Al-Arabi and Qadsia await the draw for the "Asian Challenge" today

Representatives of Kuwait’s Al-Arabi and Al-Qadsieh clubs are awaiting the outcome of the group stage draw for the Asian Arab Challenge League, which will take place at 10 a.m. today at the headquarters of the Asian Football Confederation in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital.

Al-Arabi, known as “The Green,” is placed in the first tier after losing in the Asian Champions League qualifying playoff to India’s East Bengal. Al-Qadsieh, known as “The Yellow,” is in the second tier and will host its group matches.

The participating clubs will be distributed into five groups of four teams each—three groups in the West region and two in the East. Teams will compete in a single-leg round-robin format during the group stage, which will be held in a centralized venue between October 17 and 24. The draw will ensure that no two clubs from the same country are placed in the same group.

The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be played over two legs, with matches scheduled between March 3 and 18, and April 7 and 15, respectively. The final will be held on May 8, 2027.

The tiering for the West region is as follows:

Tier 1: Al-Arabi, Goa (India), and Ahal (Turkmenistan).

Tier 2: Al-Qadsieh (host), Ansar, and Nejmeh (Lebanon).

Tier 3: Istiqlol (Tajikistan – host), Fortis (Bangladesh), and Al-Hilal Aleppo (Syria).

Tier 4: Paro (Bhutan – host), Regar-TadAZ (Tajikistan), and Homs Al-Fida (Syria).

In other news, Kuwait and Kazma will face each other in a friendly match at 7 p.m. today at the Friendship and Peace Stadium, serving as a final rehearsal before the start of the Zain Premier League on the 25th of this month. Meanwhile, Al-Ahli, champions of the previous edition, will open their campaign against runners-up Al-Arabi, while Al-Kuwait, known as “The Orange,” will take on Al-Tadamon.

Both teams recently concluded their training camps in London and Turkey. Their squads are fully assembled, featuring all five designated foreign players as well as local professionals. Consequently, the match is expected to see the participation of all starting players, allowing coaches to assess their form ahead of the league’s decisive phase.