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Indian Women’s League 2024-25 champions EBFC, qualified for the group stage of the continental tournament by topping Group E in the preliminary stage.
AFC Women’s Champions League, East Bengal FC.
East Bengal FC, who are set to make their AFC Women’s Champions League debut, were pooled alongside Wuhan Jiangda FC of China, Iran’s Bam Khatoon FC and PFC Nasaf of Uzbekistan in Group B of the continental showpiece.
EBFC, the champions of the 2024-25 Indian Women’s League, qualified for the group stage of the continental tournament as they topped Group E in the preliminary stage, ahead of Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC and Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Crown FC.
The draw for the event, slated to get underway on the 17th of November, was conducted at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.
Twelve teams have been divided into three groups for the second edition of the AFC Women’s Champions League, set to compete in a centralised league format.
Group B, hosted by China’s Wuhan Jiangda WFC, the defending champions, will take place from November 17 to 23. East Bengal’s opening game will be against Bam Khatoon.
After the group stage, the top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed clubs overall will advance to the knockout stage. The single-leg quarter-final matchups will be determined by a draw and held in March next year.
The semi-finals and final are scheduled for May 20 to 23, next year.
East Bengal FC’s biggest challenge will be Wuhan Jiangda WFC, five-time champions of the Chinese Women’s Super League and winners of the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League in 2024-25.
Iran’s Bam Khatoon FC are making their fourth appearance in an AFC competition and were quarter-finalists last season.
PFC Nasaf, record 16-time champions of the Uzbekistan Women’s League, have qualified for the group stage for the first time, just like East Bengal, by navigating the preliminary stage.
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AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26 group stage draw:
Group A: Melbourne City FC (AUS), Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC (VIE, hosts), Stallion Laguna FC (PHI), Lion City Sailors FC (SGP).
Group B: Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC (CHN, hosts), Bam Khatoon FC (IRN), East Bengal FC (IND), PFC Nasaf (UZB).
Group C: Suwon FC Women (KOR), Tokyo Verdy Beleza (JPN), Naegohyang Women’s FC (PRK), ISPE WFC (MYA, hosts).
East Bengal FC’s fixtures:
November 17: Bam Khatoon FC vs East Bengal FC
November 20: East Bengal FC vs Wuhan Jiangda WFC
November 23: East Bengal FC vs PFC Nasaf.
September 11, 2025, 15:34 IST
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