Kuwaiti "Al-Arabi", Maldivian "Maziya Sports" and "Abdysh-Ata" from Kyrgyzstan were drawn against Turkmenistan's Arkadag following the draw held today in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) for the third most important men's club tournament of the Asian Football Confederation called the AFC Challenge League 2.

The group stage of the AFC Challenge League will feature 18 teams, divided geographically into 2 zones - Western and Eastern.

It is worth noting that before the draw for the AFC Challenge League, "Arkadag" was in the second basket together with the clubs "Nejmeh" (Lebanon) and "Al-Futuwa" (Syria), which excluded the current champion of Turkmenistan from playing with these clubs in the group stage of the tournament.

Results of the 2024/25 AFC Challenge League draw:

West Asia:

Group A:

• East Bengal (India)
• Najmeh (Lebanon)
• Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh)
• Paro (Bhutan) (group host)

Group B:

• Al Arabi (Kuwait) (group host)
• Arkadag (Turkmenistan)
• Abdysh-Ata (Kyrgyzstan)
• Maziya Sports and Recreation (Maldives)

Group C:

• Al Ahli (Bahrain)
• Al Futuwa (Syria)
• Al Seeb (Oman) (group host)
• Hilal Al-Quds (Palestine)

East Asia:

Group A:

• Shan United (Myanmar) (Group Host)
• Tainan City (Taiwan)
• Young Elephants (Laos)

Group B:

• Madura United (Indonesia)
• Prey Khan Reach Svey Rieng (Cambodia)
• SP Falcons (Mongolia) (Group Host)

The AFC Challenge League group stage matches will be held centrally from October 16 to November 2. Group B matches involving Arkadag will be held in Kuwait.

A total of eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals following the group stage: three group winners and one best second-placed team from West Asia, as well as the top two teams from each group in East Asia.

The playoff matches will be held in a home-and-away format. The quarter-finals will be held from 5 to 13 March 2025, the semi-finals from 9 to 17 April 2025, and the final is scheduled for 10 May 2025.