The AFC Women’s Football Committee underlined its determination to transform the Continent’s women’s club game at its first meeting today after it confirmed the entry principles, competition format and season calendar of the AFC Women’s Champions League, which will be introduced from the 2024-25 season. the Committee agreed to revise the implementation timeline of the club licensing criteria for the AFC Women’s Champions League, which will now be enforced from the 2028/29 season to better accommodate a more feasible transition time for participating clubs. The Committee also approved the entry principles of the breakthrough tournament, which will see one entry per Participating Member Association from the 2024/25 to 2027/28 seasons. In determining the direct slots to the Group Stages, the Member Associations’ FIFA Ranking will be used, while Preliminary Stage may be organised between clubs from lower ranked Member Associations depending on the number of entries. Subsequently, from the 2028/29 season, the considerations for slot allocation will be in accordance with the AFC Women’s Club Competitions Ranking and Women’s Club Licensing criteria. The Entry process will be opened to all Member Associations, who will need to meet a set of criteria to be included in the Competition Regulations, which will be approved by the AFC Women’s Football Committee in due course. Moving on to the competition format, subject to the number of entries, the Committee agreed in principle that 12 participating clubs – to be divided into three groups of four teams each – will compete in the Group Stage. The matches will be played in a centralised single round robin format in each group, with the top two and the two best third-placed sides advancing to the Quarter-finals, which will be decided over a single leg tie at the venue of the higher ranked/seeded club. The Semi-finals and Final will also be a single-leg contest to be played in a centralised venue. The Committee also approved the tentative dates of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2024/25 season below whilst mandating the Administration to adjust the calendar where necessary. AFC Women's Club Championships (designed as pilot tournaments before the launch of the AFC Women's Champions League) 2019 (Yongin, South Korea) - 4 teams Winners: NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza (JPN) 2n place: Jiangsu Suning (CHN) 3rd place: Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels (KOR) 4th place: Melbourne Victory (AUS) 2020 (cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic) 2021 (Amman, Jordan) - 4 teams Winners: Amman SC (JOR) 2nd place: Shahrdari Sirjan (IRN) 3rd place: Gokulam Kerala (IND) 4th place: FC Bunyodkor (UZB) 2022 (Thailand and Uzbekistan) - 7 teams (East/West)* Winners (East): College of Asian Scholars (THA) 2n place: Taichung Blue Whale (TPE) 3rd place: ISPE (MYA) Winners (West): Sogdiana Jizzakh (UZB) 2nd place: Bam Khatoon (IRN) *Gokulam Kerala were disqulified due to India's FA problems and Jordan's Orthodox FC withdrew. 2023 (Thailand and Uzbekistan, 6-12 November) - 8 teams (East West) - Last edition Participating clubs are: Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) Sydney FC (AUS) Hualien (TPE) Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels (KOR) Gokulam Kerala (IND) FC Nasaf (UZB) to be announced (THA)
Great news, I am sure this is also is line with qualification for the expected 2025 FIFA Club Women's World Cup.
Groups for the AFC Women's Club Championship 2023. (Last edition) (courtesy of @Stayfou) A one-round league format will see the four teams play against each other in the two groups, following which the group winners clash in the grand finale to determine the best women's club side in Asia. Taking place from November 6 to 12, the tournament will give way to the AFC Women’s Champions League from the 2024/25 season.
AFC Women's Club Championship 2023 (last edition) is starting next week. Excitement builds ahead of #AFCWomensClub Invitational Tournament as 8 sides compete for glory! 📅 November 6-12, 2023 https://t.co/ISPI4nNtoY— AFC (@theafcdotcom) November 2, 2023 Group A (Chonburi - Thailand) Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) Sree Gokulam Kerala FC (IND) Hualien WFT (TPE) Bangkok FC (THA) Group B (Tashkent - Uzbekistan) Sydney FC (AUS) FC Nasaf (UZB) Bam Khatoon FC (IRN) Hyundai Steel Red Angels WFC (KOR) (local time) 6 Nov 15:00 Sydney FC vs. Bam Khatoon FC 16:30 Urawa Reds vs. Gokulam Kerala 18:00 HS Red Angels vs. FC Nasaf 20:30 Hualien vs. Bangkok FC 9 Nov 15:00 Bam Khatoon FC vs. HS Red Angels 16:30 Gokulam Kerala vs. Hualien 18:00 FC Nasaf vs. Sydney FC 20:30 Bangkok FC vs. Urawa Reds 12 Nov 15:00 Sydney FC vs. HS Red Angels 16:30 Urawa Reds vs. Hualien 18:00 FC Nasaf vs. Bam Khatoon FC 20:30 Bangkok FC vs. Gokulam Kerala Previous editions had free livestreams and/or match highlights on AFC page. FIXTURES AND STANDINGS
Remind me of why China (Popular Republic) didn't send any team? Is it because of Chinese Taipei taking part? (But they don't seem to have any problems with tournaments at the National Team level including Chinese Taipei). As it is, the groups seem quite unbalanced, since one of the top 4 Confederations of AFC is missing (let's ignore, at the moment, North Korean elephant in the room, whose possible club scene is anyway totally unknown): Group A should see Japanese Champions advance quite easily, while Group B should see a shootout between Australian and South Korean Champions. With a team from China in Group A, the format would have been more balanced.
