2025–26 AFC Champions League Two

The 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two is the 22nd edition of the Asia's second-tier club football tournament, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the second under the AFC Champions League Two title.

Source: Wikipedia

Article

2025–26 AFC Champions League Two

It features 32 teams in the group stage. The winner will be given a direct league stage slot for the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite, if they have not already qualified through their domestic performance.

Sharjah are the reigning champions. They were unable to defend their title as they participated in the AFC Champions League Elite league stage instead.

Association team allocation

2025–26 AFC Champions League Two

The associations are allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking which was published after the 2023–24 competitions were completed. Slots are subject to later re-balancing based on the 2024–25 competition results.

<table><thead><tr><th>Participation for 2025–2026 AFC Champions League Two</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Participating</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Not participating</td></tr></tbody></table>

Teams

2025–26 AFC Champions League Two

The number of appearances and last appearance include the AFC Cup as the predecessor of the AFC Champions League Two.

<table><thead><tr><th>Entry round</th><th>West Region</th><th>East Region</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Group stage</td><td>Team</td><td>Qualifying method</td><td>App. (last)</td><td>Team</td><td>Qualifying method</td><td>App. (last)</td></tr><tr><td>Sepahan</td><td>2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite qualifying round loser</td><td>2nd (2024–25)</td><td>Bangkok United</td><td>2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite qualifying round loser</td><td>2nd (2024–25)</td></tr><tr><td>Al-Nassr</td><td>2024–25 Saudi Pro League third place</td><td>1st</td><td>Gamba Osaka</td><td>2024 J1 League fourth place</td><td>1st</td></tr><tr><td>Al Wasl</td><td>2024–25 UAE Pro League fourth place</td><td>1st</td><td>Pohang Steelers</td><td>2024 Korean FA Cup winners</td><td>1st</td></tr><tr><td>Al Ahli</td><td>2024–25 Qatar Stars League fourth place</td><td>1st</td><td>Beijing Guoan</td><td>2024 Chinese Super League fourth place</td><td>1st</td></tr><tr><td>Esteghlal</td><td>2024–25 Hazfi Cup winners</td><td>1st</td><td>BG Pathum United</td><td>2024–25 Thai League 1 third place</td><td>1st</td></tr><tr><td>Andijon</td><td>2024 Uzbekistan Cup winners</td><td>1st</td><td>Ratchaburi</td><td>2024–25 Thai League 1 fourth place</td><td>1st</td></tr><tr><td>Al-Zawraa</td><td>2024–25 Iraq Stars League runners-up</td><td>6th (2023–24)</td><td>Macarthur FC</td><td>2024 Australia Cup winners</td><td>2nd (2023–24)</td></tr><tr><td>Al-Hussein</td><td>2024–25 Jordanian Pro League champions</td><td>3rd (2024–25)</td><td>Selangor</td><td>2024–25 Malaysia Super League runners-up</td><td>7th (2024–25)</td></tr><tr><td>Al-Wehdat</td><td>2024–25 Jordan FA Cup winners</td><td>14th (2024–25)</td><td>Nam Định</td><td>2024–25 V.League 1 champions</td><td>2nd (2024–25)</td></tr><tr><td>Al-Muharraq</td><td>2024–25 Bahraini Premier League champions</td><td>8th (2021)</td><td>Công An Hà Nội</td><td>2024–25 Vietnamese Cup winners</td><td>1st</td></tr><tr><td>Al Khaldiya</td><td>2024–25 Bahraini King's Cup winners</td><td>3rd (2024–25)</td><td>Tai Po</td><td>2024–25 Hong Kong Premier League champions</td><td>3rd (2019)</td></tr><tr><td>Mohun Bagan SG</td><td>2024–25 Indian Super League league shield winners</td><td>8th (2023–24)</td><td>Eastern</td><td>2024–25 Hong Kong FA Cup winners</td><td>5th (2024–25)</td></tr><tr><td>Istiklol</td><td>2024 Tajikistan Higher League champions</td><td>8th (2024–25)</td><td>Lion City Sailors</td><td>2024–25 Singapore Premier League champions 2024–25 Singapore Cup winners</td><td>12th (2024–25)</td></tr><tr><td>Arkadag</td><td>2024–25 AFC Challenge League winners</td><td>1st</td><td>Tampines Rovers</td><td>2024–25 Singapore Premier League runners-up</td><td>16th (2024–25)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Kaya–Iloilo</td><td>2024–25 Philippines Football League champions</td><td>6th (2024–25)</td></tr><tr><td>Qualifying play-off</td><td>Goa</td><td>2025 Super Cup winners</td><td>1st</td><td>Persib</td><td>2024–25 Liga 1 champions</td><td>3rd (2024–25)</td></tr><tr><td>Ahal</td><td>2024 Ýokary Liga runners-up</td><td>6th (2021)</td><td>Manila Digger</td><td>2024–25 Philippines Football League runners-up</td><td>1st</td></tr><tr><td>Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda</td><td>2024 Tajikistan Cup winners</td><td>2nd (2013)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Al-Seeb</td><td>2024–25 Oman Professional League champions</td><td>2nd (2022)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Schedule

2025–26 AFC Champions League Two

The quarter-finals for the West region have been postponed due to the impacts from the 2026 Iran War.

