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The stage will be set for the return of Asia’s premier women’s football club competition when eight club champions from as many Member Associations (MAs) discover their battle lines at the official draw ceremony of the AFC Women’s Club Championship 2023 – Invitational Tournament on Thursday.
Taking place from November 6 to 12, the tournament will give way to the AFC Women’s Champions League from the 2024/25 season.
The eight participants, three more than the previous edition, will be divided into two groups of four teams who will play in centralised venues in Uzbekistan and Thailand.
The seeding is based on the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking of their respective MAs, and following the Nadeshiko’s commendable performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, WE League champions Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies of Japan will be the top seed, securing a spot in Pot 1.
With Australia’s Semi-final finish at the FIFA Women’s World Cup earning them the second seed, A-League Women champions Sydney FC, will join the Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies in Pot 1.
Meanwhile, Pot 2 will host third seeds and defending champions of Korea Republic’s WK League, the Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC, as well as five-time Chinese Taipei women’s league winners Hualien Women’s Football Team, who are seeded fourth in the competition.
Pot 3, on the other hand, will host the fifth and sixth seeded teams, namely Thailand’s Bangkok FC, who clinched their maiden Thai Women’s League title in 2023, and defending champions of the Uzbekistan Women’s League, FC Nasaf, earlier known as Sevinch Qarshi.
Finally, Pot 4 will feature the current national champions from India, Sree Gokulam Kerala Football Club, and runners-up of the AFC Women’s Club Championship 2022 (West) and Kowsar Women Football League winners, Bam Khatoon from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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.
Pots
Pot 1 (teams ranked 1-2): Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies, Sydney FC
Pot 2 (3-4): Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC, Hualien Women’s Football Team
Pot 3 (5-6): Bangkok FC, FC Nasaf
Pot 4 (7-8): Gokulam Kerala FC, Bam Khatoon
