FC Goa to face FK Arkadag in ACL Two playoff while East Bengal await Kuwaiti opponent

FC Goa will play their ACL two playoff game away from home

Indian football clubs are set to return to continental action as FC Goa and ISL 2025-26 champions East Bengal FC get ready to compete in the AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two) playoffs.

India recently lost its direct ACL Two group stage spot due to a shortened league format that had each team play only 13 matches in a single leg format. As a result, both the Indian clubs must now play the playoff round to secure qualification.

Super Cup winners FC Goa will travel away from home to Turkmenistan and take on the Turkmenistan champions FK Arkadag.

Meanwhile, ISL 2025-26 champions East Bengal will welcome the second placed team from the Kuwait Premier League in Kolkata. The opponent of East Bengal is yet to be confirmed, as the Kuwait Premier League is still ongoing and will be clear by Saturday.

AFC allocated 25 direct spots for the ACL Two group stage, which is scheduled to kick off on September 15. The remaining seven places will be filled by four clubs eliminated from the ACL Elite preliminary stage and three winners from the ACL Two playoffs.

With a spot at stake, it is crucial for both FC Goa and East Bengal to get the win in their respective playoff fixtures.

A brief look at the playoff matches

All ACL Two playoff matches will be played on August 12. FC Goa will face champions of Turkmenistan, FK Arkadag at the Arkadag Stadium in Turkmenistan. Meanwhile, East Bengal will play their playoff match in Kolkata against the team that finishes second in the Kuwait Premier League.

Another playoff fixture will see Indonesian side Persib Bandung take on Manila Digger FC from the Philippines.

The winners of these playoff matches will secure a place in the ACL Two, Asia’s second-tier continental club competition.

A look at the opponent of FC Goa

FK Arkadag are a club from Turkmenistan that compete in the country’s top tier league. They are the reigning champions of Turkmenistan and will take on FC Goa in the ACL Two playoff match on August 12.

The Turkmen side was founded in 2023 and have enjoyed remarkable success ever since, winning every league title since its inception.

They also won the inaugural AFC Challenge League in 2025 and qualified for the knockout stage of the ACL Two last season, where they were eliminated by Al Nassr. In addition, they are the Turkmenistan Cup winners as well.

The squad is made up of players from Turkmenistan and will pose a tough challenge for FC Goa, especially with the Indian side having to play away from home in Turkmenistan.

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