Paro FC is gearing up for the group stage of the 2025-26 AFC Challenge League. This is the furthest progression ever achieved by a Bhutanese football club in an AFC competition. This will be Paro FC’s second appearance in the tournament. The group stage matches will kick off this Saturday at the Changlimithang Stadium.
The team’s preparations are in full swing, with 23 players, including 11 international recruits.
They are currently undergoing intensive training in Thimphu after concluding their final home-ground session in Paro last Sunday.
There are four teams including Paro FC in Group A and each team will play every other team in the group. All six matches will be played in Thimphu.
Paro FC will open their campaign against Al-Shabab Club of Oman on Saturday, followed by matches against Altyn Asyr of Turkmenistan on Tuesday and Abdysh-Ata of Kyrgyzstan next Friday.
Players have expressed strong determination to progress beyond the group stage and secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
Evans Asante, Paro FC Captain said, “We are very confident because we are working hard. We know it’s not going to be easy for us, so we are just working hard, and then you see our foreigners who are here for just four or five days. Everybody is just pushing because we want to qualify. It’s not only for Paro FC, it’s because of the Bhutan. So we want to push the name of Bhutan. It’s not only Paro FC, and we, the foreigners too, being here, we are going to be proud that we too, qualified to the next stage.”
Jeffrey Baltus, the goalkeeper of Paro FC said, “My personal goal is to qualify for the quarter-final. But we have three teams. It is a good team. But for all, we have to finish in the first position. My experience in Europe is very important for the team. I have confidence for the tournament.”
Pushpalal Sharma, Paro FC’s head coach said, “I think this is not just for the Bhutanese sports football. Basically, it’s also a huge improvement in South Asian football. As we go into the group stage, we have a bigger challenge ahead. No teams has advanced from South Asia into the group stage of the AFC Challenge League. So basically, this is very important for Paro FC but it’s more important for Bhutan at this moment.”
Paro FC will have to top the group or be the best-ranked runners-up to qualify for the knockout stage.
There are five groups featuring 20 teams.
Eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals, scheduled for March and April next year.
If Paro FC reaches the knockout stage of the 2025-26 AFC Challenge League, it would mark a historic first for a Bhutanese club.
Namgay Wangdi
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
