Kolkata: FC Goa were drawn with hosts Qadsia SC (Kuwait), Fortis FC (Bangladesh), and FC Regar-TadAZ (Tajikistan) in Group C of the AFC Challenge League 2026-27, after the draw was conducted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
FC Goa earned a spot in Asia for the third time in their history by virtue of winning the AIFF Super Cup 2025-26. They went down 0-3 to FK Arkadag in the AFC Champions League Two Preliminary Stage last Wednesday, which saw them drop to the group stage of the AFC Challenge League, Asia’s third-tier men’s club competition.
FC Goa’s opponents Qadsia SC and Fortis FC finished third in the Kuwaiti Premier League 2025-26 and the Bangladesh Football League 2025-26, respectively, while FC Regar-TadAZ were the Tajikistan Cup 2025 winners.
The draw saw 20 teams divided into five groups of four — three in the West and two in the East. They will compete in a single round-robin centralised league format in the group stage from October 17 to 24, 2026. The Gaurs will travel to Kuwait, where Qadsia SC will host all Group C matches.
In the West, the three group winners and the best ranked runners-up among all groups will qualify for the quarter-finals. In the East, the group winners and runners-up will make it to the last eight.
The quarter-finals and semi-finals — both double-legged affairs — are set for March 3-18 and April 7-15, 2027, respectively, with the final slated for May 8.
AFC Challenge League 2026-27 Group Stage Draw Result
Group A: Ahal FK (TKM), Al Ansar FC (LBN), Al Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo SC (SYR), Paro FC (BHU) (hosts)
Group B: Al Arabi SC (KUW), Nejmeh SC (LBN), FC Istiklol (TJK) (hosts), Homs Al Fidaa SC (SYR)
Group C: FC Goa (IND), Qadsia SC (KUW) (hosts), Fortis FC (BAN), FC Regar-TadAZ (TJK)
Group D: Borneo FC Samarinda (IDN) (hosts), One Taguig FC (PHI), Tainan City FC (TPE), Yangon United FC (MYA)/Ezra FC (LAO)
Group E: Persib Bandung (IDN)/Manila Digger (PHI), Shan United FC (MYA) (hosts), New Taipei City Hang Yuan FC (TPE), Kasuka FC (BRU)/Karketu Dili FC (TLS).
