Interview: AFC hails inaugural Women's Champions League as milestone in Asian football growth

by sportswriters Yue Wenwan and Zhao Jiantong

WUHAN, May 26 (Xinhua) -- After 120 grueling minutes of play and six nerve-shredding rounds of penalties, Wuhan Jiangda hoisted the trophy of the inaugural AFC Women's Champions League on Saturday.

The gripping finale showcased the competitiveness and promise of Asian women's football, with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) hailing the event as a major step forward in Asia's footballing journey. The tournament reflects the region's growing commitment to the development and promotion of women's football.

"Many years ago, it [the AFC Women's Champions League] was just a discussion, just an idea. Now it has come really into the game itself. And that's already a win for Asian football. That's already a win for the women's game," said AFC general secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua.

A VISION REALIZED

Even before the final whistle, Windsor considered the competition a success.

"Success can mean many things to many people. For us, organizing the final match is already a success," noted Windsor, who once doubted whether enough clubs would participate to justify an Asian women's club Champions League.

"Now, we've introduced prize money for the champions -- among the top in the world, and we completed the calendar and the matches without disruptions, without issues, without problems. And that's already a big success for us," he added.

Windsor said choosing Wuhan to host the final was a natural decision. "China as a whole and the Chinese Football Association (CFA) has always been excellent hosts for the AFC, so it was not difficult to pick China to host any competitions," he said, citing a "very good tournament" enabled by collaboration between the CFA, Wuhan government and local organizers.

More than just the culmination of a tournament, the final marked the fruition of a long-term vision to elevate the women's game in Asia.

"In the final match, it's always difficult. But for us, the most important thing is the level of football that we can be proud of, that the women in Asia can be proud of," said Windsor.

The AFC Women's Champions League evolved from the AFC Women's Club Championship, previously an invitational format that planted the seed for something bigger. It has now become a full-fledged continental tournament with prize money, competitive structure and ambitions to match the standards of the men's game.

"It's part of the growth of the women's game to promote and develop women's football in Asia," Windsor noted.

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, GLOBAL AMBITIONS

While the tournament launch has been a success, Windsor stressed the need for steady and sustainable development.

"We want to expand the Women's Champions League slowly and in the right way, because there are not many clubs in Asia that are ready to play at a very high level," he said.

To support this development, the AFC launched a club licensing program to help teams prepare for the demands of elite competition.

"You must always look back at the men's Champions League. It also started small, and it grew," Windsor added, suggesting the women's competition will follow a similar trajectory.

Saturday's final also served as a gateway to the global stage, with Windsor confirming that Wuhan Jiangda will represent Asia in the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup in 2026.

He emphasized Asia's strength in the global women's game. "Recently we had the Democratic People's Republic of Korea women's U-17 and U-20 teams become champions of the World Cup. We had the Japanese team also qualifying for the [U-20] final. These are all proof that women's football is really very strong in Asia."

Windsor also praised China's continuing legacy in the sport. "We have always held high regards for the Chinese women's football team. They are the champions of Asia... I think that will also give the motivation to the young players to achieve what their predecessors have achieved before."

Beyond developing players, the AFC has taken a holistic approach to building a sustainable ecosystem.

"We are doing all we can in terms of regulations, programs and projects to ensure that not only players, but also referees, coaches and administrators... There will be enough women running the women's game," said Windsor.

Despite the tournament's conclusion, the AFC's efforts are far from over.

"We will look at the reports. We will look what went right, what is good, what we can improve, what are the weaknesses and so on," Windsor noted. "So for us, at the end of the day, the women's game must win." Enditem