East Bengal FC to face Rajshahi Stars FC at Likas Stadium in AFC Women’s Champions League preliminary stage on August 17, 2026

East Bengal FC will meet Rajshahi Stars FC at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia in the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 preliminary stage on Monday, 17 August 2026; kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 pm IST and live coverage will come from Likas Stadium.

Indian Women’s League champions East Bengal begin their preliminary-stage campaign aiming for successive progression after making it beyond the preliminaries last season and becoming the first Indian club to win a group-stage match in the competition before bowing out; they have been drawn in Group A alongside Malaysia’s Sabah FA, Guam’s Rovers FC and Bangladesh’s Rajshahi Stars FC. The preliminary stage comprises 24 teams split into six groups of four, with only the six group winners advancing to the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 group stage to join six teams who have secured direct entry.

For Rajshahi Stars FC, this fixture represents their continental debut; the Bangladesh champions travel having retained 11 players from their title-winning side and, the report states, they boast 18 national team players. Both clubs understand the format’s stakes since only group winners move into the main group stage, making a positive start important for Group A ambitions.

East Bengal will be without Fazila Ikwaput, Resty Nanziri, Abena Opoku, Sweety Devi, Karthika Angamuthu and Sandhiya Ranganathan for the opener, and Soumya Guguloth is recovering from a knee injury. Rajshahi will miss Ritu Porna Chakma due to issues with her International Transfer Certificate, a problem cited in the match preview.

The probable starting XI listed for East Bengal reads: Panthoi Chanu (C) (GK); Sarita Yumnam, Adama Alhassan, Ashalata Devi, Astam Oraon; Shilky Devi, Olivia Anokye; Rimpa Haldar, Naorem Priyangka Devi, Sulanjana Raul; Abigail Antwi. Rajshahi’s listed XI is: Rupna Chakma (GK); Sheuli Azim (C), Afeida Khandaker, Bimal BK, Shamsunnahar Sr.; Monika Chakma, Maria Manda, Sapna Rani, Unnoti Khatun; Shamsunnahar Jr., Tohura Khatun.

The matchday preview notes that East Bengal’s preliminary-stage fixtures will be streamed in India on FanCode. For additional updates, the original report directs readers to follow Khel Now across social platforms and its mobile apps.

Only the six group winners will progress to the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 group stage; should East Bengal win their group they would enter a separate draw in September with group-stage matches scheduled to begin in November.