2026–27 AFC Challenge League

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. 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.

Source: Wikipedia

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2026–27 AFC Challenge League

Association team allocation

2026–27 AFC Challenge League

The associations are allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking which was published after the 2024–25 competitions were completed.

<table><thead><tr><th>Participation for 2026–27 AFC Challenge League</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Participating</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Not participating</td></tr></tbody></table>

Teams

2026–27 AFC Challenge League

<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></td><td>2026–27 AFC Champions League Two qualifying round losers</td><td></td><td></td><td>2026–27 AFC Champions League Two qualifying round losers</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ahal</td><td>2025 Ýokary Liga runners-up</td><td>1st</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Kuwait Emir Cup winners</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Lebanese Premier League champions</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Qualifying play-off participants</td><td>Istiklol</td><td>2025 Tajikistan Higher League champions</td><td>1st</td><td></td><td>2025–26 Indonesia Super League runners-up</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bars Issyk-Kul</td><td>2025 Kyrgyz Premier League champions</td><td>1st</td><td></td><td>2025–26 Philippines Football League runners-up</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Bangladesh Football League champions</td><td></td><td>Shan United</td><td>2025–26 Myanmar National League champions</td><td>5th (2025–26)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Syrian Premier League champions</td><td></td><td></td><td>2025–26 Taiwan Football Premier League champions</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Maziya</td><td>2025–26 Dhivehi Premier League champions</td><td>3rd (2025–26)</td><td>April 25</td><td>2024–25 DPR Korea Premier Football League champions</td><td>1st</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Palestine Professional League champions</td><td></td><td></td><td>2025–26 Mongolian Premier League champions</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Paro</td><td>2025 Bhutan Premier League champions</td><td>3rd (2025–26)</td><td>MUST IPO</td><td>2025 Liga de Elite champions</td><td>1st</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2026 ANFA National League champions</td><td>1st</td><td>Ezra</td><td>2025–26 Lao League 1 champions</td><td>2nd (2025–26)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Afghanistan Champions League champions</td><td>1st</td><td></td><td>2025–26 Brunei Super League champions</td><td>1st</td></tr><tr><td>Renown</td><td>2025 Sri Lanka Premier League champions</td><td>1st</td><td>Karketu Dili</td><td>2025 Liga Futebol Timor-Leste champions</td><td>1st</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Yemeni League champions</td><td>1st</td><td>NAPA Rovers</td><td>2025 Guam Soccer League champions</td><td>1st</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2025–26 Pakistan Premier League champions</td><td>1st</td><td>Kanoa</td><td>2025 Marianas Soccer League 1 champions</td><td>1st</td></tr></tbody></table>