<table><thead><tr><th>Stage</th><th>Round</th><th>Draw date</th><th>West Region</th><th>East Region</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Preliminary Stage</td><td>Preliminary stage 1</td><td>No draw</td><td>13 August 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Group stage</td><td>Matchday 1</td><td>15 August 2025</td><td>16–17 September 2025</td><td>17–18 September 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Matchday 2</td><td>30 September and 1 October 2025</td><td>1–2 October 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Matchday 3</td><td>21–22 October 2025</td><td>22–23 October 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Matchday 4</td><td>4–5 November 2025</td><td>5–6 November 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Matchday 5</td><td>28–29 October and 25–29 November 2025</td><td>26–27 November 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Matchday 6</td><td>23–24 December 2025</td><td>10–11 December 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Knockout stage</td><td>Round of 16</td><td>30 December 2025</td><td>10–11 and 17–18 February 2026</td><td>11–12 and 18–19 February 2026</td></tr><tr><td>Quarter-finals</td><td>TBD</td><td>4–5 and 11–12 March 2026</td></tr><tr><td>Semi-finals</td><td>7 and 14 April 2026</td><td>8 and 15 April 2026</td></tr><tr><td>Final</td><td>16 May 2026</td></tr></tbody></table>

Qualifying play-offs

2025–26 AFC Champions League Two

The three winners of the play-off round (two from West Region and one from East Region) will advance to the group stage to join the 29 direct entrants. The losers of the qualifying play-offs will enter the group stage of the 2025–26 AFC Challenge League.

<table><thead><tr><th>Team 1</th><th>Score</th><th>Team 2</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>West Region</td></tr><tr><td>Goa </td><td>2–1</td><td> Al-Seeb</td></tr><tr><td>RT Tursunzoda </td><td>1–2</td><td> Ahal</td></tr><tr><td>East Region</td></tr><tr><td>Persib </td><td>2–1</td><td> Manila Digger</td></tr></tbody></table>

Group stage

2025–26 AFC Champions League Two

The group stage draw took place on 15 August 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Group A

<table><thead><tr><th>Pos</th><th>Team</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>GD</th><th>Pts</th><th>Qualification</th><th></th><th>WAS</th><th>EST</th><th>MUH</th><th>ALW</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Al Wasl</td><td>6</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>15</td><td>6</td><td>+9</td><td>14</td><td>Advance to round of 16</td><td></td><td>—</td><td>7–1</td><td>2–2</td><td>2–1</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Esteghlal</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>8</td><td>10</td><td>−2</td><td>8</td><td></td><td>1–1</td><td>—</td><td>0–1</td><td>2–0</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Al-Muharraq</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>0</td><td>7</td><td></td><td></td><td>0–1</td><td>0–3</td><td>—</td><td>4–0</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Al-Wehdat</td><td>6</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td>12</td><td>−7</td><td>4</td><td></td><td>1–2</td><td>1–1</td><td>2–1</td><td>—</td></tr></tbody></table>

Group B

<table><thead><tr><th>Pos</th><th>Team</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>GD</th><th>Pts</th><th>Qualification</th><th></th><th>AHL</th><th>ARK</th><th>KHA</th><th>AND</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Al Ahli</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>7</td><td>4</td><td>+3</td><td>10</td><td>Advance to round of 16</td><td></td><td>—</td><td>2–2</td><td>0–0</td><td>2–0</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Arkadag</td><td>6</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>5</td><td>6</td><td>−1</td><td>7</td><td></td><td>1–1</td><td>—</td><td>1–0</td><td>0–0</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Al Khaldiya</td><td>6</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>6</td><td></td><td></td><td>1–2</td><td>2–0</td><td>—</td><td>0–0</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Andijon</td><td>6</td><td>0</td><td>5</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>−2</td><td>5</td><td></td><td>0–0</td><td>1–1</td><td>0–0</td><td>—</td></tr></tbody></table>

