Odisha FC Women and East Bengal Women have been India's AFC Women’s Champions League representatives
Odisha FC Women and East Bengal FC Women have represented India in the AFC Women’s Champions League, with Odisha becoming the first Indian participant in the 2024-25 edition and East Bengal set to appear in the 2026-27 competition for a second consecutive year.
Odisha earned their place in the 2024-25 AFC Women’s Champions League after winning the 2023-24 Indian Women’s League, while East Bengal first featured in the 2025-26 AWCL following their Indian Women’s League 2024-25 title and then secured qualification again for 2026-27 after winning the 2025-26 IWL. The article notes that continental participation brings global exposure and benefits Indian women’s football.
Odisha began their 2024-25 AWCL campaign in the preliminary stage, where they defeated Lion City Sailors 4-1 and then edged past Etihad Club, the hosts. They finished top of their preliminary group with six points, which secured their place in the AWCL group stage.
In the group stage of the 2024-25 AWCL, Odisha were allocated to Group C alongside Urawa Red Diamonds, Ho Chi Minh City FC and Taichung Blue Whale. Odisha did not advance beyond the group stage and their campaign ended at that phase; the participation was described in the source as marking an important chapter for Indian women’s football.
East Bengal’s first AWCL appearance came in the 2025-26 season after they won the 2024-25 Indian Women’s League. In the AWCL preliminary ties that season they beat Phnom Penh Crown FC 1-0 and drew with Kitchee SC, with Kitchee finishing atop the preliminary standings to qualify for the group stage.
During East Bengal’s 2025-26 group-stage campaign they were close to reaching the knockout rounds but their final match against PFC Nasaf ended in a 3-0 defeat that halted that progression. East Bengal’s 2025-26 domestic title and continental experience prompted the club to strengthen for subsequent campaigns, and they again won the IWL in 2025-26 to earn entry to the AWCL preliminary stage for 2026-27.
In the 2026-27 AWCL preliminary stage East Bengal were placed with Rajshahi Stars FC, Rovers FC and Sabah FA and progressed by defeating all three opponents to reach the group stage. East Bengal will now take part in the AWCL group-stage matches in the 2026-27 competition, while Odisha remain noted as the first Indian club to compete in the tournament.