The AFC Challenge League 2026-27 kicks off on October 17, 2026, and FC Goa are in the thick of it. The Gaurs landed in Group C with Qadsia SC, Fortis FC and FC Regar-TadAZ, with all matches played in Kuwait between October 17 and 24.
Quarterfinals run from March 3 to 18, 2027, semifinals from April 7 to 15, and the final is on May 8. Here is your complete guide to the schedule, squads, venues, live streaming and tickets.
AFC Challenge League 2026-27 Overview: What Is the Tournament?
The AFC Challenge League is the third-tier men’s club competition in Asia, sitting below the AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League Two. It gives clubs from smaller footballing nations regular continental action.
The competition is split into a West zone and an East zone. Twenty teams make the group stage, divided into five groups of four, and each group is played as a centralised single round-robin at one host venue.
The draw took place on August 20, 2026, at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | AFC Challenge League 2026-27 |
| Organiser | Asian Football Confederation (AFC) |
| Tier | Third tier of Asian club football |
| Group stage teams | 20 (five groups of four) |
| Zones | West (three groups), East (two groups) |
| Group stage window | October 17 to 24, 2026 |
| Quarterfinals (two legs) | March 3 to 18, 2027 |
| Semifinals (two legs) | April 7 to 15, 2027 |
| Final | May 8, 2027 |
Five clubs make their Challenge League debut this season: Ahal FC, Al Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo SC, FC Goa, New Taipei City Hang Yuan FC and Qadsia SC.
Kuwait SC won the last edition, beating PKR Svay Rieng 4-3 after extra time in the final on May 13, 2026. They are not defending the title because the winners move up to the AFC Champions League Two group stage. Regar-TadAZ hold the record with three titles from the President’s Cup era.
How FC Goa Qualified for the AFC Challenge League
FC Goa earned their Asian spot by winning the AIFF Super Cup 2025-26. They beat East Bengal on penalties after a 0-0 draw that went to extra time.
That win sent them into the AFC Champions League Two preliminary stage, but they lost 3-0 to FK Arkadag in Turkmenistan on August 12. The defeat dropped them into the Challenge League.
This is the third time FC Goa have played in Asia, and their first Challenge League campaign. East Bengal were the first Indian club in the competition, reaching the quarterfinals in 2024-25.
AFC Challenge League 2026-27 Groups and Teams
Here is the full group stage draw. The hosts are the clubs that stage every match of their group.
| Group | Teams | Host |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | Ahal FC (Turkmenistan), Al Ansar FC (Lebanon), Al Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo SC (Syria), Paro FC (Bhutan) | Paro FC |
| Group B | Al Arabi SC (Kuwait), Nejmeh SC (Lebanon), FC Istiklol (Tajikistan), Homs Al Fidaa SC (Syria) | FC Istiklol |
| Group C | FC Goa (India), Qadsia SC (Kuwait), Fortis FC (Bangladesh), FC Regar-TadAZ (Tajikistan) | Qadsia SC |
| Group D | Borneo FC Samarinda (Indonesia), One Taguig FC (Philippines), Tainan City FC (Taiwan), Yangon United FC (Myanmar) | Borneo FC Samarinda |
| Group E | Manila Digger (Philippines), Shan United FC (Myanmar), New Taipei City Hang Yuan FC (Taiwan), Kasuka FC (Brunei) | Shan United FC |
Groups D and E were decided after the preliminary stage. Yangon United, Manila Digger and Kasuka appear in the fixture listings for those groups.
FC Goa AFC Challenge League Group C Opponents
Group C is tricky because FC Goa play every game away from home, in Kuwait, while Qadsia enjoy home advantage throughout.
| Team | Country | Route to Group C | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qadsia SC | Kuwait | Third in Kuwait Premier League 2025-26 | Hosts all Group C games, Challenge League debutants, AFC Cup winners in 2014 |
| Fortis FC | Bangladesh | Third in Bangladesh Football League 2025-26 | Beat Muras United 1-0 in the preliminary stage, coach Masud Parvez Kaiser |
| FC Regar-TadAZ | Tajikistan | Tajikistan Cup 2025 winners | Three-time champions, coach Alisher Tukhtaev, exited the group stage last season |
Qadsia are the favourites on paper because of their home ground and domestic pedigree. Regar-TadAZ bring experience but are unpredictable.
Fortis are the newest face at this level. They have said they want to add a foreign striker to sharpen their attack.
