Defending Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) champions, Bengaluru FC will be eager to secure a spot in the upcoming Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup when they take part in the South Asia Zone qualifiers in February. The Blues are all set to clash with either Defenders FC from Sri Lanka or Paro FC from Bhutan in Preliminary Round Two of the South Asian Zone qualifier for the 2020 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup.

Asian nights are back at the Fortress! The Blues will face one of Defenders FC (Sri Lanka) or Paro FC (Bhutan) in the Preliminary Round Two of the South Asian Zone qualifier of the 2020 @AFCCup. 🇮🇳 #WeAreBFC #RoomForMore #BluesInAsia #AFCCup2020 pic.twitter.com/EI6igxHOSd

— Bengaluru FC (@bengalurufc) December 9, 2019

The away game has been slated for February 5 and the home encounter at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru is scheduled to take place a week later on February 12. If the Blues qualify from their South Zone Preliminary Round Two clash against one of Defenders FC or Paro FC, they will face the winner of the Preliminary Round Two fixture between Maziya FC of the Maldives and Bangladesh’s Abahani Dhaka Limited.

The South Zone Playoff Round will be held over two encounters as well with the first leg to be played on February 19, while the return fixture is scheduled for February 26. Should Bengaluru qualify for the 2020 AFC Cup, they will be in Group E alongside either Hero I-league outfit Chennai City FC or FC Goa, Maldives’ TC Sports Club and Bangladesh’s Basundhara Kings.

Chennai City, who are the defending Hero I-League champions, will be in Group E of the AFC Cup should they fail to make it into the group stage of the AFC Champions League. However, if Chennai manage to progress into the group stage of the AFC Champions League, FC Goa will take the defending Hero I-League champions' place in Group E of the AFC Cup, as the Gaurs finished second in the Hero ISL last season and have met the necessary AFC licensing guidelines.