Arkadag, Turkmenistan — Turkmenistan's FK Arkadag has reached the final of the 2024–25 AFC Challenge League, maintaining their flawless home record with a 3–0 semi-final second-leg victory over Kuwait's Al-Arabi.
The win secured a 3–2 aggregate triumph, overturning a first-leg deficit and propelling the debutants into the final of Asia's third-tier club competition.
Arkadag's dominance at home continues, as they have won every match played on Turkmen soil since the club's inception in 2023. This includes a perfect domestic season in 2023, where they won all 24 matches to clinch the Ýokary Liga title.
Arkadag’s founder is no other than Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the second president of Turkmenistan, who transferred the presidency to his son.
In the semi-final's second leg, held at the Arkadag Stadium, the hosts displayed resilience and tactical prowess. Goals from key players — Şanazar Tirkişow and Altymirat Annadurdiev sealed the comeback, delighting the home crowd and setting the stage for a historic final appearance.
Arkadag will face Cambodia's Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC in the final, scheduled for May 3, 2025. A victory would not only crown their remarkable debut in continental competition but also solidify their status as a rising force in Asian football.
Eleven groups drawn as 44 teams begin the road to Saudi Arabia 2026. Qualifiers kick off this September across Asia.