FC Goa drawn with Qadsia SC, Fortis FC and FC Regar‑TadAZ in AFC Challenge League 2026-27 Group C
FC Goa were drawn into Group C of the AFC Challenge League 2026-27 with hosts Qadsia SC (Kuwait), Fortis FC (Bangladesh) and FC Regar‑TadAZ (Tajikistan) at the group stage draw held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
FC Goa qualified for Asian competition by winning the AIFF Super Cup 2025-26, marking their third appearance in continental tournaments. They dropped into the AFC Challenge League group stage after a 0-3 loss to FK Arkadag in the AFC Champions League Two Preliminary Stage last Wednesday.
The draw placed FC Goa alongside Qadsia SC, who will act as hosts for Group C, Fortis FC and FC Regar‑TadAZ. Group C will be contested in a single round‑robin centralised league format with all fixtures organised at Qadsia’s venue in Kuwait.
Qadsia SC and Fortis FC secured their places in the competition after finishing third in the Kuwaiti Premier League 2025-26 and the Bangladesh Football League 2025-26 respectively, while FC Regar‑TadAZ entered as Tajikistan Cup 2025 winners. Those credentials were listed at the draw to outline each club’s route into the AFC Challenge League.
The full draw comprised 20 teams split into five groups of four, with three groups assigned to the West zone and two to the East. The group stage will be played from October 17 to October 24, 2026 under the centralised single round‑robin format announced at the draw.
Progression to the quarter‑finals differs by zone: in the West the three group winners plus the best‑ranked runners‑up across the groups will advance, while in the East the group winners and runners‑up will reach the last eight. The quarter‑finals and semi‑finals are scheduled as two‑legged ties from March 3-18 and April 7-15, 2027 respectively, with the final set for May 8, 2027.
The draw produced the following groups: 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).
The Gaurs will travel to Kuwait to contest all Group C matches at Qadsia’s designated host venue between October 17 and October 24, 2026.