Turkmenistan's “Ahal” Football Club will learn its group stage opponents for the 2026/27 Challenge League at the group stage draw ceremony, which will take place on August 20 at 18:00 Ashgabat time at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Participants will be divided into five groups of four teams: three groups in the Western Zone and two in the Eastern Zone. The group stage will be held from October 17 to 24, 2026, in a single-round robin format.

The host cities for the group stages have already been determined: Kuwait's “Al-Qadisiya”, Tajikistan's “Istiqlol”, Bhutan's “Paro”, Indonesia's “Borneo Samarinda”, and Myanmar's “Shan United”.

“Ahal” will represent Pot 1 at the upcoming draw, along with Kuwait's “Al Arabi” and India's “Goa”. Pot 2 includes “Al Qadisiya”, as well as Lebanon's “Al Ansar” and “Nijmeh”. Pot 3 includes Tajikistan's “Istiqlol”, Bangladesh's “Fortis”, and Syria's “Al Ittihad Ahli” Aleppo. Pot 4 includes Bhutan's “Paro”, Tajikistan's “Regar-TadAZ”, and Syria's “Homs Al-Fidaa”.

Following the group stage, the tournament will continue with the playoffs: the quarterfinals will be held from March 3 to 18, and the semifinals from April 7 to 15, 2027. Teams will play both rounds over two legs, home and away. The final is scheduled for May 8, 2027.