April 4.25 SC loom as East Bengal’s final-group opponent in AFC Women’s Champions League on Nov 7
East Bengal FC will meet April 4.25 SC in their final group match of the 2026-27 AFC Women’s Champions League at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on 7 November 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 08:00 PM IST. April 4.25 SC have already secured progression to the knockout rounds after winning both of their opening group games.
April 4.25 SC have opened the campaign with victories over Hwancheon KSPO and Ho Chi Minh City’s WFC, scoring eight goals and conceding one across those two matches in what the report describes as a dominant debut appearance in the competition. The North Korean side’s early results leave East Bengal with a decisive final-group fixture as they bid to reach the quarter-finals.
The club, commonly called April 25 Sports Club, was established in March 1947 and has a long-standing presence in North Korean football; the men’s programme historically received priority. The women’s team was formed in the 1980s, is affiliated with the North Korean Ministry of Defence, and—according to the report—its members serve as officers of the North Korean Armed Forces. Domestic success, including multiple Women’s National Championship titles, and a strong 2025-26 season secured the women’s team their first qualification for the AFC Women’s Champions League.
Kim Kwang-min is the April 4.25 SC women’s head coach; the report lists him as a former North Korea men’s international who made well over 25 appearances and as a 64-year-old with almost two decades of coaching experience. The piece notes Kwang-min enjoyed two successful stints with the North Korea women’s team that yielded the AFC Women’s Championship and two Asian Games gold medals in women’s football, and that he took charge of April 4.25 earlier in 2026. The coach favours a 4-4-2 formation and has instructed his side to play incisive attacking football while encouraging midfielders to enter scoring positions.
Forward Choe Il-son is highlighted as a key attacking talent; the report states she is 19, scored in the semi-finals against South Korea in the 2024 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup, won the Golden Ball at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after scoring six goals, and has already made multiple appearances for the North Korea senior side. The article records that she has one goal in the AFC Women’s Champions League so far.
Midfielder Jon Ryong-jong, listed as 22 years old, is described as a creative presence who featured at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, provided numerous assists there and was shortlisted for the FIFA Marta Award in 2025. The report adds she has senior international experience and the attributes to win duels, regain possession and drive her team into attacking positions.
Although April 4.25 SC have secured qualification to the knockout stage, the report says the coaching staff are unlikely to rest on their laurels; there may be some rotation but Kim Kwang-min will seek to preserve match-winning momentum. The club will aim to combine sustained attacking pressure with a maintained defensive shape, creating fast transitions and contesting key duels in danger areas as they face the host side.
"The quarter-final dream is still alive. One final push, everything to play for! Let's go, #MoshalGirls! 👊🔴🟡🇮🇳🆚 4.25 SC 🇰🇵🗓️ 7 November, Saturday ⏰ 8 PM IST🏟️ Kishore Bharati Krirangan 🎟️ Tickets available on @district_india📺 Live on @FanCode #JoyEastBengal #AWCL pic.twitter.com/P48pIxjqRj"