2024–25 AFC Challenge League

2024–25 AFC Challenge League
Tournament details
Teams	Competition proper: 20 (from 19 or 20 associations)
	2025–26 →

The 2024–25 AFC Challenge League (ACGL) will be the inaugural edition of the AFC Challenge League, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).^[1] It will feature 20 teams.^[2]

Association team allocation

Participation for 2024–25 AFC Challenge League
	Participating
	Not participating

West Region (3 groups)
Rank		Member Association	Points^[3]	Slots^[4]
Rank				Group stage	Play-off
Zone	AFC			Group stage	Play-off
—	—	2024–25 AFC Champions League 2 qualifying round losers	—	2	0
11	19	Kuwait	20.069	1	0
12	20	Turkmenistan	19.464	1	0
13	22	Lebanon	17.761	1	0
14	23	Syria	17.613	0	1
15	27	Bangladesh	14.121	0	1
16	28	Oman	12.453	0	1
17	29	Maldives	9.467	0	1
18	31	Palestine	5.760	0	1
19	33	Kyrgyzstan	4.308	0	1
20	37	Nepal	0.813	0	1
21	38	Sri Lanka	0.630	0	1
22	39	Bhutan	0.465	0	1
23	41	Afghanistan	0.090	0	1
24	42	Pakistan	0.000	0	1
24	42	Yemen	0.000	0	1
Total		Participating associations: 15		5	12
Total		Participating associations: 15		17

East Region (2 groups)
Rank		Member Association	Points^[3]	Slots^[4]
Rank				Group stage	Play-off
Zone	AFC			Group stage	Play-off
—	—	2024–25 AFC Champions League 2 qualifying round losers	—	2	0
11	25	North Korea	16.117	0	1
12	26	Indonesia	15.083	0	1
13	30	Myanmar	8.287	0	1
14	32	Cambodia	5.455	0	1
15	34	Macau	2.800	0	1
16	35	Chinese Taipei	2.067	0	1
17	36	Laos	1.362	0	1
18	40	Mongolia	0.250	0	1
19	42	Brunei	0.000	0	1
19	42	Guam	0.000	0	1
19	42	Northern Mariana Islands	0.000	0	1
19	42	East Timor	0.000	0	1
Total		Participating associations: 12		2	12
Total		Participating associations: 12		14

West Region
Team	Qualifying method
	2024–25 AFC Champions League 2 qualifying round losers
	2024–25 AFC Champions League 2 qualifying round losers
	2023–24 Kuwait Emir Cup winners
	2023 Turkmenistan Cup winners
	2023–24 Lebanese Premier League champions

Qualifying play-off participants
Team	Qualifying method
	2023–24 Syrian Premier League champions
Bashundhara Kings	2022–23 Bangladesh Premier League champions
	2023–24 Oman Professional League champions
	2023–24 Dhivehi Premier League champions
	2023–24 Palestine Professional League champions
	2023 Kyrgyz Premier League champions
	2023–24 Martyr Memorial A-Division League champions
	2023 Sri Lanka Premier League champions
	2023 Bhutan Premier League champions
	2023 Afghan Premier League champions
	2023–24 Pakistan Premier League champions
	2023 Yemeni League champions

East Region
Team	Qualifying method
	2024–25 AFC Champions League 2 qualifying round losers
	2024–25 AFC Champions League 2 qualifying round losers

Qualifying play-off participants
Team	Qualifying method
	2023–24 Hwaebul Cup winners
	2023–24 Liga 1 runners-up
	2023 Myanmar National League champions
	2023–24 Cambodian Premier League champions
Chao Pak Kei	2023 Liga de Elite champions
Taiwan Steel	2023 Taiwan Football Premier League champions
Young Elephants	2023 Lao League 1 champions
	2023–24 Mongolian Premier League champions
	2023 Brunei Super League champions
	2023–24 Guam Soccer League champions
Eleven Tiger	2023 M*League Division 1 champions
	2024 Liga Futebol Timor Leste champions

The schedule of the competition is as follows.^[5]

Stage	Round	Draw date	First leg	Second leg
Preliminary stage	Preliminary round 1	TBA	30 July 2024
	Preliminary round 2		6 August 2024
	Preliminary round 3		13 August 2024
Group stage	Matchday 1	TBA	26–27 October 2024
	Matchday 2		29–30 October 2024
	Matchday 3		1–2 November 2024
Knockout stage	Quarter-finals	TBA	5–6 March 2025	12–13 March 2025
	Semi-finals		9–10 April 2025	16–17 April 2025
	Final		4 May 2025