East Bengal FC has been drawn alongside Sabah FA (Malaysia), Rovers FC (Guam) and Rajshahi Stars FC (Bangladesh) in Group A of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 Preliminary Stage. The draw was held at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.
This will be Moshal Girls’ second appearance in Asia’s premier women’s club competition. Last season, they qualified from the Preliminary Stage and then became the first Indian side to win a match in the AFC Women’s Champions League Group Stage.
East Bengal Women’s Team will travel to Melaka, Malaysia, to play the Preliminary Stage, which will be held in a single round-robin centralised league format from August 17 to 23, 2026.
24 clubs have been divided into six groups of four each, with each group winner advancing to the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 Group Stage. They will join the six clubs that qualified directly: defending champions Naegohyang Women’s FC (DPR Korea) and the top-ranked quintet of Melbourne City FC (Australia), Hwacheon KSPO WFC (Korea Republic), INAC Kobe Leonessa (Japan), Beijing Jingtan FC (China) and Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC (Vietnam).
East Bengal FC’s schedule in the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 Preliminary Stage:
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
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: Banaat FC (UAE), PFC Nasaf (Uzbekistan, host), Master FC (Laos), Royal Thimphu College FC (Bhutan)
Group D: College of Asian Scholars (Thailand, host), 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)
Picture Courtesy: Getty Images
