---
title: "East Bengal FC women's team to begin AWCL 2026-27 preliminaries in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; First Indian side to win group match"
sdDatePublished: "2026-08-16T13:13:00Z"
source: "https://www.olympics.com/en/news/afc-women-champions-league-2026-27-preliminary-east-bengal-schedule-live-stream"
topics:
  - name: "football"
    identifier: "medtop:20001065"
  - name: "sport event"
    identifier: "medtop:20001108"
  - name: "sport organisation"
    identifier: "medtop:20001125"
  - name: "sport achievement"
    identifier: "medtop:20001301"
  - name: "television"
    identifier: "medtop:20000051"
  - name: "sport"
    identifier: "medtop:15000000"
locations:
  - "Kota Kinabalu"
  - "Kolkata"
  - "Vietnam"
  - "Japan"
  - "Bangladesh"
  - "Australia"
  - "Guam"
  - "Malaysia"
  - "India"
---


East Bengal FC women's team to begin AWCL 2026-27 preliminaries in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; First Indian side to win group match

AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27: East Bengal eye successive group stage qualification - preliminary schedule, where to watch live

AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27: East Bengal eye successive group stage qualification - preliminary schedule, where to watch live

EBFC made it beyond the preliminary stage last season, becoming the first women’s team from India to win a group stage match in the competition. Watch live!

Indian football club East Bengal FC will begin their AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 preliminary stage campaign on Monday, targeting successive group-stage qualification in the continental competition.

The East Bengal women’s football team ’s matches in AWCL 2026-27 will be available to watch on live streaming in India.

The Moshal Girls qualified for the continental competition by winning the 2025-26 Indian Women’s League and the upcoming AWCL campaign will mark their second outing in an AFC competition.

Last season, East Bengal made it beyond the AFC Women’s Champions League preliminary stage, becoming the first Indian football club to win a group stage match in the competition before bowing out.

East Bengal have been drawn in Group A alongside Malaysia’s Sabah FA, Guam outfit Rovers FC and Bangladeshi club Rajshahi Stars FC.

The Kolkata club will play all their AFC Women’s Champions League preliminary stage matches in a single round-robin centralised league format at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

This season’s preliminary stage features 24 teams divided into six groups of four each, with each group winner advancing to the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 group stage.

The group winners will join six teams that have secured direct entry to the group stage.

Already in the main draw are defending champions Naegohyang Women’s FC (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) as well as the top-ranked continental clubs Melbourne City FC (Australia), Hwacheon KSPO WFC (Republic of Korea), INAC Kobe Leonessa (Japan), Beijing Jingtan FC (People’s Republic of China) and Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC (Vietnam).

Should East Bengal qualify for the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 group stage, they will enter a separate draw in September, with matches set to begin in November.

The 12 teams in the main draw will be divided into three groups of four for the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 season.

Where to watch AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 live in India

Live streaming of East Bengal’s AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 preliminary stage matches will be available on FanCode. There will be no live telecast of the AWCL football matches on any TV channel in India.

AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27: East Bengal’s preliminary stage schedule

All in Indian Standard Time (IST)

August 17, Monday : East Bengal FC vs Rajshahi Stars FC - 1:30 PM

August 20, Thursday : Rovers FC vs East Bengal FC - 1:30 PM

August 23, Sunday : East Bengal FC vs Sabah FA - 5:30 PM

Picture by All India Football Federation

History of Indian football - glorious highs, persistent lows and one big missed opportunity