I have no idea why CWSL club wasn't invited but if I had to guess its probably related to post-pandemic financial problems among CWSL clubs. Political aspect also could come to play.
Maybe this is not the place to ask this but I'm trying to figure out if Al-Ula plays in the first Saudi Women League or not.
Does not appear to be one of the 8 clubs this season: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023–24_Saudi_Women's_Premier_League
Yes that's why I'm confused as to which division they play in, we've just had a player move there a few months ago.
AFC Women's Club Championship 2023 Chonburi FC will live stream group A matches (not 100% sure about it yet) Uzbekistan FA will live stream group B matches
AFC Women's Club Championship 2023 Matchday 1 Group A (Chonburi - Thailand) Urawa Red Diamonds -------- 1m ----- 3p ----- 8-0 Bangkok FC ----------------------- 1m ----- 3p ----- 2-0 Hualien WFT ---------------------- 1m ----- 0p ----- 0-2 Sree Gokulam Kerala FC ---- 1m ----- 0p ----- 0-8 Urawa Reds 8 - 0 Gokulam Kerala Shibata 2', Kurishima 16', Shimada 38', Ito 48' 82', Nishio 83', Seike 87', Ando 90'+2 Hualien 0 - 2 Bangkok FC Kwandarin 15', Kanyanat 70' Group B (Tashkent - Uzbekistan) Sydney FC ------------------------------------ 1m ----- 3p ----- 3-0 Hyundai Steel Red Angels WFC --- 1m ----- 3p ----- 2-0 FC Nasaf -------------------------------------- 1m ----- 0p ----- 0-2 Bam Khatoon ------------------------------- 1m ----- 0p ----- 0-3 Sydney FC 3 - 0 Bam Khatoon Worts 3' 59', Keane 43' HS Red Angels 2 - 0 FC Nasaf Namgung Ye-Ji 39'(p.), Adams 44'(og.)
AFC Women's Club Championship 2023 Matchday 2 Group A (Chonburi - Thailand) Urawa Red Diamonds -------- 2m ----- 6p ----- 14-1 Bangkok FC ----------------------- 2m ----- 3p ----- 3-6 Hualien WFT ---------------------- 2m ----- 1p ----- 1-3 Sree Gokulam Kerala FC ---- 2m ----- 1p ----- 1-9 Gokulam Kerala FC 1 - 1 Hualien Kumari 19' --- Lin Jing-xuan 42' Bangkok FC 1 - 6 Urawa Reds Chetthabutr 87' --- Seike 6' 84', Ito 9' 36', Ando 21', Shimada 51' Group B (Tashkent - Uzbekistan) Sydney FC ------------------------------------ 2m ----- 6p ----- 5-1 Hyundai Steel Red Angels WFC --- 2m ----- 6p ----- 4-1 FC Nasaf -------------------------------------- 2m ----- 0p ----- 1-4 Bam Khatoon ------------------------------- 2m ----- 0p ----- 1-5 Bam Khatoon FC 1 - 2 HS Red Angels Zandi 61' --- Namgung Ye-Ji 58'(p.), Jang Chang 78' FC Nasaf 1 - 2 Sydney FC Kudratova 90' --- Worts 33' 57'
AFC Women's Club Championship 2023 Matchday 3 Group A (Chonburi - Thailand) Urawa Red Diamonds -------- 3m ----- 9p ----- 20-1 Sree Gokulam Kerala FC ---- 3m ----- 4p ----- 5-12 Bangkok FC ----------------------- 3m ----- 3p ----- 6-10 Hualien WFT ---------------------- 3m ----- 1p ----- 1-9 Urawa Reds 6 - 0 Hualien Seike 5' 17' 67', Takatsuka 7', Shimada 45', Endo 75' Bangkok FC 3 - 4 Gokulam Kerala Ploychompoo 26', Kanyanat 45'+1 49' --- Dabbaghi 45', Appiah 47' 77' 80' Group B (Tashkent - Uzbekistan) Hyundai Steel Red Angels WFC --- 3m ----- 9p ----- 7-1 Sydney FC ------------------------------------ 3m ----- 6p ----- 5-4 FC Nasaf -------------------------------------- 3m ----- 1p ----- 3-6 Bam Khatoon ------------------------------- 3m ----- 1p ----- 3-7 Sydney FC 0 - 3 HS Red Angels Nrehy 44', Hong 54', H. Kim 70' FC Nasaf 2 - 2 Bam Khatoon Karachik 26' 71' --- Khosravi 62', Didar 90'+4 FINAL (tba - early 2024) Urawa Red Diamonds - HS Red Angels
Wow, considering that the Red Angels only scored 1 goal from the run of play against their two lower group opponents versus Sydney getting 5, I was not anticipating Sydney getting blown out at all in the head-to-head match. That feels quite surprising to me; maybe not so surprising if you based things off of the men's AFC club competitions, but Australia does way better in WoSo than they do in BroSo.
