Women’s soccer is experiencing a surge in popularity across Asia, fueled by impressive performances in recent World Cup events that have captured the attention of many nations, thereby elevating expectations for the upcoming AFC Champions League.

The spotlight on women’s soccer has intensified following North Korea’s victory over Japan in last month’s Under-20 World Cup. Additionally, Australia’s journey to the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup, which it co-hosted with New Zealand last year, attracted record audiences and highlighted the region's talent.

As the continental club championship undergoes a transformation, the group stage of the Women’s Asian Champions League is set to commence this week, with the Urawa Red Diamond Ladies representing Japan.

The Reds triumphed over South Korea’s Incheon Red Angels in the Women’s Club Championship final in May, a precursor to the AFC’s Women’s Champions League, and are eager to replicate that achievement.

“It’s beneficial for Asia to have two nations in the (under-20) World Cup final, as it provides us with worthy competitors,” stated Urawa coach Naoki Kusunose. “We appreciate this new challenge in club soccer and are determined to advance and secure the Women’s AFC Champions League title.”

The tournament features 12 teams, including four that progressed from a preliminary round, organized into three groups of four.

Urawa will begin its campaign against India’s Odisha on Thursday, followed by matches against Ho Chi Minh City and Taiwan’s Taichung Blue Whale.

Group C matches will be hosted in Vietnam, with each group competing at a single venue over nine days. The top two teams will advance to the quarterfinals next March, along with the two best third-placed teams. The semifinals and final are scheduled for May 2025.

In Group B, Australia’s Melbourne City will face Iran’s Bam Khatoon in Thailand, and will also compete against Kaya-Iloilo from the Philippines and Thailand’s College of Asian Scholars.

Melbourne City coach Michael Matricciani expressed that the inaugural campaign for women's football in Asia presents a significant opportunity. "It is an honor for us to represent Australia, and we see this as a chance to compete for silverware and measure ourselves against the top teams in Asia," he stated.

The Incheon Red Angels are placed in Group A, competing alongside Sabah from Malaysia, Wuhan Jiangda from China, and Abu Dhabi Country Club from the United Arab Emirates.

The Asian Football Confederation has announced that the tournament champion will be awarded a minimum of $1.3 million in prize money.

AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa remarked, "We believe this competition will empower women in Asian football, promote gender equality, and dismantle societal barriers, ultimately fostering the growth of the women's game."

Despite the varying levels of professionalism in women's football across Asia, advancing deep into the tournament could have significant financial implications.

However, there are concerns that the new tournament may not accurately represent the state of women's soccer in Asia.

FIFPro Asia/Oceania, part of a global organization representing 65,000 soccer players, released a report in August based on feedback from 88 players involved in the pilot Women’s Club Championship. The report revealed that only 62% of participants identified as professional, fewer than half earned over $10,000 annually from soccer, and a quarter indicated that the sport was not their main source of income.

FIFPro advocates for increased collaboration between the AFC and other stakeholders. "While the potential for women's football in Asia is vast, it is crucial that its development aligns with the realities highlighted in this report," stated Kathryn Gill, a FIFPro board member and former international player for Australia.

A true partnership must be formed among the AFC, leagues, clubs, and players to achieve this, rather than imposing regulations designed for men's competitions onto women's competitions in a unilateral manner.