2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League

2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League
Tournament details
DatesPreliminary stage:
25–31 August 2024
Competition proper:
6 October 2024 – 24 May 2025
TeamsCompetition proper: 12
Total: 21 (from 21 associations)
2025–26 →
International football competition

The 2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League[1] will be the first edition of the AFC Women's Champions League, Asia's premier club women's football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Association team allocation

Key principles for the competition were released by the AFC on 20 August 2023.[2] There is one entry per participating member association, with allocation based on the FIFA Women's World Ranking as of 15 March 2024. Clubs from the top ranked associations qualified directly to the group stage, with the remaining clubs starting from the preliminary stage.[3][4]

Originally, 22 (out of 47) member associations applied to enter the competition.[4] However, Naegohyang from North Korea withdrew before the draw.[5]

Rank[6] Member
association 		Slots
Group
stage 		Play-off
AFC World
1 7  Japan 1 0
3 12  Australia 1 0
4 19  China 1 0
5 20  South Korea 1 0
6 37  Vietnam 1 0
7 39  Philippines 1 0
8 40  Chinese Taipei 1 0
9 47  Thailand 1 0
10 48  Uzbekistan 0 1
11 54  Myanmar 0 1
12 61  Iran 0 1
13 66  India 0 1
14 74  Jordan 0 1
15 79  Hong Kong 0 1
17 93  Laos 0 1
18 96  Malaysia 0 1
19 100    Nepal 0 1
22 114  United Arab Emirates 0 1
28 137  Singapore 0 1
38 173  Bhutan 0 1
40 175  Saudi Arabia 0 1
Total Participating associations: 21 8 13
21

Associations that did not enter a team

Legend
  • W withdrew

Format

The competition comprises:[3][7]

  • a preliminary stage (one group of four and three groups of three teams) in centralised venues
  • a main tournament with 12 teams (three groups of four teams) in centralised venues
  • quarterfinals hosted by the group winners and the best second-placed team
  • semi-finals and final in a centralised venue

Tiebreakers

Teams in the preliminary stage and the group stage are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If two or more teams are tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings:[7]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among the tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among the tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among the tied teams;
  4. If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Penalty shoot-out, if only two teams are tied, and the teams in question have played their last group match against each other;
  8. Lower disciplinary score (direct red card = 3 points; double yellow card = 3 points; single yellow card = 1 point);[8]
  9. Drawing of lots

Schedule

Stage Round Draw date Dates
Preliminary stage Matchday 1 18 July 2024 25–31 August 2024
Matchday 2
Matchday 3
Group stage Matchday 1 6–12 October 2024
Matchday 2
Matchday 3
Knockout stage Quarterfinals TBD 22–23 March 2025
Semifinals 21–24 May 2025
Final

Teams

class=notpageimage|
Location of the 2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League group stage teams

Clubs from the top eight member associations qualified directly to the group stage, while the remaining 13 clubs entered at the preliminary stage.[4][5]

Group stage direct entrants
Team Qualifying method
Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 2023–24 WE League champions
Australia Melbourne City 2023–24 A-League Women premiers
China Wuhan Jiangda 2023 Chinese Women's Super League champions
South Korea Incheon Red Angels 2023 WK League champions
Vietnam Hồ Chí Minh City 2023 Vietnamese Women's National League champions
Philippines Kaya–Iloilo 2023 PFF Women's League champions
Chinese Taipei Taichung Blue Whale 2023 Taiwan Mulan Football League champions
Thailand College of Asian Scholars 2024 Thai Women's League 1 champions
Preliminary stage participants
Team Qualifying method
Uzbekistan Nasaf 2024 Uzbekistan Women's League champions
Myanmar Myawady 2023 Myanmar Women's League champions
Iran Bam Khatoon 2023–24 Kowsar Women Football League champions
India Odisha 2023–24 Indian Women's League champions
Jordan Etihad 2023 Jordan Women's Pro League champions
Hong Kong Kitchee 2023–24 Hong Kong Women League champions
Laos Young Elephants 2023 Lao Women League champions
Malaysia Sabah 2023 Malaysia National Women's League champions
Nepal APF 2022 Nepalese National Women's League champions
United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Country Club 2023–24 UAE Women's Football League champions
Singapore Lion City Sailors 2023 Women's Premier League champions
Bhutan Royal Thimphu College 2023–24 Women's National League champions
Saudi Arabia Al Nassr 2023–24 Saudi Women's Premier League champions

