The 12th Asian Women's Football Championship will kick off Sunday in Manila, with opening round group competitions in Bacolod and Illo, the Philippines, the Philippine News Agency reported on November 6.

The November 7-21 event has attracted a field of 15 countries and regions, which are pooled into three groups of five.

Six-time winners and defending champions China open its title defense campaign Sunday when it face South Korea in Group B in Bacolod, southern Philippines.

Other Group B teams are Kazakhstan, Guam and Hong Kong, China.

The Chinese team is top seeded as they finished runners-up in this year's FIFA World Cup, losing only on penalties to the hosts the United States as well as they won at home the title two years ago.

Group A consists of India, Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea and Malaysia while in Group C are Hosts Philippines, Thailand, Japan, Nepal and Uzbekistan.