“We seized this opportunity to advance to the group stage, and I want to applaud Church Boys United for their relentless fight until the end,” said Sharma.

“I’m equally proud of my players for giving their all, which has brought us to this significant moment. This achievement is not only a triumph for our team but also a proud moment for the entire South Asian region and our country.

“This was truly a team effort, and I’m grateful that even the players who didn’t get a chance to play stayed motivated, knowing how much advancing to the next stage means to us all.”

Paro FC will now look ahead to the group stage, where they will compete against some of Asia's top teams with Sharma expressing his confidence in the side’s ability to rise to the challenge. 

“I also want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our fans, especially those who travelled all the way from Bhutan. Your support and prayers have made this achievement possible, thank you for being an essential part of our journey. We will need your support even more at the next stage.”