Melbourne City's Shelby McMahon celebrates a goal during Round 22 of the A-League Women against Perth Glory at Macedonia Park. Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images. Supplied by Melbourne City

The inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League has kicked off in Kuala Lumpur with the Group Stage, with Melbourne City featuring as one of the 12 teams, after securing the 2023/24 Premiers Plate in the A-League Women competition.

City will play three games at the Pathum Thani Stadium in Thailand, with their first being on Sunday night AEDT.

This marks the start of the team’s tenure under new head coach, South Australian Michael Matricciani, who was hired after the departure of Dario Vidosic to Brighton & Hove Albion.

In Group B, the A-League Women’s reigning premiers will face Bam Khatoon, College of Asian Scholars, and Kaya FC-Iloilo.

The teams advancing to the quarter finals will consist of the top two finishers in each of the three groups, as well as the two best third placed teams.

Melbourne City

Melbourne City have taken a 21 player squad to Thailand for the group stage, with the roster featuring a number of new signings made over the off-season.

This includes Venezuelan striker Mariana Speckmaier, who joined the club from Wellington Phoenix, Alexia Apostolakis from Western Sydney Wanderers, forward Emilia Murray from Adelaide United, and more.

Founded in 2015 as an expansion side, Melbourne City have since won four championships and three premierships within the A-League Women, the most recent of which being in 2023-24, which qualified them for the AFC Women’s Champions League.

With a new head coach and a slew of new players, City will be looking to make a statement with these games, not just in the Champions League, but as they aim towards their domestic competition in the A-League too.

Bam Khatoon

Bam Khatoon Women’s Football Club is an Iranian Women’s football club that was originally founded as Bam FC in 1980.

The historic club based in Bam, Iran, plays in the Kowsar Women Football League, and is the most titled team of the league, with 10 championships to their name, the last three of which being consecutive.

Bam Khatoon secured their place in Group B by qualifying through the Preliminary Stage, where they finished the stage undefeated.

College of Asian Scholars

The BGC-College of Asian Scholars, also known as the BGC Bundit Asia, are five-time Champions of the Thai Women’s League.

A force to be reckoned with, College of Asian Scholars won the AFC Women’s Club Championship (now the AFC Women’s Champions League) only two years ago in 2022.

College of Asian Scholars qualified for the AFC Women’s Champions League after becoming champions of the Thai Women’s League in 2024.

Kaya FC-Iloilo

Founded in 2019, Kaya FC-Iloilo are the newest of the four teams in Group B, but that doesn’t mean they should be underestimated.

Known as Kaya Women, or the Mighty Kaya, the Filipino team were the first club team to win the Philippines Football Federation Women’s League (PFFWL). Prior to their 2023 success, every team that had won the PFFWL had been a collegiate/university side.

The 2023 League title was their first major success, making it a historic achievement for the Club, and they will be looking to follow up the historic achievement by making a mark on the AFC Champions League.

Fixtures

Sunday 6 October: Melbourne City v Bam Khatoon 8:00 PM AEDT

Thursday 10 October: BCG Asian Scholars v Melbourne City 12:00 AM AEDT

Saturday 12 October: Melbourne City v Kaya FC-Iloilo 8:00 PM AEDT

All games will be played at Pathum Thani Stadium and available to watch live on YouTube.

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