Group C

<table><thead><tr><th>Pos</th><th>Team</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>GD</th><th>Pts</th><th>Qualification</th><th></th><th>ALH</th><th>SEP</th><th>AHA</th><th>MBG</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Al-Hussein</td><td>4</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>8</td><td>4</td><td>+4</td><td>9</td><td>Advance to round of 16</td><td></td><td>—</td><td>1–0</td><td>3–1</td><td>21 Oct</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Sepahan</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>+2</td><td>7</td><td></td><td>2–0</td><td>—</td><td>2–2</td><td>30 Sep</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Ahal</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>10</td><td>−6</td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td><td>1–4</td><td>0–1</td><td>—</td><td>25 Nov</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Mohun Bagan</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>Withdrew</td><td></td><td>4 Nov</td><td>23 Dec</td><td>0–1</td><td>—</td></tr></tbody></table>

Group D

<table><thead><tr><th>Pos</th><th>Team</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>GD</th><th>Pts</th><th>Qualification</th><th></th><th>NSR</th><th>ZWR</th><th>IST</th><th>GOA</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Al-Nassr</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>22</td><td>2</td><td>+20</td><td>18</td><td>Advance to round of 16</td><td></td><td>—</td><td>5–1</td><td>5–0</td><td>4–0</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Al-Zawraa</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>8</td><td>11</td><td>−3</td><td>9</td><td></td><td>0–2</td><td>—</td><td>2–1</td><td>2–1</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Istiklol</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>7</td><td>13</td><td>−6</td><td>9</td><td></td><td></td><td>0–4</td><td>2–1</td><td>—</td><td>2–0</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Goa</td><td>6</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>14</td><td>−11</td><td>0</td><td></td><td>1–2</td><td>0–2</td><td>1–2</td><td>—</td></tr></tbody></table>

Group E

<table><thead><tr><th>Pos</th><th>Team</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>GD</th><th>Pts</th><th>Qualification</th><th></th><th>MAC</th><th>HNP</th><th>TPF</th><th>BJG</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Macarthur FC</td><td>6</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>11</td><td>6</td><td>+5</td><td>13</td><td>Advance to round of 16</td><td></td><td>—</td><td>2–1</td><td>2–1</td><td>3–0</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Công An Hà Nội</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>9</td><td>7</td><td>+2</td><td>8</td><td></td><td>1–1</td><td>—</td><td>3–0</td><td>2–1</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Tai Po</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>7</td><td>12</td><td>−5</td><td>7</td><td></td><td></td><td>2–1</td><td>1–0</td><td>—</td><td>3–3</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Beijing Guoan</td><td>6</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>10</td><td>12</td><td>−2</td><td>5</td><td></td><td>1–2</td><td>2–2</td><td>3–0</td><td>—</td></tr></tbody></table>

Group F

<table><thead><tr><th>Pos</th><th>Team</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>GD</th><th>Pts</th><th>Qualification</th><th></th><th>GOS</th><th>RPM</th><th>TND</th><th>EAS</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Gamba Osaka</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>16</td><td>2</td><td>+14</td><td>18</td><td>Advance to round of 16</td><td></td><td>—</td><td>2–0</td><td>3–1</td><td>3–1</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Ratchaburi</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>15</td><td>8</td><td>+7</td><td>9</td><td></td><td>0–2</td><td>—</td><td>2–0</td><td>5–1</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Nam Định</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>14</td><td>7</td><td>+7</td><td>9</td><td></td><td></td><td>0–1</td><td>3–1</td><td>—</td><td>9–0</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Eastern</td><td>6</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>30</td><td>−28</td><td>0</td><td></td><td>0–5</td><td>0–7</td><td>0–1</td><td>—</td></tr></tbody></table>

Group G

<table><thead><tr><th>Pos</th><th>Team</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>GD</th><th>Pts</th><th>Qualification</th><th></th><th>PSB</th><th>BKU</th><th>LCS</th><th>SEL</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Persib</td><td>6</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>11</td><td>6</td><td>+5</td><td>13</td><td>Advance to round of 16</td><td></td><td>—</td><td>1–0</td><td>1–1</td><td>2–0</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Bangkok United</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>8</td><td>7</td><td>+1</td><td>10</td><td></td><td>0–2</td><td>—</td><td>1–0</td><td>1–1</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Lion City Sailors</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>10</td><td>8</td><td>+2</td><td>10</td><td></td><td></td><td>3–2</td><td>1–2</td><td>—</td><td>4–2</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Selangor</td><td>6</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>5</td><td>7</td><td>15</td><td>−8</td><td>1</td><td></td><td>2–3</td><td>2–4</td><td>0–1</td><td>—</td></tr></tbody></table>