AFC Challenge League 2026-27 Schedule: Fixtures, Dates and Kick-off Times
FC Goa Group C Fixtures
| Matchday | Date | Fixture | Venue | Kick-off (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 17, 2026 | FC Goa vs FC Regar-TadAZ | Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, Hawally, Kuwait | 6:55 PM |
| 2 | October 20, 2026 | Fortis FC vs FC Goa | Kuwait (Qadsia host venue) | 6:55 PM |
| 3 | October 23, 2026 | FC Goa vs Qadsia SC | Kuwait (Qadsia host venue) | 11:00 PM (unconfirmed) |
The opener time comes from FC Goa’s own announcement. The other two times are converted from UTC schedule listings, so check the AFC website before kick-off.
Other West Group Fixtures
| Matchday | Group A | Group B | Group C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Oct 17) | Ahal vs Paro, Al Ansar vs Al Ittihad Aleppo | Al Arabi vs Homs Al Fidaa, Nejmeh vs Istiklol | Goa vs Regar-TadAZ, Qadsia vs Fortis |
| 2 (Oct 20) | Paro vs Al Ansar, Al Ittihad Aleppo vs Ahal | Homs Al Fidaa vs Nejmeh, Istiklol vs Al Arabi | Fortis vs Goa, Regar-TadAZ vs Qadsia |
| 3 (Oct 23) | Ahal vs Al Ansar, Al Ittihad Aleppo vs Paro | Al Arabi vs Nejmeh, Istiklol vs Homs Al Fidaa | Fortis vs Regar-TadAZ, Goa vs Qadsia |
The East zone groups play a day later on October 18, 21 and 24.
Knockout Stage Dates and Qualification Rules
In the West, the three group winners and the best-ranked runner-up across the groups reach the quarterfinals. In the East, the top two from each group go through.
So FC Goa can still progress as a runner-up, but winning Group C is the safest route.
FC Goa Squad for the AFC Challenge League 2026-27
Gouramangi Singh is the head coach after Manolo Marquez left for Mumbai City. Shameel Chembakath is his assistant. This is the senior squad registered for the 2026-27 season. The final AFC squad list may differ slightly.
FC Goa Goalkeepers: Bob Jackson Raj, Lara Sharma, Lionel Daryl Rymmei
FC Goa Defenders: Aakash Sangwan, Konsam Akash Singh, Nim Dorjee Tamang, Pedro Alejandro Zalaya Galardon, Ronney Willson Kharbudon, Rudra Ved, Sandesh Jhingan, Saveme Tariang, Sitroy Carvalho
FC Goa Midfielders: Alexander Vallejo Minguez, Haobam Tomba Singh, Harsh Shailesh Patre, Mervin Domnic Fernandes, Prachit Gaonkar, Vellington Marcos Fernandes, Franchu, Udanta Singh
FC Goa Forwards: Christian Borrego Isabel (Chiki), Haodamlian Vaiphei, Isak Vanlalruatfela, Jorge Ortiz Mendoza, KC Malsawmsanga, Muhammed Nemil Valiyattil
The summer rebuild brought in Chiki from FC Cartagena and Franchu from Kerala Blasters. Jorge Ortiz returns to India, and Alex Zalaya and Alex Vallejo add defensive depth. The club also signed Rudra Ved from Shillong Lajong, Isak Vanlalruatfela from Odisha FC, KC Malsawmsanga from Chanmari and Haobam Tomba Singh from Inter Kashi.
Franchu is a fitness doubt after going off in the first half of the ISL opener against Chennaiyin FC.
Predicted FC Goa XI (4-4-2) vs Regar-TadAZ: Lara Sharma, Akash Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Alex Zalaya, Aakash Sangwan, Alex Vallejo, Prachit Gaonkar, Jorge Ortiz, Udanta Singh, Muhammed Nemil, Chiki.
Expected Regar-TadAZ XI (4-3-3): Takam Takam, Sorbon Glosov, Joseph Feumba, Ndongo Foe, Daler Imomnazarov, Abdukrakhmon Nozimov, Nozim Babajanov, Azizbek Khaitov, Martin Assomo, Amirdzhon Safarov, Manuel Mbollo.
Player Spotlight: Key Players to Watch in the AFC Challenge League 2026-27
1. Chiki (FC Goa)
The Spanish striker scored on his ISL debut in the 1-1 draw with Chennaiyin FC. He netted six goals for Cartagena last season and thrives inside the box.
