The AFC Women’s Champions League™ 2025/26 is set to break new ground with a record 26 clubs in contention, as the Preliminary Stage draw takes place on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 3:00 PM (MYT) at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.
A total of 19 teams will be drawn into five groups—four groups of four and one group of three—for the Preliminary Stage, which runs from August 23 to 31 in a centralised league format. Only the group winners will advance to the Group Stage, joining seven automatic qualifiers from the highest-ranked Member Associations.
Newcomers and Milestones
This season marks the debut of clubs from five new Member Associations: Cambodia, DPR Korea, Guam, Kyrgyz Republic, and Mongolia. Ten clubs are making their AFC competition debut, including East Bengal FC (IND), Kaohsiung Attackers FC (TPE), and Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM), among others.
Preliminary Stage Seedings
Teams are seeded based on the AFC Women’s Club Competition Ranking 2024/25 released in May. The draw will include four seed pots and a special Hosts Pot:
- Pot 1: Kaohsiung Attackers FC (TPE), Stallion Laguna FC (PHI), College of Asian Scholars (THA), East Bengal FC (IND)
- Pot 2: Naegohyang Women’s FC (PRK), Etihad Club (JOR), Kitchee SC (HKG)
- Pot 3: APF FC (NEP), Strykers FC (GUM), Lion City Sailors FC (SGP)
- Pot 4: Khovd Western FC (MNG), Al Nassr Club (KSA), SDYUSHOR SI – Asiagoal (KGZ), RTC FC (BHU)
- Hosts Pot: Kelana United FC (MAS), PFC Nasaf (UZB), ISPE WFC (MYA), Master FC (LAO), Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM)
Group Stage Outlook
Advancing teams will join seven direct entrants in the Group Stage:
- Melbourne City FC (AUS)
- Suwon FC Women (KOR)
- Tokyo Verdy Beleza (JPN)
- Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC (CHN) – reigning champions
- Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC (VIE)
- Bam Khatoon FC (IRN)
- One TBD representative from UAE
The Group Stage draw is scheduled for September, with matches kicking off in November.
Stay tuned to official AFC channels for live coverage of the Preliminary Stage draw on July 3.