2026–27 AFC Challenge League
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | Qualifying: 28 July – 11 August 2026 Competition proper: 17 October 2026 – 8 May 2027 |
| Teams | Competition proper: 20 Total: 31 (from 27 associations) |
← 2025–26 2027–28 → | |
The 2026–27 AFC Challenge League will be the 13th edition of the Asia's third-tier continental club football competition, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the third under the AFC Challenge League title.[1] The winner will automatically qualify for the 2027–28 AFC Champions League Two group stage, if they have not already qualified through their domestic performance.
Association team allocation
The associations are allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking which was published after the 2024–25 competitions were completed.[2][3]
| Participation for 2026–27 AFC Challenge League | |
|---|---|
| Participating | |
| Not participating | |
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Teams
| Entry round | West Region | East Region | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group stage | Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) | Team | Qualifying method | App. (last) |
| 2026–27 AFC Champions League Two qualifying round losers | 2026–27 AFC Champions League Two qualifying round losers | |||||
 Ahal
|
2025 Ýokary Liga runners-up[Note TKM] | 1st | ||||
|
2025–26 Kuwait Emir Cup winners | |||||
|
2025–26 Lebanese Premier League champions | |||||
| Qualifying play-off participants |  Istiklol
|
2025 Tajikistan Higher League champions | 1st | 
|
2025–26 Indonesia Super League runners-up | |
 Bars Issyk-Kul
|
2025 Kyrgyz Premier League champions | 1st | 
|
2025–26 Philippines Football League runners-up | ||
|
2025–26 Bangladesh Football League champions | 
|
2025–26 Myanmar National League champions | |||
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|
2025–26 Syrian Premier League champions | .svg.png){kind=small}
|
2025–26 Taiwan Football Premier League champions | |||
 Maziya
|
2025–26 Dhivehi Premier League champions |  April 25
|
2024–25 DPR Korea Premier Football League champions | |||
|
2025–26 Palestine Professional League champions | 
|
2025–26 Mongolian Premier League champions | |||
 Paro
|
2025 Bhutan Premier League champions | 3rd (2025–26) |  Chao Pak Kei
|
2025 Liga de Elite champions | 1st | |
|
2026 ANFA National League champions | 1st | 
|
2025–26 Lao League 1 champions | ||
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|
2025–26 Afghanistan Champions League champions | 1st | 
|
2025–26 Brunei Super League champions | 1st | |
 Renown
|
2025 Sri Lanka Premier League champions | 1st |  Karketu Dili
|
2025 Liga Futebol Timor-Leste champions | 1st | |
|
2025–26 Yemeni League champions | 1st |  NAPA Rovers
|
2025 Guam Soccer League champions | 1st | |
|
2025–26 Pakistan Premier League champions | 1st |  Kanoa
|
2025 Marianas Soccer League 1 champions | 1st | |
- Notes
- ^ Turkmenistan (TKM): As 2025 Turkmenistan Cup winners Arkadag qualified for the Champions League Two via their league position, the spot reserved for the Turkmenistan Cup winners was transferred to the runners-up of the 2025 Ýokary Liga.
See also
References
- ^ "AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women's Champions League". the-AFC.
- ^ "AFC Men's Club Competition Ranking 2024/25". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ "AFC Men's Club Competitions Ranking 2024/25" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 4 October 2025.