He had a quiet night against Arkadag, so the Challenge League is his chance to prove he can lead Goa’s attack at continental level.
2. Sandesh Jhingan (FC Goa)
The experienced centre-back anchors the backline. Goa conceded three against Arkadag, so a compact, disciplined defence is the first job in Kuwait.
3. Udanta Singh (FC Goa)
The winger offers pace and width on the right. He created chances in the Arkadag game and will be a key outlet on the counter in Group C.
4. Alex Zalaya (FC Goa)
A graduate of the Real Zaragoza academy, Zalaya also played for FC Barcelona’s reserve team in 2022-23. He is one of Goa’s new defensive signings.
5. Manuel Mbollo (Regar-TadAZ)
The 23-year-old Cameroonian forward leads Regar-TadAZ’s front line. Goa’s defenders will need to handle his strength and runs in behind.
6. Mohammad Ibrahim (Fortis FC)
Ibrahim scored the 52nd minute winner against Muras United that sent Fortis into the group stage. He is the name to track in the October 20 clash with Goa.
AFC Challenge League 2026-27 Venue Info: Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, Kuwait
FC Goa’s opener is at Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium in Hawally, Kuwait, home of Qadsia SC. Other Group C matches are expected at the same ground, since Qadsia host the whole group.
| Venue detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium |
| Location | Hawally, Kuwait |
| Home club | Qadsia SC |
| Capacity | Around 22,000 (sources vary) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Time difference | Kuwait is 2 hours 30 minutes behind IST |
The other group hosts are Paro (Bhutan) for Group A, Istiklol’s home in Dushanbe (Tajikistan) for Group B, Borneo FC Samarinda (Indonesia) for Group D and Shan United (Myanmar) for Group E.
AFC Challenge League 2026-27 Live Streaming: Where to Watch in India
Indian fans can watch FC Goa vs Regar-TadAZ for free on YouTube. No Indian TV broadcaster had been announced at the time of writing.
| Platform | Cost | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube | Free | FC Goa vs Regar-TadAZ on October 17 |
| TV | Not announced | No Indian channel confirmed |
For the October 20 and 23 games, check the official FC Goa social media pages for the stream link before kick-off. Streaming rights are handled match by match in AFC’s lower competitions, which is why FC Goa’s Champions League Two qualifier had no Indian broadcast.
Do not confuse this with the ISL, which is streamed free on YouTube and on SonyLIV, with Sony Sports Network handling TV.
AFC Challenge League 2026-27 Tickets: What Fans Need to Know
All three FC Goa group games are played in Kuwait, so there is no home leg at Fatorda. No public ticket sale for Indian supporters had been announced at the time of writing.
Check the official FC Goa, AFC and Qadsia SC channels for ticket and entry information. Avoid unofficial resellers.
If you plan to travel, confirm Kuwait’s entry requirements and match-day rules in advance. The fixtures are only three days apart.
FC Goa Fixtures Alongside Asia: ISL 2026-27 Schedule
FC Goa are balancing the Challenge League with the Indian Super League. They drew 1-1 with Chennaiyin FC at Fatorda on October 10.
| Date | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | Inter Kashi vs FC Goa | To be confirmed |
| November 6, 2026 | FC Goa vs Bengaluru FC | Fatorda, Goa |
| November 21, 2026 | NorthEast United vs FC Goa | Guwahati |
| November 29, 2026 | FC Goa vs Kerala Blasters | Fatorda, Goa |
| December 5, 2026 | FC Goa vs Mumbai City FC | Fatorda, Goa |
| December 13, 2026 | Churchill Brothers vs FC Goa | Goa (first ISL Goan derby) |
Conclusion
The AFC Challenge League 2026-27 gives FC Goa a real shot at continental silverware, but they must top Group C in Kuwait, or finish as the best runner-up, between October 17 and 23. Watch the matches for free on YouTube in India, track the knockouts from March 3, 2027, and look out for the final on May 8.
Bookmark this page for squad news, scores and official ticket updates, because every point counts in this short, unforgiving group stage format.
FAQs
The group stage begins on October 17, 2026, and runs to October 24.
Group C, with Qadsia SC, Fortis FC and FC Regar-TadAZ.
In Kuwait, with Qadsia SC hosting the group. The opener is at Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium.
The opener is free on YouTube. Check FC Goa’s official channels for the later games.
Eight in total. In the West, three group winners and the best runner-up go through. In the East, the top two from each group qualify.
May 8, 2027, after two-legged quarterfinals and semifinals.
