East Bengal FC have been drawn in Group A of the preliminary phase of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 along with Sabah FA (Malaysia), Rovers FC (Guam) and Rajshahi Stars FC (Bangladesh), following the draw held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
The 2025-2026 Indian Women’s League champions will be making their second appearance in Asia’s premier women’s club competition. Last season, East Bengal progressed from the preliminary stages before becoming the first Indian club to win a match in the group stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League.
The preliminary phase will be played from August 17 to 23 in a centralized single round-robin format. The 24 participating clubs are split into six groups of four, with only the group winners advancing to the group stage.
The six qualifiers join defending champions Naegohyang Women’s FC (DPR Korea) and the five clubs that qualified directly based on their associations’ rankings: Melbourne City FC (Australia), Hwacheon KSPO WFC (Republic of Korea), INAC Kobe Leonessa (Japan), Beijing Jingtan FC (China) and Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC (Vietnam).
Draw result
Group A: East Bengal FC (India), Sabah FA (Malaysia, host), Rovers FC (Guam), Rajshahi Stars FC (Bangladesh)
Group B: Kaya FC-Iloilo (Philippines), TSL FC (Hong Kong), Phnom Penh Crown FC (Cambodia), FC Ilbirs (Kyrgyzstan, host)
Group C: Banat FC (UAE), PFC Nasaf (Uzbekistan, host), Master FC (Laos), Royal Thimphu College FC (Bhutan)
Group D: College of Asian Scholars (Thailand, host country), 4.25 SC (DPR Korea), Kharaatsai FC (Mongolia), S’Amuser FC (Timor-Leste)
Group E: Bam Khatoon FC (Iran), Etihad Club (Jordan), Al Nassr Club (Saudi Arabia), FC CSKA Dushanbe (Tajikistan, host)
Group F: New Taipei City Hang Yuan FC (Chinese Taipei), Ayeyawady FC Women (Myanmar, host), FC Jurong (Singapore), No Limits FC (Lebanon)
East Bengal matches
August 17: East Bengal FC vs Rajshahi Stars FC
August 20: Rovers FC vs East Bengal FC
August 23: East Bengal FC vs Sabah FA
Location: Malaysia
Published on July 2, 2026
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