AFC Challenge League
With the competition offering emerging clubs the opportunity to make their mark on the Asian stage, the group stage promises plenty of intriguing encounters, regional rivalries and memorable moments.
The-AFC.com takes a look at how the group stage could unfold.
#ACGL – Preview: Group Stage
West Zone
Group A
Ahal FC (TKM) v Paro FC (BHU)
Venue: Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu
Kick-off: Saturday, 18:00 (UTC+6)
Al Ansar FC (LBN) v Al Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo SC (SYR)
Venue: Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu
Kick-off: Saturday, 21:00 (UTC+6)
Bhutan's Paro FC will be hoping to make the most of familiar surroundings when they begin their campaign against Turkmenistan's Ahal FC.
Having reached the quarter-finals of last season's competition, Paro will be determined to build on that experience, but Ahal will be equally eager to make a positive start.
Lebanon's Al Ansar FC, meanwhile, face Syrian opposition in the form of Al Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo SC, who booked their group stage berth with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bangladesh Police FC in the Preliminary Stage.
Jordan Rodrigues was the match-winner on that occasion, and the Syrian side will be looking for another strong performance as they begin their group stage adventure.
Group A
Ahal FC (TKM) v Paro FC (BHU)
Venue: Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu
Kick-off: Saturday, 18:00 (UTC+6)
Al Ansar FC (LBN) v Al Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo SC (SYR)
Venue: Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu
Kick-off: Saturday, 21:00 (UTC+6)
Bhutan's Paro FC will be hoping to make the most of familiar surroundings when they begin their campaign against Turkmenistan's Ahal FC.
Having reached the quarter-finals of last season's competition, Paro will be determined to build on that experience, but Ahal will be equally eager to make a positive start.
Lebanon's Al Ansar FC, meanwhile, face Syrian opposition in the form of Al Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo SC, who booked their group stage berth with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bangladesh Police FC in the Preliminary Stage.
Jordan Rodrigues was the match-winner on that occasion, and the Syrian side will be looking for another strong performance as they begin their group stage adventure.
Group B
Al Arabi SC (KUW) v Homs Al Fidaa SC (SYR)
Venue: Hisor Central Stadium, Hisor
Kick-off: Saturday, 16:00 (UTC+5)
Nejmeh SC (LBN) v FC Istiklol (TJK)
Venue: Hisor Central Stadium, Hisor
Kick-off: Saturday, 19:00 (UTC+5)
Kuwait's Al Arabi SC will be aiming to improve on last season's group stage exit when they open their campaign against Syria's Homs Al Fidaa SC.
The Kuwaiti outfit know the importance of securing an early advantage in a competitive group that also features Lebanon's Nejmeh SC and Tajikistan's FC Istiklol.
The other encounter promises to be equally intriguing, with Istiklol looking to draw on their continental pedigree against Nejmeh.
The Tajikistan champions lifted the AFC President's Cup in 2012 and will be eager to add another chapter to their continental history.
Al Arabi SC (KUW) v Homs Al Fidaa SC (SYR)
Venue: Hisor Central Stadium, Hisor
Kick-off: Saturday, 16:00 (UTC+5)
Nejmeh SC (LBN) v FC Istiklol (TJK)
Venue: Hisor Central Stadium, Hisor
Kick-off: Saturday, 19:00 (UTC+5)
Kuwait's Al Arabi SC will be aiming to improve on last season's group stage exit when they open their campaign against Syria's Homs Al Fidaa SC.
The Kuwaiti outfit know the importance of securing an early advantage in a competitive group that also features Lebanon's Nejmeh SC and Tajikistan's FC Istiklol.
The other encounter promises to be equally intriguing, with Istiklol looking to draw on their continental pedigree against Nejmeh.
The Tajikistan champions lifted the AFC President's Cup in 2012 and will be eager to add another chapter to their continental history.
Group C
FC Goa (IND) v FC Regar-TadAZ (TJK)
Venue: Mohammed Al Hamad Stadium, Hawally
Kick-off: Saturday, 16:25 (UTC+3)
Al Qadsia SC (KUW) v Fortis FC (BAN)
Venue: Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, Hawally
Kick-off: Saturday, 20:30 (UTC+3)
India's FC Goa will look to make a winning start when they face Tajikistan's FC Regar-Tadaz, who secured their group stage place with an impressive 3-0 victory over Maldives' Maziya Sports & RC.
Regar-Tadaz struck three times in the second half of their Preliminary Stage encounter and will be hoping to carry that momentum into the group stage.
Kuwait's Al Qadsia SC, meanwhile, begin their challenge against Bangladesh's Fortis FC, who will be determined to enjoy a maiden continental campaign.
