With six months to go, Australia is preparing to host the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, hoping to ride the momentum of the Matilda’s 2023 World Cup campaign. 

Awarded hosting rights in 2023, Australia’s successful bid followed a strong public and organisational response to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The AFC Women’s Asian Cup will take place from March 1 to 21, 2026, and feature 12 of Asia’s top national teams, with matches played across Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast. Perth is set to host the opening match, while the final will be held in Sydney at Stadium Australia.

The success of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, was a milestone in women’s football. According to FIFA, the tournament saw over 2 billion viewers and with record-breaking attendance across all host cities. The Matildas’ historic run in the semi-finals captivated the nation, with over 11.5 million Australians tuning in to watch the matches, making it Australia’s largest televised audience.

Newcastle fan Amadee Smith said the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup first sparked her interest in women’s football: “I thought it was cool to have something so big in our backyard.” She believes the World Cup helped the sport “blow up overnight” and has had a lasting effect, leading to sell-out crowds, wider TV coverage and inspiring young girls to play. 

A 2024 report by Football Australia found a 16 per cent rise in female football participation nationwide, contributing to an 11 per cent increase in overall football registrations across Australia since the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

To sustain the lasting impact, the Federal Government has invested $15 million to build on the Matildas’ history-making performance, and to increase opportunities for women’s football in Australia.   

Some fans are already anticipating the tournament’s potential. Immy Nazombe runs a women’s football-focused social media page. She said the 2023 Matildas’ World Cup inspired her to engage more with the sport. “Their performance made me feel proud to be a girl and reminded me that women can achieve the same thing men can.” 

Since then, she has consistently attended A-League Women matches, created content and supported teams. Ms Nazombe plans to attend matches in Sydney for the upcoming tournament, and is excited to see the nation get around the Matildas’ again. “I think the energy from the World Cup will carry over. I really hope Australia shows up for the Matildas’ the way they did last time,” she said.

Perth based supporter Madison Marley said she is thrilled to see the Matildas open a major tournament in her home city. “After watching the sold-out Australia versus Philippines match in Perth for Olympic qualifiers, I knew I wanted to experience that energy again,” she said. 

Ms Marley added, “I think Australia has a real chance of winning for the first time since 2010. Having a major tournament at home makes such a big difference, it was evident during the World Cup.”

All 12 teams have now qualified for the 2026 Asian Cup, including reigning champions China PR, record four-time winners Japan and host nation Australia. Notably Vietnam and Philippines return after breakout appearances in 2022, while Uzbekistan will make its tournament debut. 

For official information on fixtures, venues and teams, see the AFC Women’s Asian Cup website.