East Bengal qualify for AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 group stage after topping preliminary group in Malaysia

East Bengal FC qualified for the group stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 by finishing top of Preliminary Group A at Likas Stadium in Malaysia; the preliminary stage began on 17th July.

The third edition of the Asian women’s club competition will feature 12 clubs in the group phase, which runs from 1st November 2026 to 7th November 2026, with the knockout rounds beginning on 27th March 2027; the semi-finals are scheduled for 19th May 2027 and the Grand Finale for 22nd May 2027.

East Bengal FC, the 2025-26 Indian Women’s League champions, will represent India for a second consecutive season in the AFC Women’s Champions League after progressing through the preliminary stage. They were drawn into Group A alongside Sabah (Malaysia), Rovers (Guam) and Rajshahi Stars (Bangladesh), with all Group A fixtures staged at Likas Stadium.

East Bengal opened their preliminary campaign with a 4-0 win over Rajshahi Stars, powered by a brace from Olivia Anoyke and additional goals from Astam Oraon and Soumya Guguloth. The result gave them an early advantage in the mini-tournament.

In their second match East Bengal delivered a 12-0 victory over Rovers of Guam, with braces from Abena Opuko, Priyangka Naorem and Olivia Anokye. The scoreline completed a dominant attacking display across the group games.

East Bengal sealed first place in Group A with a 2-0 win against Sabah, ensuring qualification to the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 group stage. The three wins left them clear at the top of the group.

All matches in the AFC Women’s Champions League group stage will be played at centralised venues where teams in a group face each other once; the organisers cited precedent from the 2021 AFC Champions League group stage when FC Goa’s home ground, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, hosted all games in Group E.

The Group Stage draw for the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 will take place on 3rd September 2026 (Thursday) at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (timings yet to be determined), and participants will learn their opponents at that ceremony; fans can watch the draw live on The AFC Hub YouTube Channel.