Preliminary stage

Bhutan, Jordan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia will be the hosts of each group in the Preliminary stage.[5]

Seedings

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
  1. Saudi Arabia Al Nassr (H)

(H) Hosts

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Country Club 3 3 0 0 4 1 +3 9 Advance to group stage
2 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr (H) 3 2 0 1 6 1 +5 6
3 Laos Young Elephants 3 1 0 2 4 5 −1 3
4 Myanmar Myawady 3 0 0 3 0 7 −7 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Young Elephants Laos1–2United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Country Club
 Report
Attendance: 50
Referee: Nodira Mirzoeva (Tajikistan)
Myawady Myanmar0–3Saudi Arabia Al Nassr
Report
King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh
Attendance: 294
Referee: Mou Mingxing (China)
Abu Dhabi Country Club United Arab Emirates1–0Myanmar Myawady
  • Al Marzooqi 87'
 Report
King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh
Attendance: 50
Referee: Cha Min-ji (South Korea)
Al Nassr Saudi Arabia3–0Laos Young Elephants
 Report
King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh
Attendance: 181
Referee: Trần Thị Thanh (Vietnam)
Myawady Myanmar0–3Laos Young Elephants
Report
  • Sone 24'
  • Yanagisawa 45', 77'
Al Nassr Club Stadium, Riyadh
Attendance: 11
Referee: Esra'a Al Mbaidin (Jordan)
Abu Dhabi Country Club United Arab Emirates1–0Saudi Arabia Al Nassr
Poudel 68' Report
King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh
Attendance: 600
Referee: Mahsa Ghorbani (Iran)

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 India Odisha 2 2 0 0 6 2 +4 6 Advance to group stage
2 Jordan Etihad (H) 2 1 0 1 6 2 +4 3
3 Singapore Lion City Sailors 2 0 0 2 1 9 −8 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Lion City Sailors Singapore1–4India Odisha
  • R. Ee 43'
 Report
Attendance: 50
Referee: Park Se-jin (South Korea)
Etihad Jordan5–0Singapore Lion City Sailors
 Report
Prince Mohammed Stadium, Zarqa
Attendance: 110
Referee: Plong Pich Akara (Cambodia)
Odisha India2–1Jordan Etihad
Yeboah 27', 70' Report Jbarah 57'
Prince Mohammed Stadium, Zarqa
Attendance: 200
Referee: Rebecca Durcau (Australia)

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Malaysia Sabah (H) 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4 Advance to group stage
2 Uzbekistan Nasaf 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3
3 Nepal APF 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1 1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
APF Nepal0–1Uzbekistan Nasaf
Report Niber-Lawrence 49'
Attendance: 75
Referee: Tian Jin (China)
Sabah Malaysia0–0Nepal APF
Report
Likas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu
Attendance: 2,983
Referee: Azusa Sugino (Japan)
Nasaf Uzbekistan1–2Malaysia Sabah
Njolle 83' Report
Likas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu
Attendance: 3,683
Referee: Tian Jin (China)

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Iran Bam Khatoon 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 6 Advance to group stage
2 Hong Kong Kitchee 2 1 0 1 1 2 −1 3
3 Bhutan Royal Thimphu College (H) 2 0 0 2 1 3 −2 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Royal Thimphu College Bhutan1–2Iran Bam Khatoon
 Report
Attendance: 2,400
Referee: Khin Nyein Chan (Myanmar)
Kitchee Hong Kong1–0Bhutan Royal Thimphu College
Fu Chiu Man 41' Report
Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu
Attendance: 1,700
Referee: Nurul Ain Izatty Zainal (Malaysia)
Bam Khatoon Iran2–0Hong Kong Kitchee
 Report
Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu
Attendance: 450
Referee: Supiree Testhomya (Thailand)