Red Angels have 10 players in total with NT background. 8 from Korea NT (2 injuried atm) and also Ivorian Ines N'Rehy (played and scored at WWC 2015) and Tereza Engesha from Kenya. It's a fairly strong setup. Sydney on the other hand have only Courtnee Vine (injuried), Jada Whyman (goalie) and Princess Ibini with NT experience. W-League is getting better every year but imo it's not 2nd best league in Asia yet.
Also Red Angels' roster includes Japanese Yoko Tanaka, who's not yet in NT contention since a decade, but who would have deserved in my opinion a better career, after her promising beginnings (including 3rd-place with the team and individual Silver Shoe award at U-20 WWC 2012 with 6 goals). So, which one is the second league in Asia, in your opinion? Aussie? China?
Also Sydney looked quite unexperienced and naive: on a 0-0 score, they were caught unbalanced at 45'+1' by.... a thrown-in action, that let Red Angels go ahead by 1-0!
Pre-pandemic I'd give it to CWSL. Unfortunatelly Covid pandemic had colossal impact on sport in China - especially on financial level with the withdrawal of sponsorship which in turn left CWSL in shambles. 8 years of slow but steady grow of semi-pro WK-League in Korea gives them no. 2 in Asia in my book. W-league in Australia though could surpass both leagues within next few years.
Where would you have placed Melbourne City at its height? Like, back when the WSL ran concurrent to NWSL, some of the best players in both leagues went down to Melbourne for its first two years and went 21-3-4 including two championship series.
Hmm... at it's height I'd place Melbourne City within the upper half of semi-pro Nadeshiko League from that time. Just below INAC and Beleza but on level perhaps with the likes of Urawa. In China CWSL clubs at that time were also packed with imports like Bouqete, Christiane, Cruz, Oshoala, Rafaelle, Chawinga, Kgatlana, Molthalo, Chu Santos, Ebo, Ordega, Camila, Addo... etc... I think at it's peak Melbourne City were top 5-8 club in Asia with good chances to challenge top 4. Like you said Aussie league was heavy on NWSL imports around 2018/19 and some fans and local press were convinced that now they've got the best league in Asia... but then Melbourne Victory went to AFCWCC 2019... and were badly mauled (1 goal scored, 10 conceded). It was an eye opener for many fans and press outlets alike in AUS. Especially game against Beleza was very painful to watch, not because 5 conceded goals - mind you - but because Victory were totally outclassed, unable to leave their own half in any meaningful way for straight 80 mins.
Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has set the stage for the highly anticipated maiden season of the AFC Women's Champions League 2024/25 by announcing the key dates and entry criteria. Kicking off the action is the Preliminary Stage, slated for August 25 to 31, 2024. Featuring a centralised league format, the number of participating clubs, as well as their progression to the Group Stage, will be determined based on entries of participation received. Clubs with top seeding as per the Member Association’s women’s world ranking will enjoy direct qualification to the Group Stage, subject to entries. Moving forward, the Group Stage will witness 12 clubs, divided into three groups of four each, engaging in 18 matches over three match days in a centralised league format from October 6 to 12, 2024. The top two finishers in each group, together with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the Knockout Stage. Following a break, the action resumes with the Quarter-finals on March 22 and 23, 2025. Featuring single-leg knockout matches between the eight clubs from the Group Stage, a draw will be held to determine the four pairings. Culminating in the Final Stage, comprising the Semi-finals and the Final, the groundbreaking debut AFC Women’s Champions League season will unfold at a central venue over single legs from May 21 to 24, 2025. Member Associations seeking to nominate a Participating Club must adhere to specific criteria, designed to promote long-term development in women's football. These criteria, approved in March by the AFC Women’s Football Committee and subject to the AFC Executive Committee’s ratification, include: - Listing under the FIFA Women’s World Ranking - A domestic competition with a minimum of ten (10) matches per club - Appointment of a full-time dedicated official overseeing operational matters - Documentation of a plan for the implementation of women’s club licensing requirements by the 2027/28 season Member Associations that meet the above requirements are required to nominate one participating club, based on principles of sporting merit, transparent nomination processes and adherence to domestic competition regulations. These nominations must be approved by relevant competent bodies within each Member Association and/or League before submission to the AFC by May 2, 2024.
【PRESS RELEASE】AFC Women’s Club Championship 2023 – Invitational Tournament the Final@REDSLADIES 🆚 Hyundai Steel Red Angels📅 Friday, May 10, 6:00 p.m.🏟 Urawa Komaba Stadium✅ https://t.co/KdfEpQSxa3#WELeague— WE League International (@WE_League_INTL) April 25, 2024
Finally! I wonder if this was always in the works, or if AFC just kinda brushed it off and only moved on it after the recent protests