| top_scorer = Kwame Peprah(8 goals) | player = Amoory | fair_play = Svay Rieng | prevseason = 2024–25 | nextseason = 2026–27
The 2025–26 AFC Challenge League was the 12th edition of the Asia's third-tier continental club football competition, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the second under the AFC Challenge League title.
The final was played on 13 May 2026 at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City, Kuwait, with Kuwaiti club Al-Kuwait defeating Cambodian club Svay Rieng 4–3 to win their first Challenge League and fourth Asian title.
Arkadag were the reigning champions, but did not defend their title as the Challenge League winners automatically qualified for the Champions League Two group stage. The winners of the 2025–26 AFC Challenge League automatically qualified for the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Two group stage.
Association team allocation The associations are allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking which was published after the 2023–24 competitions were completed. Participation for 2025–26 AFC Challenge League Participating Not participating
+West Region (3 groups)RankMemberassociationPointsSlotsGroupstagePlay-off 101822.4930 111920.21710 122020.0480 132118.71120 142217.81811 152417.12502 162615.97202 172715.50002 183010.49001 19354.98400 20380.91700 21390.55500 22400.50501 23420.07501 24430.00000 24430.00000TotalParticipating associations: 1071017
+East Region (2 groups)RankMemberassociationPointsSlotsGroupstagePlay-off 102516.2300 112814.81610 122913.92300 133110.37511 14327.58111 15336.97802 16345.30002 17363.77000 18371.19801 19410.10001 20430.00000 20430.00000 20430.00000TotalParticipating associations: 74812
Notes
Teams Entry roundWest RegionEast RegionGroup stageTeamQualifying method TeamQualifying method Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda2025–26 AFC Champions League Two preliminary stage losers5th Manila Digger2025–26 AFC Champions League Two preliminary stage loser1st Al-Seeb2nd Dewa United Banten2024–25 Liga 1 runners-up1st Al-Shabab2024–25 Sultan Qaboos Cup winners1st PKR Svay Rieng2024–25 Cambodian Premier League champions3rd Altyn Asyr2024 Ýokary Liga third place1st Shan United2024–25 Myanmar National League champions4th Al-Ansar2024–25 Lebanese Premier League champions1st Safa2024–25 Lebanese Premier League runners-up1st Al-Kuwait2024–25 Kuwaiti Premier League champions1stPreliminary stage participants Al-Arabi2024–25 Kuwaiti Premier League runners-up2nd Phnom Penh Crown2024–25 Hun Sen Cup winners5th Dhaka Abahani2024–25 Bangladesh Premier League runners-up6th Yangon United2025 MNL League Cup winners1st Bashundhara Kings2024–25 Bangladesh Federation Cup winners2nd Tainan City2024 Taiwan Football Premier League champions2025 Taiwan President FA Cup winners2nd Al-Karamah2024–25 Syrian Premier League runners-up1st Taichung Futuro2024 Taiwan Football Premier League runners-up1st Hutteen2024–25 Syrian Premier League third-place1st SP Falcons2024–25 Mongolian Premier League champions2nd Abdysh-Ata Kant2024 Kyrgyz Premier League champions2nd Khangarid2024–25 Mongolian Premier League runners-up1st Muras United2024 Kyrgyzstan Cup winners1st Ezra2024–25 Lao League 1 champions1st Maziya2023 Dhivehi Premier League champions2nd Kasuka2024–25 Brunei Super League champions1st Paro2024 Bhutan Premier League champions2nd Abu Muslim2024–25 Afghanistan Champions League champions1st Notes
Schedule The quarter-finals and semi-finals for the West region were postponed due to the impacts from the 2026 Iran War. The AFC later announced that the quarter-finals and semi-finals for the West region would be played as single legged ties at Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
The schedule of the competition is as follows. StageRoundDraw dateWest regionEast regionNo draw12 August 2025Group stageMatchday 128 August 202525 October 202526 October 2025Matchday 228 October 202529 October 2025Matchday 331 October 20251 November 2025Knockout stageNo draw19 April 20265 and 12 March 2026Semi-finals22 April 20269 and 16 April 2026Final9 May 2026 at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City
Preliminary stage The bracket of the preliminary stage was determined based on each team's seeding, with the higher seeded hosting the match. Teams from the same association could not be placed into the same tie. The winners of the preliminary stage (five from West and four from East) advanced to the group stage of the competition.
West Region
East Region
Group stage
West Region Group A
Group B
Group C
Ranking of second-placed teams
East Region Group D
Group E
Knockout stage
Bracket
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Top scorers
RankPlayerTeamTotal1 Kwame Peprah PKR Svay Rieng213282 Moses Dyer Phnom Penh Crown1221173 Ousman Gai Manila Digger1121164 Takashi Odawara PKR Svay Rieng1124 Kenean Markneh Al-Shabab1126 Mohamed Marhoon Al-Kuwait1113 Amoory Al-Kuwait111 Yousef Nasser Al-Kuwait111 Abdul Aziz Al-Muqbali Al-Seeb111 Mohamad Hebous Al Ansar111 Riku Ichimura Paro12 Egy Maulana Vikri Dewa United Banten111 Alexis Messidoro Dewa United Banten21
Note
Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs and matches voided by AFC are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4)
See also 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two 2025–26 AFC Women's Champions League
Notes
References
External links AFC Calendar 2025–26 (Updated on 4 Aug 2025) (Archive1) 2025–26 AFC Challenge League at Global Sports Archive