Kuala Lumpur, April 14, 2025 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced that Wuhan, China, will host the decisive matches of the 2024/2025 AFC Women’s Champions League. The semifinals and final, pivotal to crowning Asia’s top women’s club, are set for the 54,000-capacity Wuhan Sports Center Stadium, promising a grand stage for teams like Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City FC.
The schedule features two semifinals on May 21, with Wuhan Jianghan University facing Ho Chi Minh City FC at 3:00 p.m. local time, followed by South Korea’s Incheon Red Angels against Australia’s Melbourne City at 7:00 p.m. The winners advance to the final on May 24, a clash that could see Ho Chi Minh City FC vie for their first continental title, a milestone for Vietnamese football akin to The Cong Viettel’s domestic strides.
Ho Chi Minh City FC, fresh off their 2025 National Cup triumph, is gearing up for this historic moment. Coach Doan Thi Kim Chi has finalized a robust foreign contingent: Ashley Tram Anh, Chelsea Le, Aubrey Goodwill, Maria Jamila Khan, Sakura Yoshida, and Sabrina Cabrera. Ashley Tram Anh and Chelsea Le, both Vietnamese diaspora players, remain classified as foreigners by the AFC due to their lack of Vietnamese citizenship, a hurdle the club is addressing with the Vietnam Football Federation. Meanwhile, midfielder Nguyen Hoang Nam Mi, a naturalized Vietnamese citizen, counts as a domestic player, bolstering the squad alongside stars like Huynh Nhu.
Wuhan’s selection reflects its football pedigree—home to China’s 2023 women’s league champions—and follows the AFC’s trend of centralized finals, as seen in Thailand for the 2023/2024 edition. The stadium, a 2019 Asian Cup venue, ensures top-tier facilities. Ho Chi Minh City FC’s preparations include tactical drills and friendlies, drawing inspiration from Song Lam Nghe An’s disciplined approach in men’s football.
For Vietnam, a nation chasing a 2026 Women’s Asian Cup berth, Ho Chi Minh City FC’s campaign is a beacon. Facing Wuhan’s home advantage, they aim to emulate Hanoi Police FC’s V-League grit. A final berth would cap a breakout season, with Nam Mi’s playmaking and Yoshida’s flair key to upsetting Asia’s elite.
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