Looking for a ninth involvement and a first since 2013, two-time winners (2006, 2007) FC Dordoi—the only Kyrgyz Republic club to ever win an AFC competition—secured their preliminary spot by sealing a 11th domestic cup title in 2025 to set up a meeting with Homs Al Fidaa SC at 8pm at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek. The Syrian visitors recorded their joint-best ever league finish of second in 2025/26 – just one point behind the champions.

 

Founded in 2020 and promoted to the top flight in 2022/23, Bangladesh’s Fortis FC achieved their best-ever league placing of third in 2025 and will face FC Muras United at 3pm at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka, with the Kyrgyz visitors—themselves established only in 2023—recording a best-ever league placing of second in 2025 and hoping to return to the ACGL after reaching the Semi-finals on their Continental debut last season.

 

Al Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo SC emerged as league winners in 2025/26 for a second season in a row to net their eighth title overall and the Syrian club, who have never played in the ACGL, will host Bangladesh Police FC—the fourth-place finishers of the 2025 Bangladesh league—at 8pm at the neutral venue of King Abdullah II Stadium in Amman, Jordan.

 

Eliminated in the Group Stage on their debut in 2024/25, Maziya Sports & RC are targeting a second appearance and the 2025/26 Maldivian league winners—celebrating a record sixth title and fifth in a row—will host FC Regar-Tadaz at 3pm at the Maldives National Football Stadium in Male. The Tajik visitors, who won the domestic cup for an eighth time in 2025, are record three-time winners (2005, 2008, 2009) and aiming for a sixth participation. (Update on August 10: this match will now take place on August 12)

 

Paro FC, winners of a record sixth Bhutanese league crown in 2025, are hoping to extend their ACGL involvement to three consecutive editions as they host Afghanistan’s Abu Muslim Farah FC at 6pm at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu.  The visitors, who claimed their second league title in 2025/26, were defeated 1-0 at this stage by the same opponents last season and will attempt to turn the tables this time in their mission to become the first Afghan club to qualify for the Group Stage of an AFC competition.

 

 

After sweeping to a record sixth league title in 2025/26, Chinese Taipei’s Tainan City FC will try to add a third consecutive ACGL appearance to their name as the 2024/25 quarter-finalists travel to the MFF Stadium in Ulaanbaatar for the 11am clash with Mongolia’s Central Stallions FC, whose runners-up finish in 2025/26 was their best-ever league result.

 

Both looking to reach the Group Stage for the first time, FC Ulaanbaatar and New Taipei Hang Yuan FC will also square off at the MFF Stadium at 4pm. The home side won a third Mongolian league title in 2025/26—their first since 2023—while the away side registered their best-ever finish in the Chinese Taipei league in 2025/26 by placing second.

 

The remaining two ties will take place on September 8 (Tuesday), with all four sides hailing from ASEAN. (Update on August 10: Kick-off times and venues updated below)

 

Another pair that met in last season’s preliminary round, Yangon United FC will have the opportunity to avenge their defeat on penalties when the 2025/26 Myanmar league runners-up play host at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon at 4pm against reigning two-time Laotian league champions Ezra FC, who ended their Continental debut in 2025/26 in the Group Stage.

 

The Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan will witness a 8.15pm battle between hosts Kasuka FC, who fell at this stage last season in their bid to become the first-ever Bruneian club to reach the Group Stage of an AFC competition, and Timor-Leste’s Karketu Dili FC, who claimed a record fourth league title in 2025/26.