South Korea has been stripped of hosting the Asian Women's Club Championship due to failing to meet standards, with Thailand appointed as the replacement host.
On 2 Mar 2026 GMT+7, the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) officially confirmed the relocation of the 2nd AVC Women’s Champions League from Incheon, South Korea, to Bangkok, Thailand.
This decision followed an assessment of the readiness of the South Korean organizing committee, led by H&L Partners, which was found unable to comply with several key requirements, affecting their capability to host a continental tournament.
The primary issues involved inadequate infrastructure, including lodging, transportation, and competition venues that did not meet established standards. Additionally, local management was assessed as inefficient and unable to handle the complex logistics involved.
Further limitations were identified in cooperation between the organizers and the AVC at the national level, with H&L Partners failing to establish effective coordination and communication channels with all relevant parties, impacting the continuity and safety of the event.
Given these circumstances, the AVC decided to revoke South Korea's hosting rights and promptly sought alternatives to maintain the event's standards, ultimately selecting Thailand, which has extensive experience in hosting international sports events, as the new host.
An AVC representative stated, “We cannot lower the standards expected by athletes, fans, and partners. Although we regret the situation, we are confident that Bangkok will be able to host the tournament successfully.”
For this Asian Women's Club Championship, Thailand will be represented by Supreme Chonburi-E.Tech and is expected to receive an additional host team quota. Details on the competition schedule, venues, and ticket sales will be officially announced in due course.