Arab clubs on the cusp of glory: AFC Cup quarterfinals within reach

Group-by-Group Preview

The AFC Cup 2025-2026 group stage heads toward its thrilling finale with the third round of matches scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Arab clubs carry strong hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals as the race tightens across four of six groups.

The contest remains open in several groups, turning the upcoming fixtures into high-stakes clashes where every goal could tilt the balance toward the next round. The dynamics are clear: champions of each group advance, plus the best second-placed team from the West region; the remaining openings will be decided in the East Asia clusters by the top two teams.

Qualifying spots loom large as teams push to seal a direct path to the knockout stage, while others chase a consolation finish that could still count as a positive campaign in a tough continental competition.

Group 1

Fixtures are set at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan, with Altin Asir of Turkmenistan facing Oman’s Shabab Oman, and Paro of Bhutan meeting Abdysh Ata of Kyrgyzstan. A point apiece may be enough for Altin Asir and Shabab to advance, but expect open play and little room for caution in this decisive showdown.

Both sides sit on six points, with the Turkmen side leading on goal difference before their final match. Paro and Abdysh Ata are out of the running for the last-eight, hoping to finish positively as the campaign closes.

Group 2

Group 2 action takes place at the Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Stadium in Salmiya, Kuwait. Friday’s finale pits Seeb of Oman against Al-Ansar of Lebanon, while Kuwait SC hosts Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh. A win might not guarantee qualification, but a victory keeps both clubs in the hunt as they share four points apiece after a 1-1 stalemate last week.

Seeb faces a stern test against Al-Ansar, who sit just one point behind, while Kuwait meets Bashundhara Kings, a side yet to collect a point this campaign. The results will shape the final table and the chances of progression from the group.

Group 3

Group 3’s matches are staged at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The final round on Friday features Regar-TadAZ from Tajikistan against Safa from Lebanon, and Arab Kuwaiti versus Moras United from Kyrgyzstan. The clash between Arab Kuwait and Moras United could decide the group’s direct qualification slot, as both sides have four points with Moras ahead on goal difference.

Regar-TadAZ and Safa chase a small victory as a consolation while seeking to carry momentum into future fixtures.

Group 4

Group 4 is hosted at Morodok Techo Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. On Saturday, Falcons Mongolian face Iskra Laos, while Manila Digger from the Philippines meets Preah Khan Reach Sven Rang from Cambodia. Manila Digger and Preah Khan Reach are set to contest the group leadership, with Sven Rang currently ahead on goal difference. The Philippines side believes they can clinch the top spot, while Falconz and Iskra aim to end their campaign on a positive note and ease the sting of earlier results.

Group 5

Group 5 takes place at the Tenggara Ring Center in Tangerang, Indonesia. Tainan City of Chinese Taipei faces Phnom Penh Crown of Cambodia, and Dewa United of Indonesia takes on Shan United of Myanmar. The group remains fiercely contested, with three teams in the mix for the knockout stage. Dewa United looks the likeliest to top the group, while Phnom Penh Crown and Shan United are fighting to secure a strong final position.

As the AFC Cup third round wraps up, the title of the competition’s third-tier contest (behind the two flagship AFC Champions Leagues) remains up for grabs in a format that favors group leaders and the best second-placed side from the West. The final rounds on Friday and Saturday promise drama, surprises, and a potential new wave of regional stars stepping into the continental spotlight.

And if football were a math problem, these teams would be solving for X while the referee marks the square root of drama on the scoreboard. The AFC Cup is rarely a straight line to glory; it’s more like a zigzag with a few glorious detours—perfect for a few last-minute edge-of-seat moments.

Punchline time: If groups were dating apps, these teams would be getting swipes right from the quarterfinals. And if the ball could talk, it would beg to stay on the pitch longer, because exchanges like this deserve a sequel. Final thought: may the best defense be the one that forgets what the scoreboard says—yes, I’m joking, it’s usually the other way around.