The evolution of women’s football in Asia reached a significant milestone with the unveiling of the new AFC Women’s Champions League™ trophy. The exquisite silverware was presented during the official draw ceremony for the Preliminary Stage and Group Stage of the inaugural 2024/25 season. AFC Women’s Football Committee Chairperson, Ms. Kanya Keomany, and Japanese football icon Mana Iwabuchi were in attendance to reveal the trophy.
The gleaming silver trophy, a masterpiece blending traditional and modern design elements, symbolizes victory, unity, and joy in women’s football. Standing at 65 centimetres, the trophy was designed and handcrafted by Thomas Lyte, a world-renowned trophy maker based in London. Known for creating many prestigious sports trophies, including the AFC Asian Cup™ and AFC Women’s Asian Cup™, Thomas Lyte’s collaboration with the AFC has resulted in a trophy with an iconic and recognizable silhouette.
The flowing handles of the trophy depict the unity of fans and players from across Asia, raising an arm in a jubilant gesture. The names of the champions will be engraved at the base, below the tournament title, adding a rich significance to its elegant design.
The inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League™ will feature 21 teams vying for the honor of being the first to have their name engraved on the trophy. The draw, held at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, determined the four groups for the 13 sides in the Preliminary Stage, which will be played in a centralized league format from August 25 to 31. The four group winners will then join the other eight clubs that have qualified directly to the Group Stage, which comprises three groups of four teams. This stage will be contested in a centralized league format from October 6 to 12, with China PR, Thailand, and Vietnam each hosting a group.
The top two finishers of each group and the two best third-placed teams will progress to the Quarter-finals, scheduled for March 22 and 23, 2025. A Knockout Stage draw will determine the four single-leg Quarter-final pairings. The centralised Finals will follow, featuring the Semi-finals and Final – all single-leg ties – from May 21 to 24, 2025.
Alongside the honor of lifting the dazzling new trophy, the champions of the AFC Women’s Champions League™ will also receive a prize purse of at least USD 1.3 million. This landmark event not only highlights the growth of women’s football in Asia but also sets the stage for a new era in the sport, celebrating unity and excellence across the continent.
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