East Bengal FC has written a historic chapter in Indian football by becoming the first Indian club to reach the knockout stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League. The team secured a berth in the quarterfinals as one of the best third-placed sides following a 2-0 defeat against North Korea’s 4.25 SC in their final Group B fixture. Under the tournament’s format, the top two teams from each group alongside the two best third-placed teams across all groups advance to the knockout round.
East Bengal completed their Group B campaign in third place, accumulating three points from three matches with a record of one victory, two defeats, and a goal difference of -4. North Korea’s 4.25 SC swept the group to finish at the top of the table with nine points, while South Korea’s Hwacheon KSPO WFC finished second with six points. East Bengal’s crucial group stage victory proved decisive in keeping them ahead in the third-place rankings across the competition.
This milestone represents a breakthrough moment for Indian women’s club football on the Asian continent. By advancing to the quarterfinals of Asia’s elite club tournament, East Bengal has demonstrated the ability to contend with established regional powerhouses, setting a new benchmark for Indian clubs competing in international tournaments.
