The eyes of women's football fans across Asia will be on Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, next Thursday, as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) holds the draw for the knockout stages of the 2025-2026 AFC Women's Champions League. This edition is particularly significant as it marks the second year of the tournament, which has witnessed a remarkable improvement in its competitiveness and professionalism.
Details of the draw and the qualified clubs
The group stage, which concluded last November, saw eight elite clubs qualify for the quarterfinals. These include the top two teams from each group, as well as the two best third-placed teams. The teams were divided into two tiers to ensure fair competition
- Level 1: Includes the group winners and the best runner-up, namely: Melbourne City (Australia), Wuhan Jiangda (China), Tokyo Verdy Beleza (Japan), and Naeguhyang (North Korea).
- Level 2: Includes Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Nasaf (Uzbekistan), Suwon (South Korea), and Stallion Laguna (Philippines).
Group protection system and match mechanism
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed the application of the "group protection" principle in this draw, a system that ensures no two teams that were in the same group during the previous round will face each other in the quarterfinals. This system aims to diversify the matchups and provide an opportunity to see new encounters between different footballing styles.
The quarter-final matches are scheduled to be played as single-leg ties on March 28 and 29, 2026, with the top-tier teams having the advantage of playing at home in front of their fans, giving an additional incentive to the clubs that topped their groups.
The context of the tournament and the development of Asian women's football
This tournament is part of the Asian Football Confederation's strategy to enhance the status of women's football, having transformed from a pilot tournament (the AFC Women's Club Championship) into a fully-fledged, official Champions League. The participation of clubs making their continental debut, such as South Korea's Suwon and the Philippines' Stallion Laguna, indicates the growing interest in and development of the game beyond the traditional powerhouses.
The presence of established clubs such as Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleaza and Australia’s Melbourne City also reflects the strength of the expected competition, as these clubs seek to confirm their continental dominance under the new system.
Road to the final
Following the quarterfinals, the four winning teams will advance to the finals, which will be held in a centralized format in a city to be determined later. The semifinals and final will be single-elimination matches played between May 20 and 23, 2026, culminating in the crowning of the continental champion in an event eagerly anticipated by sports fans.