Fortis advanced with a 1-0 victory over Kyrgyz Republic's FC Muras United, courtesy of Mohammad Ibrahim's second-half strike, and will be looking to produce another memorable performance against their Kuwaiti opponents.
FC Goa (IND) v FC Regar-TadAZ (TJK)
Venue: Mohammed Al Hamad Stadium, Hawally
Kick-off: Saturday, 16:25 (UTC+3)
Al Qadsia SC (KUW) v Fortis FC (BAN)
Venue: Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, Hawally
Kick-off: Saturday, 20:30 (UTC+3)
India's FC Goa will look to make a winning start when they face Tajikistan's FC Regar-Tadaz, who secured their group stage place with an impressive 3-0 victory over Maldives' Maziya Sports & RC.
Regar-Tadaz struck three times in the second half of their Preliminary Stage encounter and will be hoping to carry that momentum into the group stage.
Kuwait's Al Qadsia SC, meanwhile, begin their challenge against Bangladesh's Fortis FC, who will be determined to enjoy a maiden continental campaign.
Fortis advanced with a 1-0 victory over Kyrgyz Republic's FC Muras United, courtesy of Mohammad Ibrahim's second-half strike, and will be looking to produce another memorable performance against their Kuwaiti opponents.
East Zone
Group D
Borneo FC Samarinda (IDN) v Yangon United FC (MYA)
Venue: Segiri Stadium, Samarinda
Kick-off: Sunday, 20:00 (UTC+7)
Indonesia's Borneo FC Samarinda will be aiming to capitalise on home advantage when they kick off their campaign against Myanmar's Yangon United FC.
Yangon United secured their place in the group stage after overcoming Laos' Ezra FC 2-1 in the Preliminary Stage, with head coach Marcelo Cirelli hoping his side can carry that momentum into their opening encounter.
Group D is a three-team affair, with Mongolia’s Central Stallions FC completing the cast following the withdrawal of Philippines side One Taguig FC.
Group D
Borneo FC Samarinda (IDN) v Yangon United FC (MYA)
Venue: Segiri Stadium, Samarinda
Kick-off: Sunday, 20:00 (UTC+7)
Indonesia's Borneo FC Samarinda will be aiming to capitalise on home advantage when they kick off their campaign against Myanmar's Yangon United FC.
Yangon United secured their place in the group stage after overcoming Laos' Ezra FC 2-1 in the Preliminary Stage, with head coach Marcelo Cirelli hoping his side can carry that momentum into their opening encounter.
Group D is a three-team affair, with Mongolia’s Central Stallions FC completing the cast following the withdrawal of Philippines side One Taguig FC.
Group E
Shan United FC (MYA) v Hang Yuan FC (TPE)
Venue: Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon
Kick-off: Sunday, 16:00 (UTC+6:30)
Manila Digger FC (PHI) v Kasuka FC (BRU)
Venue: Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon
Kick-off: Sunday, 19:00 (UTC+6:30)
Myanmar's Shan United FC will be eager to make the most of their home advantage when they begin their campaign against Chinese Taipei's Hang Yuan FC.
Shan United will be looking to improve on their group stage exit last season, but Hang Yuan will arrive with confidence after overcoming Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar FC 2-1 in the Preliminary Stage.
The group's other fixture pits the Philippines' Manila Digger FC against Brunei Darussalam's Kasuka FC, with both teams targeting a positive start.
Manila Digger will be determined to build on their continental experience, while Kasuka secured their place in the group stage with a 2-1 victory over Timor-Leste's Karketu Dili FC in their Preliminary Stage encounter.
Shan United FC (MYA) v Hang Yuan FC (TPE)
Venue: Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon
Kick-off: Sunday, 16:00 (UTC+6:30)
Manila Digger FC (PHI) v Kasuka FC (BRU)
Venue: Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon
Kick-off: Sunday, 19:00 (UTC+6:30)
Myanmar's Shan United FC will be eager to make the most of their home advantage when they begin their campaign against Chinese Taipei's Hang Yuan FC.
Shan United will be looking to improve on their group stage exit last season, but Hang Yuan will arrive with confidence after overcoming Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar FC 2-1 in the Preliminary Stage.
The group's other fixture pits the Philippines' Manila Digger FC against Brunei Darussalam's Kasuka FC, with both teams targeting a positive start.
Manila Digger will be determined to build on their continental experience, while Kasuka secured their place in the group stage with a 2-1 victory over Timor-Leste's Karketu Dili FC in their Preliminary Stage encounter.
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