Full AFC (Asian Football Confederation) competitions calendar for 2026-27 season
AFC Asian Cup will run from 7th January 2027 to 5th February 2027
The AFC (Asian Football Confederation) has an exciting line-up of competitions meant to entertain fans in the upcoming 2026-27 season, be it in the domestic or international football scene.
The Asian Federation is currently proud hosts of a plethora of different competitions across both genders, giving teams from around Asia the chance to earn bragging rights for themselves in the tournaments.
The Asian Football Confederation recently released its schedule calendar for the 2026-26 season, which contains dates of every single competition that will happen across domestic and international football.
Here, we look at the AFC (Asian Football Confederation ) competitions calendar for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign.
July (2026)
Even though the 2026-27 season only begins from August (2026) onward in the Asian Football scene, there are a few Asian Football Confederation events that will happen in July.
This mostly pertains to draws for multiple competitions for the upcoming campaign, which includes the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers draw, in which India U17 will be a part of!
2 July: AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 Preliminary Stage Draw
16 July: AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers Draw
August (2026)
As noted beforehand, the Asian Football Confederation competitions’ action will actually only begin from August (2026) onward –be it at the domestic or international scene. First up will be the preliminary stage matches for the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, AFC Women’s Champions League and the AFC Challenge League – with these matches deciding the final participants of these competitions as well.
East Bengal’s men and women’s team will be involved in the preliminary stages for the AFC Champions League Two and AFC Women’s Champions League matches this month. There will be a few competitions’ draws done in this month before they can kick-start.
11 August: AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 Preliminary Stage
11 August: AFC Challenge League 2026/27 Preliminary Stage
12 August: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 Preliminary Stage
17-23 August: AFC Women’s Champions League 2026/27 Preliminary Stage
18 August: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 Group Stage and AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 League Stage Draws
20 August: AFC Challenge League 2026/27 Group Stage Draw
27 August: AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Draw
31 August – 6 September: AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers
September (2026)
It will only be in September when, like most years, the competitions like the AFC Women’s Champions League as well as the AFC Champions League Elite can begin. For Indian football, East Bengal can potentially play in the AFC Champions League Two if they win their preliminary qualifier in August.
3 September: AFC Women’s Champions League 2026/27 Group Stage Draw
10 September: AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup 2026 Draw
14-16 September: AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 MD1
15-17 September: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 MD1
October (2026)
As competitions like the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two continue, and the AFC Challenge League group stages begin, there will also be some interesting continental football this month in the form of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.
India U17 women are poised to play in it, and have to win their group to qualify for the major Asian Football Confederation tournament in China.
5-11 October: AFC U17 Women’s Asian China Cup 2027 Qualifiers
11-14 October: AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 MD2
13-15 October: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 MD2
17-24 October: AFC Challenge League 2026/27 Group Stage
17 October – 7 November: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026
26-28 October: AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 MD3
27-29 October: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 MD3
November (2026)
The Asian Football Confederation competitions will really start heating up in November, with their continental competitions continuing their group stages. However, the AFC Women’s Champions League group stages will begin, and it can potentially contain East Bengal women if they are able to win the preliminary qualifier to qualify for it.
The AFC U17 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers are poised to happen in November, and they’ll see the India U17 men’s team fighting for a place in the tournament. Moreover, the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup will also take place this month for Beach Soccer fans.
1-7 November: AFC Women’s Champions League 2026/27 Group Stage
2-4 November: AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 MD4
3-5 November: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 MD4
8-20 November: AFC U17 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers
18-28 November: AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2026 Finals
23-25 November: AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 MD5
24-26 November: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 MD5
December (2026)
The final matchday of the AFC Champions League is poised to happen in December. This will be pivotal in deciding which teams move onto the knockout rounds, and can be especially important for East Bengal if they’re able to qualify for the AFC Champions League Two. Moreover, the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Champions League Elite stages will continue, with its sixth matchday also this month.
