AFC Challenge League
Set to shine the light on Asia’s emerging leagues, the revamped third tier men’s club competition’s group stage will feature three groups of four teams each from the West and two groups involving three teams each from the East and will be played in a centralised league format.
Ahead of the action kicking off, the-AFC.com shines the spotlight on the 18 teams.
West
Group A
East Bengal FC (IND)
How they qualified: Indian Super Cup 2024 champions (1st tite)
Continental history: AFC Cup™ 2013 semi-finalists
Nejmeh SC (LIB)
How they qualified: Lebanese Premier League 2023/24 (9th title)
Continental history: AFC Cup™ 2015 runners-up
Paro FC (BHU)
How they qualified: Bhutan Premier League 2023 champions (4th title and third in a row)
Continental history: Debut season
Bashundhara Kings (BAN)
How they qualified: Bangladesh Premier League 2023/24 champions (5th title and first team to win five league titles in a row)
Continental history: AFC Cup™ (3 appearances)
Group B
Al Arabi SC (KUW)
How they qualified: Kuwait Premier League 2023/24 runners-up (17-time league champions)
Continental history: AFC Cup™ (3 appearances), AFC Champions League™ (3 appearances)
Maziya Sports & RC (MDV))
How they qualified: Maldives league 2023 champions (Record 5th title and 4th in a row)
Continental history: AFC Cup™ (9 appearances)
FC Arkadag (TKM)
How they qualified: Yokary Liga 2023 champions (won title in their debut season)
- Won all 24 matches
Continental history: Debut season
FC Abdysh-Ata (KGZ)
How they qualified: Kyrgyz Premier League 2023 champions (2nd league title and 2nd in a row)
Continental history: Reached Inter-zone Playoff final in AFC Cup™ 2023/24 debut
Group C
Al Ahli (BHR)
How they qualified: Bahrain King’s Cup 2023/24 champions (9th title, 1st since 2003), 5-time league champions
Continental history: 1st appearance in AFC Club Competition since Asian Club Championship 2000
Al Futowa SC (SYR)
How they qualified: Syrian Premier League 2023/24 champions (4th title and 2nd in a row); Five-time Syrian Cup winners
Continental history: 2nd appearance after debut AFC Cup™ appearance in 2023/2024
Al Seeb Club (OMA)
How they qualified: Oman Professional League 2023/24 champions (3rd title and 2nd in a row)
Continental history: AFC Cup™ 2022 champions
Hilal Al Quds (PLE)
How they qualified: Palestine Premier League 2022/23 runners-up (4-time league champions)
Continental history: AFC President’s Cup debut in 2013
East
Group D
Shan United FC (MYA)
How they qualified: Myanmar National League 2023 champions (joint record 5th title and 2nd in a row)
Continental history: Featured twice in AFC President’s Cup (2008 and 2009)
Tainan City FC (TPE)
How they qualified: Chinese Taipei League 2023 champions (record 4th title and 4th in a row)
Continental history: Debut season
Young Elephants FC (LAO)
How they qualified: Lao League 1 2023 champions (2nd title and 2nd in a row)
Continental history: Debut season
Group E
Madura United FC (IDN)
How they qualified: Indonesia Liga 1 2023–24 runners-up (3-time league champions)
Continental history: Returns to AFC club competition for the first time since featuring in 1990/91 Asian Club Championship
Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC (CAM)
How they qualified: Cambodian Premier League 2023/24 champions (3rd title and 1st since 2019)
Continental history: Made AFC President’s Cup debut in 2014
SP Falcons (MNG)
How they qualified: Mongolian National Premier League 2023/24 champions (1st title)
Continental history: Set to make their debut in AFC club competitions
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