Group H

<table><thead><tr><th>Pos</th><th>Team</th><th>Pld</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>GD</th><th>Pts</th><th>Qualification</th><th></th><th>BGT</th><th>PHS</th><th>BGP</th><th>KAY</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Tampines Rovers</td><td>6</td><td>5</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>14</td><td>5</td><td>+9</td><td>16</td><td>Advance to round of 16</td><td></td><td>—</td><td>1–0</td><td>2–1</td><td>5–3</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Pohang Steelers</td><td>6</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>7</td><td>2</td><td>+5</td><td>13</td><td></td><td>1–1</td><td>—</td><td>2–0</td><td>2–0</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>BG Pathum United</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td>8</td><td>−3</td><td>6</td><td></td><td></td><td>0–2</td><td>0–1</td><td>—</td><td>2–1</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Kaya–Iloilo</td><td>6</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>6</td><td>4</td><td>15</td><td>−11</td><td>0</td><td></td><td>0–3</td><td>0–1</td><td>0–2</td><td>—</td></tr></tbody></table>

Knockout stage

2025–26 AFC Champions League Two

In the knockout stage, 16 teams play a single-elimination tournament, split by Region. Each tie will be played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, except the final which will be played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out will be used to decide the winners if necessary (Regulations Article 10). The order of matches (home vs away) was determined at the draw, except for the final, which was pre-determined on a rotation basis, with the match to be hosted by the team from the West Region. The draw for the knockout stage was held on 30 December 2025.

Summary

The first legs were played between 10 and 12 February, with the second legs being played between 17 and 19 February 2026.

<table><thead><tr><th>Team 1</th><th>Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score</th><th>Team 2</th><th>1st leg</th><th>2nd leg</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>West Region</td></tr><tr><td>Al-Zawraa </td><td>5–6</td><td> Al Wasl</td><td>3–2</td><td>2–4 (a.e.t.)</td></tr><tr><td>Arkadag </td><td>0–2</td><td> Al-Nassr</td><td>0–1</td><td>0–1</td></tr><tr><td>Sepahan </td><td>2–3</td><td> Al Ahli</td><td>2–2</td><td>0–1 (a.e.t.)</td></tr><tr><td>Esteghlal </td><td>2–4</td><td> Al-Hussein</td><td>0–1</td><td>2–3</td></tr><tr><td>East Region</td></tr><tr><td>Pohang Steelers </td><td>2–3</td><td> Gamba Osaka</td><td>1–1</td><td>1–2</td></tr><tr><td>Ratchaburi </td><td>3–1</td><td> Persib</td><td>3–0</td><td>0–1</td></tr><tr><td>Bangkok United </td><td>4–2</td><td> Macarthur FC</td><td>2–0</td><td>2–2</td></tr><tr><td>Công An Hà Nội </td><td>1–6</td><td> Tampines Rovers</td><td>0–3</td><td>1–3</td></tr></tbody></table>

The West regions quarter-finals fixtures were postponed indefinitely by the AFC due to the impacts from the 2026 Iran War.

The first legs were originally scheduled to be played between 3 and 5 March, and the second legs between 10 and 12 March 2026.

The first legs will be played between 7 and 8 April, and the second legs between 14 and 15 April 2026.

Final

The final is scheduled to be played on 17 May 2026. The host of the final was determined by the pre-determined rotation basis, with the team of the West Region hosting the final. The winners will also qualify for the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite, unless they have already qualified for the Champions League Elite through their league performance.

Top scorers

2025–26 AFC Champions League Two

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Player</th><th>Team</th><th>MD1</th><th>MD2</th><th>MD3</th><th>MD4</th><th>MD5</th><th>MD6</th><th>R16-1</th><th>R16-2</th><th>QF1</th><th>QF2</th><th>SF1</th><th>SF2</th><th>F</th><th>Total</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Trent Buhagiar</td><td>BG Tampines Rovers</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td></td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td></td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Tana</td><td>Ratchaburi</td><td>1</td><td></td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td></td><td></td><td>2</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Hide Higashikawa</td><td>BG Tampines Rovers</td><td></td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td></td><td>2</td><td></td><td></td><td>2</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Michel Vlap</td><td>Al Ahli</td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td></td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Ibrahim Gbadamosi</td><td>Al-Zawraa</td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td></td><td>1</td><td></td><td>2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Brenner</td><td>Nam Dinh</td><td>2</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Denilson</td><td>Ratchaburi</td><td></td><td></td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Muhsen Al-Ghassani</td><td>Bangkok United</td><td>1</td><td></td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>2</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Anderson Lopes</td><td>Lion City Sailors</td><td></td><td>4</td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Andrew Jung</td><td>Persib Bandung</td><td></td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td></td><td></td><td>1</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

• Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs and matches voided by AFC are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4)