SAbah fa Target Group Stage Spot in AWCL 2026/27 Preliminary Round
KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia - Malaysian women's national champions Sabah FA are set to kick off their second continental campaign on home soil. Sabah FA will host Group A of the AFC Women's Champions League (AWCL) 2026/27 Preliminary Stage at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu from August 17 to 23, 2026. The Malaysian champions will navigate a single round-robin group against three regional opponents for a single qualification ticket to the competition proper.
Group A Competitors:
🇲🇾 Sabah FA (Malaysia - Hosts): 2025 Malaysia National Women's League Champions.
🇮🇳 East Bengal FC (India): 2025/26 Indian Women's League Champions making their second consecutive AWCL appearance.
🇬🇺 Rovers FC (Guam): Domestic champions from Guam returning for their preliminary campaign.
🇧🇩 Rajshahi Stars FC (Bangladesh): Debutants representing the Bangladesh Women's Football League.
Matchday Schedule: Likas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu
Monday, 17 August 2026; Sabah FA vs. Rovers FC
Thursday, 20 August 2026; Sabah FA vs. Rajshahi Stars FC
Sunday, 23 August 2026; Sabah FA vs. East Bengal FC
24 teams across six centralized preliminary groups are competing for six available slots. Only the winner of Group A will advance directly to the 12-team AWCL Group Stage scheduled for November 2026. The six preliminary group winners will join direct entrants including defending champions Naegohyang Women's FC (DPR Korea), Melbourne City FC (Australia), Hwacheon KSPO (South Korea), INAC Kobe Leonessa (Japan), Beijing Jingtan (China), and Ho Chi Minh City FC (Vietnam).
The official AWCL Group Stage draw will take place on September 3, 2026, following the conclusion of the preliminary rounds in Kota Kinabalu.