The 19 teams who entered for the Preliminary Stage were divided into five groups — four groups of four and one group of three — to do battle in a centralised league format between August 23 to 31, with only the five group winners advancing to the Group Stage.
They will join the teams from the top seven MAs in the AFC Women’s Club Competition Ranking 2024/25, namely Melbourne City FC (AUS), Suwon FC Women (KOR), Tokyo Verdy Beleza (JPN), holders Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC (CHN), Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC (VIE), Bam Khatoon FC (IRN) and a to-be-determined side from the United Arab Emirates, to form a 12-strong cast.
Hosts ISPE WFC of Myanmar will face top seeds Philippines’ Stallion Laguna FC, Guam’s Strykers FC and Khovd Western FC of Mongolia in Group A while Uzbekistan’s PFC Nasaf will welcome top-ranked College of Asian Scholars of Thailand, Nepal’s APF FC and Al Nassr Club of Saudi Arabia in Group B.
Group C will see Malaysia’s Kelana United FC (H), Etihad Club of Jordan, Singapore’s Lion City Sailors FC and SDYUSHOR SI – Asiagoal of Kyrgyz Republic doing battle while Kaohsiung Attackers FC of Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea’s Naegohyang Women’s FC, Master FC (H) of Laos and Bhutan’s RTC FC are the Group D cast. East Bengal FC of India, Hong Kong, China’s Kitchee SC and hosts Phnom Penh Crown FC of Cambodia will vie for the sole spot in Group E.
Following the conclusion of the Preliminary Stage, a draw to determine the Group Stage fate of the 12 qualified teams will be conducted in September, with the thrilling top-class women’s club football action to continue in November.
Draw Result
Group A: Stallion Laguna FC (PHI), ISPE WFC (MYA, H), Strykers FC (GUM), Khovd Western FC (MNG)
Group B: College of Asian Scholars (THA), PFC Nasaf (UZB, H), APF FC (NEP), Al Nassr Club (KSA)
Group C: Kelana United FC (MAS, H), Etihad Club (UAE), Lion City Sailors FC (SGP), SDYUSHOR SI – Asiagoal (KGZ)
Group D: Kaohsiung Attackers FC (TPE), Naegohyang Women’s FC (DPR), Master FC (LAO, H), RTC FC (BHU)
Group E: East Bengal FC (IND), Kitchee SC (HKG), Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM, H)
Group A: Stallion Laguna FC (PHI), ISPE WFC (MYA, H), Strykers FC (GUM), Khovd Western FC (MNG)
Group B: College of Asian Scholars (THA), PFC Nasaf (UZB, H), APF FC (NEP), Al Nassr Club (KSA)
Group C: Kelana United FC (MAS, H), Etihad Club (UAE), Lion City Sailors FC (SGP), SDYUSHOR SI – Asiagoal (KGZ)
Group D: Kaohsiung Attackers FC (TPE), Naegohyang Women’s FC (DPR), Master FC (LAO, H), RTC FC (BHU)
Group E: East Bengal FC (IND), Kitchee SC (HKG), Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM, H)