Record Cast Of 26 Teams Set For AFC Women’s Champions League Preliminary Stage Draw In Kuala Lumpur

The AFC Women's Champions League 2025/26 is set to begin its journey with the Preliminary Stage draw on Thursday at 3 pm in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This tournament aims to enhance women's football across Asia, featuring the highest number of participating teams so far.

A total of 26 clubs from various Member Associations (MAs) will participate, five more than last season. Notably, Cambodia, the Republic of Korea, Guam, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia will be represented for the first time in this prestigious competition.

The draw will allocate these teams into five groups—four groups of four and one group of three. They will compete in a centralised league format from 23rd to 31st August. Only the winners from each group will progress to the Group Stage.

These successful teams will join clubs from the top seven MAs in the AFC Women’s Club Competition Ranking 2024/25. These include Melbourne City FC (Australia), Abu Dhabi sports team, Suwon FC Women (Korea), Tokyo Verdy Beleza (Japan), Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC (China), Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC (Vietnam), and Bam Khatoon FC (Iran).

Out of the 19 teams in the draw, ten are making their debut in an AFC competition. These newcomers include Kaohsiung Attackers FC, Stallion Laguna FC, East Bengal FC, Kelana United FC, Naegohyang Women’s FC, Master FC, Strykers FC, Phnom Penh Crown FC, Khovd Western FC and SDYUSHOR SI – Asiagoal.

The seeding for this draw is based on the AFC Women’s Club Competition Ranking 2024/25 released on 26th May. The record number of participants will be divided into four pots plus an additional Hosts Pot.

Seeding Details

Pot 1 includes Kaohsiung Attackers FC (TPE; Rank: 8), Stallion Laguna FC (PHI; 9), College of Asian Scholars (THA; 10), and East Bengal FC (IND; 11). Pot 2 features Naegohyang Women’s FC (PRK; 13), Etihad Club (JOR; 16), and Kitchee SC (HKG; 17).

Pot 3 consists of APF FC (NEP; 19), Strykers FC (GUM; 22), and Lion City Sailors FC (SGP; 23). Pot 4 includes Khovd Western FC (MNG; 25), Al Nassr Club (KSA; 26), SDYUSHOR SI – Asiagoal (KGZ; 29), and RTC FC (BHU; 33).

Hosts Pot

The Hosts Pot comprises Kelana United FC from Malaysia, PFC Nasaf from Uzbekistan, ISPE WFC from Myanmar, Master FC from Laos, and Phnom Penh Crown FC from Cambodia.

After completing the Preliminary Stage matches, a draw for the Group Stage involving the twelve qualified teams will occur in September. The exciting women's club football action is scheduled to continue in November.

With inputs from WAM