Group stage

The group stage will be played from 6 to 12 October 2024. Competing clubs will be divided in three groups of four. Teams in each group play one another in a centralised single round-robin format in each group.[3] The top two finishers in each group, together with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage. China, Thailand and Vietnam will be the hosts of each group in the Group stage.[5]

Seedings

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
  1. Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
  2. Australia Melbourne City
  3. China Wuhan Jiangda (H)

(H) Hosts
† Winners of the preliminary stage, whose identity was not known at the time of draw

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 China Wuhan Jiangda (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to Quarter-finals
2 South Korea Incheon Red Angels 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Malaysia Sabah 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible Quarter-finals
4 United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Country Club 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 6 October 2024. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Wuhan Jiangda ChinavUnited Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Country Club
Incheon Red Angels South KoreavMalaysia Sabah
Abu Dhabi Country Club United Arab EmiratesvSouth Korea Incheon Red Angels
Sabah MalaysiavChina Wuhan Jiangda
Wuhan Jiangda ChinavSouth Korea Incheon Red Angels
Sabah MalaysiavUnited Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Country Club

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Australia Melbourne City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to Quarter-finals
2 Philippines Kaya–Iloilo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Thailand College of Asian Scholars (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible Quarter-finals
4 Iran Bam Khatoon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 6 October 2024. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Melbourne City AustraliavIran Bam Khatoon
Kaya–Iloilo PhilippinesvThailand College of Asian Scholars
Bam Khatoon IranvPhilippines Kaya–Iloilo
College of Asian Scholars ThailandvAustralia Melbourne City
Melbourne City AustraliavPhilippines Kaya–Iloilo
College of Asian Scholars ThailandvIran Bam Khatoon

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to Quarter-finals
2 Vietnam Hồ Chí Minh City (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Chinese Taipei Taichung Blue Whale 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible Quarter-finals
4 India Odisha 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 6 October 2024. Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Urawa Red Diamonds JapanvIndia Odisha
Hồ Chí Minh City VietnamvChinese Taipei Taichung Blue Whale
Odisha IndiavVietnam Hồ Chí Minh City
Taichung Blue Whale Chinese TaipeivJapan Urawa Red Diamonds
Urawa Red Diamonds JapanvVietnam Hồ Chí Minh City
Taichung Blue Whale Chinese TaipeivIndia Odisha

Ranking of third-placed teams

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A Third place Group A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to Quarter-finals
2 B Third place Group B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 C Third place Group C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Discilpinary points; 5) Drawing of lots.

Ranking of second-placed teams

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A Second place Group A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Seeded in Quarter-finals draw
2 B Second place Group B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Unseeded in Quarter-finals draw
3 C Second place Group C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Discilpinary points; 5) Drawing of lots.

Knockout stage

The knockout stage will be played in a single-leg knockout format.

For the quarter-finals draw, teams will be seeded based on their performance in the group stage. Three group winners and the best second-placed team will be seeded, and the remaining four teams will be unseeded. The seeded teams will be drawn against the unseeded teams, with the seeded teams hosting the quarter-final match. Teams from the same group cannot be drawn against each other.

The semi-finals and the final match will be played in centralised location.[7]


See also

References

  1. ^ "AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women's Champions League". AFC. 14 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Key principles of landmark AFC Women's Champions League approved by AFC Women's Football Committee". AFC. 20 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "AFC unveils key details for inaugural AFC Women's Champions League 2024/25". The AFC. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Landmark AFC Women's Champions League™ to kick off with 22 clubs". the-AFC. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "#AWCL draw to mark battle lines for maiden season". AFC. 12 July 2024.
  6. ^ "FIFA Women's World Ranking as of 15 March 2024". AFC. 15 March 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "AFC Women's Champions League 2024/25 - Competition Regulations" (PDF). AFC. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  8. ^ "AFC Competition Operations Manual (Edition 2023)" (PDF). AFC. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
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AFC Women's Champions League
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