Abu Muslim Farah, the reigning champion of the Afghan Premier League’s fourth season, is set to compete in the preliminary stage of the AFC Challenge League, marking a significant milestone for the country’s football on the continental stage.
The club will face Paro FC of Bhutan in a knockout fixture scheduled for August 12 at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan, according to the official match schedule released by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The match is part of the West region playoff round, which determines qualification for the tournament’s group stage.
The Afghan Football Federation confirmed the club’s participation, stating that a win in Bhutan would secure Abu Muslim Farah a place in the main draw of the newly introduced AFC Challenge League, a tournament designed to provide emerging football nations greater competitive exposure across Asia.
The preliminary round includes 10 matchups—five in the West region and five in the East—featuring clubs from across South, Central, and Southeast Asia. The winners of each tie will advance to the group stage later this year.
Should Abu Muslim Farah win, it would mark the first time the club has entered the main stage of a continental competition.
