Dewa United Banten discovered their opponents for their historic first continental campaign on August 28, with the Banten Warriors drawn against Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Crown, Taiwanese champions Tainan City, and Myanmar giants Shan United in the 2025/26 AFC Challenge League group stage.
The four clubs were placed in Group E, one of only two East Zone groups, with all matches to be hosted by Dewa United at the Indomilk Arena in Tangerang Regency.
Phnom Penh Crown qualified as winners of the 2024/25 Hun Sen Cup and runners-up in the Cambodian Premier League. They secured their group stage berth in emphatic fashion, crushing Brunei’s Kasuka FC 6-0 away in Bandar Seri Begawan during the play-offs.
Tainan City, champions of the 2024 Taiwan Football Premier League, also advanced via the qualifiers, comfortably defeating Mongolia’s Khangarid FC 4-1 at the Taipei Municipal Stadium.
In contrast, Dewa United, runners-up in the 2024/25 Liga 1 Indonesia, and Shan United, champions of the 2024/25 Myanmar National League, earned direct entry into the group stage.
Meanwhile, Group D in the East Zone will feature hosts Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng of Cambodia, alongside the Philippines’ Manila Digger, Mongolia’s SP Falcons, and Ezra FC of Laos. Matches will be staged at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh.
As with last season, the Challenge League group stage will adopt a centralized, single round-robin format, with each team playing their group opponents once. In the East Zone, Matchday 1 is scheduled for October 26, Matchday 2 for October 29, and the final round on November 1.
Only the group winners and runners-up will progress to the knockout stage. Given Phnom Penh Crown’s continental pedigree and the recent rise of Cambodian football, Dewa United’s toughest battle for qualification is likely to come from their Cambodian counterparts—setting up a potentially decisive clash for a place in the knockouts.