Al-Qadisiya hosts its group in the Asian Challenge

Al-Qadsieh Club will add its group-stage fixtures in the AFC Challenge League 2026-27 to its schedule, to be held between October 17 and 23 next year, after receiving an official letter from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirming its selection as one of the three clubs approved to host group-stage matches in the West Zone. Al-Qadsieh’s selection to host its group matches grants the Yellow team the advantage of playing its continental ties at home and in front of its supporters, a move that reflects the AFC’s confidence in the club’s ability to organize the continental event, while also providing the best possible conditions for the team to compete for a spot in the knockout stages. The identities of Al-Qadsieh’s opponents in the group and the match schedule details will be determined following the official draw ceremony conducted by the AFC on August 20. Al-Qadsieh is placed in the first draw pot alongside Al-Arabi and India’s Gokulam Kerala FC, while the second pot includes Lebanon’s Ansar and Nejmeh, as well as Turkmenistan’s Ahal. The third pot comprises Tajikistan’s Istiklol Dushanbe and Regar-TadAZ, along with Bangladesh’s Fortis FC. The fourth pot contains Syria’s Al-Hamra and Al-Wahda Aleppo, and Bhutan’s Paro FC. Al-Qadsieh secured its place in the tournament by finishing third in the Premier League, while Al-Arabi’s participation in the lower-tier continental competition came after their 4-1 defeat to India’s East Bengal in the AFC Champions League Two playoff. AFC Champions League Two is the second-tier continental competition, represented in Kuwait by Kuwait SC, while local clubs are absent from the elite AFC Champions League, which is the highest-ranked continental tournament.