CVN ( sports News) The remaining contenders for the AFC Challenge League (ACGL) 2025/26™ trophy will reassemble next week to continue their quest in the Knockout Stage.
Having sealed progress from the Group Stage in October (West) and November (East) 2025, eight teams will do battle across two-legged Quarter-final ties in the 12th edition of Asia’s third-tier men’s club competition, formerly known as the AFC President’s Cup before its revamp last season.
Four of those sides—Al Shabab Club, FC Muras United, Manila Digger FC and Dewa United FC—have advanced to this stage on their Continental debuts and will aim to extend their journeys, while two more clubs are contesting their maiden ACGL campaigns, namely Al Ansar FC and Kuwait SC.
West
March 4
Lebanon’s Al Ansar FC ended a four-year drought by lifting the league trophy for a record 15th time in 2024/25, earning their place in the ACGL and now progressing as the West’s best second-placed club among all groups, for their first knockout appearance since the last eight of the 1997/98 Asian Club Championship. At 9.30pm at the Grand Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, they will host Kyrgyz Republic’s reigning two-time domestic cup champions, FC Muras United, who topped Group C.
Advancing as Group A winners by taking the maximum nine points on offer, Oman’s Al Shabab Club enjoyed a perfect start on their Asian bow and the 2024/25 domestic cup champions—their first triumph—have been drawn to face Kuwait SC next at 11pm at the Al Seeb Stadium in Seeb. The latter, who topped Group B to make their first knockout berth since reaching the AFC Cup 2021™ West Zonal Final, picked up the Kuwait league crown for a record 20th occasion and fourth in a row in 2024/25.
East
March 5
Phnom Penh Crown FC marked their return to the ACGL since their third outing in 2012 by finishing as Group E runners-up, which sealed the 2011 finalists and 2024/25 domestic cup winners a last-eight clash against fellow Cambodian side—and last season’s runners-up—Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC at 7pm at theNational Sports Complex of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. The latter, who progressed as Group D winners, are the current holders of the Cambodian league crown following their fourth success in 2024/25.
Both marking their maiden forays into Continental competition, Manila Digger FCof the Philippines and Indonesia’s Dewa United FC will go head to head at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila at 8.30pm. The pair share identical trajectories in qualifying for this ACGL, having each recorded their best-ever league finish of second in 2024/25 to do so; the hosts then advanced as Group D runners-up, while the visitors topped Group E to progress.
The second legs of the Quarter-finals will take place on March 11 and 12, with the four winners moving on to the Semi-finals to be played in April, followed by the Final on May 9.
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