Indian Super League (ISL) outfit East Bengal will begin their AFC Challenge League 2024-25 campaign against Bhutan’s Paro FC at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan on Saturday, October 26.

The East Bengal vs Paro FC, AFC Challenge League 2024-25 match will start at 4:30 PM IST. Live streaming of the AFC Challenge League 2024-25 match will be available in India.

Organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the AFC Challenge League 2024-25 is the revamped third tier men's continental club football competition in Asia.

As many as 18 teams will compete in the inaugural AFC Challenge League 2024-25. These teams have been divided into five groups, three featuring four teams from the West each and two comprising three teams from the East each.

The winner of the AFC Challenge League 2024-25 will get a direct entry to the AFC Champions League Two group stage, if they haven't already qualified through their domestic performance.

East Bengal are placed in Group A of the AFC Challenge League 2024-25 alongside Bhutan’s Paro FC, Lebanese side Nejmeh SC and  Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh.

All AFC Challenge League 2024-25 Group A matches will be played at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan.

East Bengal have made a poor start to their season as they have lost all their six matches in the ISL 2024-25 so far.

The torrid start led to the departure of their former head coach Carles Cuadrat, who guided East Bengal to the Super Cup title last season. The Red and Gold Brigade have appointed Oscar Bruzon as their new head coach.

Meanwhile, East Bengal have announced their 26-member squad for the AFC Challenge League 2024-25 group stage matches.

On the other hand, Paro FC will head into the AFC Challenge League 2024-25 after clinching the Bhutan Premier League.

Having registered 15 wins, two draws and suffered one loss, Paro FC finished at the top of the Bhutan Premier League 2024 standings, six points clear of second-placed Transport United.

This will be the first meeting between East Bengal and Paro FC  in a continental club competition.

As per the AFC Challenge League 2024-24 format, eight teams will advance from the group stage - the three group winners and best-ranked runners-up from the West, and the top two finishers of each group from the East – to the quarter-finals scheduled to be played on March 5, 2025 and March 13, 2025.

Where to watch East Bengal vs Paro FC AFC Challenge League 2024-25 live in India

Live streaming of the East Bengal vs Paro FC, AFC Challenge League 2024-25 match will be available on Paro FC’s YouTube channel.

There will be no live telecast of the East Bengal vs Paro FC, AFC Challenge League 2024-25 on any TV channel in India.

East Bengal squad for AFC Challenge League 2024-25

Goalkeepers: Prabhsukhan Gill, Debjit Majumder, Aditya Patra

Defenders: Provat Lakra, Anwar Ali, Lalchungnunga, Mohamad Rakip, Hijazi Maher, Nishu Kumar, Gursimrat Gill, Hector Yuste, Monotosh Chakladar

Midfielders: Jeakson Singh, Madih Talal, Nandhakumar Sekar, Saul Crespo, Souvik Chakrabarti, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Naseeb Rahman, Shyamal Besra, Vishnu PV, Sayan Banerjee

Forwards: Dimitrios Diamantakos, Cleiton Silva, David Lalhlansanga, Jesin TK

Photo credit: Imago