1-2 December: AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 MD6 – East
2-3 December: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 MD6 – East
7-8 December: AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 MD6 – West
8-9 December: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 MD6 – West
January (2027)
Normally, the month of January is a quiet one for Asian Football – but that won’t be the case in 2027. That is because the AFC Asian Cup is poised to start from 7 January, and it’ll stretch all the way until 5 February (2027) – when the final will decide who reigns supreme in the Asian competition. The Asian Football Confederation will start it from 7th January 2027.
7 January-5 February: AFC Asian Cup 2027
February (2027)
The AFC Champions League Elite League stages will conclude in February, with the final two matchdays poised to happen this month. Moreover, the AFC Champions League Two will also have its Round of 16, with two legs happening in February to narrow things down to the final eight.
8-10 February: AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 MD7
9-11 February: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 R16 1st Leg
15-17 February: AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 MD8
16-18 February: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 R16 2nd Leg
March (2027)
Things will really heat up in Asian Football in March as the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, AFC Challenge League and the AFC Women’s Champions League are in full flow.
In March (2027), the Indian Football team is also expected to be in action as the FIFA World Cup 2030 qualifiers and the AFC Asian Cup 2031 round 1 qualifiers start this month. Moreover, the end of this month will also mark the beginning of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup as well!
1-2 March: AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 R16 1st Leg- West
2-3 March: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 QF 1st Leg – West
3-March: AFC Challenge League 2026/27 QF 1st Leg – West
9-10 March: AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 R16 1st Leg – East
10-11 March: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 QF 1st Leg – East
11-March: AFC Challenge League 2026/27 QF 1st Leg – East
15-17 March: AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 R16 2nd leg
16-18 March: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 QF 2nd Leg
17-18 March: AFC Challenge League 2026/27 QF 2nd Leg
24 March – 10 April: AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Finals
25- March: FIFA World Cup 2030 & AFC Asian Cup 2031 Round 1 – MD1
27-28 March: AFC Women’s Champions League 2026/27 QF
30- March: FIFA World Cup 2030 & AFC Asian Cup 2031 Round 1 – MD2
31 March – 17 April: AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027
April (2027)
Fans will get to watch some exciting matches as the AFC Champions League Two and AFC Challenge League Two semifinals happen in April 2027). Moreover, the AFC Champions League Elite 2026-27 final will also start from this tournament.
6-7 April: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 SF 1st Leg
7-8 April: AFC Challenge League 2026/27 SF 1st Leg
13-14 April: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 SF 2nd Leg
14-15 April: AFC Challenge League 2026/27 SF 2nd Leg
23 April-1 May : AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 Finals
May (2027)
The final stretch of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) 2026-27 season will see the AFC Challenge League, AFC Champions League Two, and AFC Women’s Champions League finals happen in May, as well as the AFC U17 Asian Cup as well!
8 May: AFC Challenge League 2026/27 Final
12-29 May: AFC U17 Asian Cup China 2027 Finals
15 May: AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 Final
19-22 May: AFC Women’s Champions League 2026/27 Finals
When will the 2026-27 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) season officially begin?
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) 2026-27 season officially begins in August 2026 with the preliminary rounds of the continental club competitions, although several tournament draws will take place in July 2026.
Which Indian clubs are expected to participate in AFC competitions?
Indian club East Bengal FC are expected to participate in both the AFC Champions League Two and the AFC Women’s Champions League preliminary stages during August 2026.
When will the AFC Asian Cup 2027 take place?
The AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Asian Cup 2027 will be held from 7 January to 5 February 2027, with Asia’s top national teams competing for the continental title.
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Uttiyo is a sports journalist who has been covering football since 2016. He is an avid football enthusiast who spends hours either watching the beautiful game or writing about it. He has covered various tournaments for Khel Now, such as the FIFA U17 World Cup, ISL, I-League & AFC Champions League.