Kaya FC-Iloilo reaches 2026-27 AWCL group stage

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Kaya FC-Iloilo booked a place in the 2026-27 AFC Women’s Champions League Group Stage after holding Hong Kong champion TSL FC to a 0-0 draw Sunday, finishing the preliminary stage atop Group B with seven points.

The qualification extended the Philippines’ run to three straight seasons with a professional club in the AWCL main draw. Kaya competed in the 2024-25 edition, while Stallion Laguna advanced as far as the quarterfinals in 2025-26.

Kaya entered its final preliminary match after routing host FC Ilbirs, 6-0, on Aug. 17 and beating Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Crown FC, 5-1, on Aug. 20.

The goalless result against TSL proved enough for the reigning three-time PFF Women’s League champion to advance, with Kaya finishing ahead of the Hong Kong side on goal difference, 10 to 6.

Philippine Football Federation President John Anthony Gutierrez congratulated Kaya on reaching the next phase of Asia’s premier women’s club competition.

“Kaya FC-Iloilo’s third straight qualification to the AWCL Group Stage speaks to the growing consistency of our women’s professional clubs on the international stage. This is a testament to the global standard of Philippine women’s football, a program that has been painstakingly built across decades and continues to deliver internationally.”

TSL applied pressure early, with Chan Yee Hing testing Kaya goalkeeper Yasmin Elauria through a long lob from a counterattack in the 20th minute.

Janae DeFazio threatened four minutes later but sent her header narrowly over the bar from a right-wing set piece.

Reigning PWL Best Defender Saki Yoshida then stopped TSL’s Filipina forward Isabella Bandoja in a dangerous one-on-one situation inside the box in the 28th minute.

Maye Mendaño had an opportunity for Kaya in the 32nd minute, but her shot from inside the penalty area was deflected away by the TSL defense.

Elauria, a former Far Eastern University standout and reigning PFF Futsaliga Best Goalkeeper, kept TSL out with a one-handed save against Leung Hong Kiu Anke’s effort from the left flank in the 42nd minute.

Deep into first-half stoppage time, Jay Tolentino forced TSL goalkeeper Ng Cheuk Wai into a save from an attack down the right wing.

Chan later squandered another threatening TSL opportunity after receiving a pass from Bandoja on the right before halftime.

Elauria again protected Kaya’s goal in the 49th minute, stopping Bandoja’s attempt from inside the six-yard box.

TSL continued searching for a breakthrough, but Lucia Ko narrowly missed from outside the penalty area in the 79th minute.

Elauria, who was named Woman of the Match, intervened again in the 86th minute by collecting a dangerous long ball meant for the onrushing Chan.

The Kaya goalkeeper made another crucial stop in second-half stoppage time, denying Ko’s low attempt from outside the box.

PWL Best Midfielder Sarahgen Tulabing extinguished TSL’s final opportunity in the fourth minute of stoppage time to preserve Kaya’s clean sheet and secure qualification.

Kaya head coach David Basa credited his players’ determination after surviving sustained pressure from the Hong Kong champions.

“For us it’s really a hard work win, a hard working point. The girls showed their fighting spirit until the end. Even [though] we got pressed by TSL, they didn’t give up till the last minute. It shows in their character that they really want to win [and] they want to go to the next stage. We’ll have our team recover then, step by step, we’ll look at what we can improve more, what we can do more as a team.”

Filipina players in AWCL

Gutierrez also recognized Filipina players who represented foreign clubs during the AWCL Preliminary Stage.

Alyssa Ube will join the Kaya players in the group stage after her Myanmar-based club Ayeyawady defeated Taiwan’s Hang Yuan FC, 1-0, in Group F.

Philippine women’s national football team captain Hali Long scored for Thailand’s College of Asian Scholars during the preliminary stage.

Philippine women’s national futsal team members Isabella Bandoja and Lanie Ortillo suited up for TSL FC.

Yanzi Yalong, meanwhile, represented Bhutan’s Royal Thimphu College.

“Beyond Kaya’s qualification, we take pride in seeing Filipinas represent clubs across the region in this tournament. Their presence on these rosters reflects the depth of talent our women’s football program has produced and reinforces the standing of Filipino players across Asian competitions,” Gutierrez said.

The 2026-27 AWCL Group Stage is scheduled for Nov. 1–7, 2026, with the official draw set for Sept. 3, 2026.