SC advances on PKs (8-7) | ||||||
| 10 | Bangladesh Police FC (BAN1) | King Abdullah II Stadium |
Wed - 12 Aug 2026
 | 03 | FK Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda (TJK1) | Changlimithang Stadium |
Tue - 8 Sep 2026
| 21 | Ezra FC (LAO1) | Thuwunna Stadium |
Tue - 15 Sep 2026
| 21 | Karketu Dili FC (TLS1) | Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium |