With continental champions 4.25 SC, South Korean treble winners Hwacheon KSPO and Vietnamese heavyweights Ho Chi Minh City in Group B, East Bengal Women face a thrilling test on home soil.
Kolkata, October 31: The AFC Women’s Champions League is about to make its first appearance in India, with Kolkata preparing to host the continental competition from November 1. East Bengal FC Women will represent the hosts in a challenging group featuring three different opponents, 4.25 SC of DPR Korea, Hwacheon KSPO of Korea Republic and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City WFC.
For East Bengal, the group stage presents an opportunity to measure themselves against some of the established sides in Asian women’s football. While the three visiting teams arrive with different backgrounds and expectations, their respective pre-tournament interaction offered a glimpse into their preparations, tactical approaches and ambitions ahead of the competition.
4.25 SC: An attacking side with championship ambitions
The reigning champions of the DPR Korea Women’s Premier league 4.25 SC, arrive in Kolkata with considerable continental pedigree. Despite being the first DPR Korean club to participate in this competition’s group stage, the team has already demonstrated its attacking strength, scoring 29 goals during the preliminary stage.
Head coach Kim Kwang-min made it clear that the side would not abandon its attacking identity. “We play football to score. So we will keep our tactics. We will keep utilising our attacking tactics,” he said when asked about the team’s approach for the group stage.
The coach also acknowledged the competitive nature of the tournament, pointing out that every participating side had arrived with the ambition of winning. He expressed confidence in his players and their ability to deliver positive results.
Player Cho Song-ryong followed up that confidence, insisting that the team would rely on its own preparation rather than becoming overly concerned with analysing opponents.
“It doesn’t matter if we analyse their team or not. We have our own tactics that we have been practising. We will utilise our tactics to win tomorrow’s game,” she said.
With their attacking approach and championship experience, 4.25 SC will be among the major tests for East Bengal in the group stage.
Hwacheon KSPO: Team spirit over individual brilliance
The South Korean representative domestic treble winner, Hwacheon KSPO, will bring its own challenge to the competition. Head coach Kang San-mi and midfielder Lee Soo-bin underlined the importance of collective performances and maintaining strong team spirit.
For Hwacheon, representing South Korea in the continental competition is an honour. Soo-bin expressed her pride in being part of the tournament, while the coach emphasised that the team’s approach would depend on the situation during matches.
“Our goal is always to get good results in the qualifiers, and the strength of our team is our strong team spirit. We don’t focus on individual players, we focus on team play, and if we can do that, we will get good results,” the coach explained.
Kang also indicated that the side would not be restricted to one particular approach, with attacking football depending on the requirements of each match.
The presence of several young players in the squad makes this tournament another important opportunity for their development. The coach acknowledged the challenge of adapting to different conditions and opponents but maintained that the team had prepared to compete.
Their emphasis on collective football and adaptability could make Hwacheon a difficult opponent for East Bengal to break down.
Ho Chi Minh City WFC: Vietnamese experience and continental ambitions
East Bengal Women’s tomorrow’s opponent Ho Chi Minh City WFC arrive in Kolkata with valuable experience from last season’s competition, where they reached the quarter-finals. Head coach Noem Durkhan and captain Huyen Nhu made it clear that the team’s ambitions remain high.
Durkhan acknowledged the challenge of facing East Bengal in their opening fixture, particularly with the advantage of playing in front of home supporters. He also recognised the quality of the Indian side’s foreign recruits and their preparations.
“We know this is a very strong team and you have good foreign players. Another thing is you have the advantage to play on the home field, so many spectators will support. But although those, we have the good preparation and we are very focused and determined for the best result for tomorrow,” the coach said.
Huyen Nhu, one of the most decorated figures in Vietnamese women’s football and the country’s all-time leading goalscorer, also highlighted the team’s ambition to progress as far as possible.
“Our team’s goal is to go as far as possible. We are very determined and focused and we want to have the best result and bring pride for Vietnamese women’s football,” she said.
Ho Chi Minh City’s domestic consistency has been built on preparation and maintaining a strong tradition within Vietnamese women’s football, according to Durkhan. The coach also explained that the team’s recent defeats in its final domestic fixtures were part of a decision to manage player fitness after achieving its domestic championship objective.
The Vietnamese side completed its domestic campaign on October 23 securing the championship, leaving it with less than a week to prepare for the journey to India. Despite the limited preparation time, the coach insisted that the squad was ready for the continental challenge.
Nhu, who has previously faced Indian players in international football, acknowledged the discipline and determination of the Indian side. Her experience could prove valuable as Ho Chi Minh City begin their campaign against the hosts.
A challenging group awaits the Moshal Girls.
With three opponents bringing different strengths to the competition, East Bengal Women’s group-stage campaign will demand consistency, tactical discipline and the ability to adapt to different styles of football.
4.25 SC bring the credentials of continental champions and an aggressive attacking philosophy. Hwacheon KSPO are built around collective play and team spirit, while Ho Chi Minh City WFC combine domestic experience with the motivation of building on last season’s quarter-final finish.
For East Bengal, the challenge will not simply be about taking on three visiting clubs but also about measuring their progress against different schools of Asian women’s football.
As Kolkata hosts the AFC Women’s Champions League for the first time, the spotlight will be on the Moshal Girls to make the most of their home advantage and establish their presence on the continental stage.
AFC Women’s Champions League – Group B Fixtures
November 1, 2026
2:00 PM – Hwacheon KSPO WFC vs 4.25 Sports Club
8:00 PM – Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC vs East Bengal FC
November 4, 2026
2:00 PM – 4.25 Sports Club vs Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC
8:00 PM – East Bengal FC vs Hwacheon KSPO WFC
November 7, 2026
2:00 PM – Hwacheon KSPO WFC vs Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC
8:00 PM – East Bengal FC vs 4.25 Sports Club
Venue: Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata.
Read more about Indian Football
