South Asia is set to witness a historic moment in women’s football as the inaugural SAFF Women’s Club Championship kicks off in Nepal this Friday. The tournament, featuring domestic champions from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Pakistan, marks the first women’s club championship across Asia’s five regions and highlights the rapid growth of the women’s game in South Asia.
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SAFF Secretary General Purushottam Kattel expressed optimism about the timing, noting that the competitive progress of national women’s teams made it the ideal moment for a club championship. Bangladesh recently achieved a historic first qualification to the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, while India also secured a place, reflecting the rising standards of women’s football in the region. Kattel added that the championship aims to elevate the game further and help pave the way for women’s leagues in Sri Lanka and Maldives, who were not part of this inaugural edition.
The five-team tournament features East Bengal from India, APF from Nepal, Nasrin Sports Academy from Bangladesh, Transport United from Bhutan, and Karachi City FC from Pakistan. The teams will compete in a round-robin format, with the top two advancing to the final on December 20. East Bengal enters as favorites, having recently competed in the group stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League and making history as the first Indian side to win an AFC Champions League game.
Karachi City FC, winners of Pakistan’s National Women’s Championship last year, have strengthened their squad with several international players, including Jordan’s Maysa Jbarah and UAE duo Nouf Alzani and Fatima Alhosani, alongside Pakistan captain Maria Khan. Head coach Adeel Rizki highlighted that the goal was to assemble a team capable of competing at the regional level and adding depth to their domestic success.
The SAFF championship offers these clubs a unique chance to compete internationally and gain exposure beyond their home countries. With a prize of $10,000 for the winners and $5,000 for the runners-up, the tournament also provides financial incentives to encourage competitive play. Organizers are hopeful that the success of this first edition will establish the championship as an annual fixture and further boost the profile of women’s football across South Asia.
The opening day sees Karachi City face Transport United of Bhutan, while Nepal’s APF takes on Nasrin Sports Academy from Bangladesh. Fans and players alike are eager to see if Karachi City’s star-studded squad can translate domestic dominance into regional success, setting the tone for a landmark tournament in South Asian women’s football.
