2026–27 AFC Challenge League
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | Qualifying: 28 July – 11 August 2026 Competition proper: 17 October 2026 – 8 May 2027 |
| Teams | Competition proper: 20 Total: 31 (from 27 associations) |
← 2025–26 2027–28 → | |
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.[1] 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.
Association team allocation
The associations are allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking which was published after the 2024–25 competitions were completed.[2][3]
| Participation for 2026–27 AFC Challenge League | |
|---|---|
| Participating | |
| Not participating | |
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Teams
- Notes
- ^ Turkmenistan (TKM): As 2025 Turkmenistan Cup winners Arkadag qualified for the Champions League Two via their league position, the spot reserved for the Turkmenistan Cup winners was transferred to the runners-up of the 2025 Ýokary Liga.
See also
References
- ^ "AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women's Champions League". the-AFC.
- ^ "AFC Men's Club Competition Ranking 2024/25". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ "AFC Men's Club Competitions Ranking 2024/25" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 4 October 2025.