Aktobe hosts UEFA Women’s Champions League matches for the first time

10 August 2026, 17:22

Aktobe hosted a UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying mini-tournament for the first time. Matches involving the Kazakhstan champions and three European clubs were played at Koblandy Batyr Central Stadium.

Following the draw, Aktobe were placed in Group 3 of the qualifying round alongside Icelandic side Breidablik, Swiss club Servette and Belarusian side Dinamo-BGUFK. All matches in the mini-tournament were played in Aktobe, allowing the Kazakhstan champions to play their first European matches of the season on home soil.

The tournament marked the first time Aktobe had hosted UEFA Women’s Champions League matches. Local fans had the opportunity to support the Kazakhstan champions in European competition at Koblandy Batyr Central Stadium.

Victory over Breidablik on penalties

In their opening match, Aktobe faced Icelandic side Breidablik. Ekaterina Babshuk opened the scoring in the 12th minute to put the Kazakhstan side ahead. Four minutes later, Kaitlin Duong equalised.

Neither side could find a winner in regulation or extra time. After 120 minutes, the score remained 1–1, sending the match to a penalty shoot-out.

Aktobe goalkeeper Zukhra Tolibekova was one of the key figures in the shoot-out, saving two penalties as Aktobe won the shoot-out 2–0 to reach the mini-tournament final.

The two clubs also have a shared European history. In 2013, the men’s teams met in the UEFA Europa League qualifying round. Thirteen years later, the clubs faced each other again in European competition, this time in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

In the other semi-final, Swiss side Servette beat Dinamo-BGUFK 3–0 to set up a final against Aktobe.

Final against Servette

The winner of the final would secure a place in the next qualifying round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Servette claimed a 4–0 victory to progress in the competition, while Aktobe finished the mini-tournament as runners-up.

The Kazakhstan champions will nevertheless continue their European campaign in the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup. Aktobe will now compete in the next qualifying round of the competition.

In the third-place play-off, Breidablik defeated Dinamo-BGUFK 3–2.

First UEFA Women’s Champions League tournament in Aktobe

Hosting the mini-tournament marked a significant occasion for women’s football in the region. Aktobe hosted UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying matches for the first time, with teams from Kazakhstan, Iceland, Switzerland and Belarus taking to the pitch at Koblandy Batyr Central Stadium.

The tournament was particularly significant for local fans, who had the opportunity to support Aktobe in European competition at their home stadium for the first time. The Kazakhstan side enjoyed strong support from the stands in both matches.

Aktobe’s first European tournament on home soil ended with a victory and a place in the final. Against Breidablik, the Kazakhstan champions played 120 minutes before securing victory on penalties, while they were beaten by Servette in the final.

Despite the defeat in the final, the team’s European campaign continues. Aktobe’s next challenge will be the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup qualifying round.