The AFC Women’s Asian Cup is the premier international football competition for women in Asia, serving as the historical foundation for the sport across the continent. Established in 1975, this tournament predates the FIFA Women’s World Cup by sixteen years and has grown into a high-stakes event featuring twelve of the best national teams in the region. The current format consists of three groups of four teams, leading into a knockout stage where Asia’s elite battle for continental glory.
This tournament represents the pinnacle of prestige in Asian sports, acting as the primary stage for technical development and professional growth. For the nations involved, it is more than just a trophy; it is a vital gateway to the global stage, with the 2026 edition in Australia serving as the final direct qualification route for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. As the Empress’s Game, the competition carries a fifty-year legacy of dynastic shifts and intense rivalries, making it an essential fixture in the global football calendar.
Official Fixtures & Results
Group A
Hosted primarily in Perth and Gold Coast.
The opening matches of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup will take place across Perth, the Gold Coast, and Sydney. As the tournament kicks off on March 1, all results and attendance figures will be updated here.
| Date | Team A | Score | Team B | Goal Scorers | Attendance |
| Mar 1, 8:00 PM AEDT | 🇦🇺 Australia | TBC | 🇵🇭 Philippines | TBC | TBC |
| Mar 2, 7:00 PM AEST | 🇰🇷 South Korea | TBC | 🇮🇷 Iran | TBC | TBC |
| Mar 5, 1:00 PM AEST | 🇵🇭 Philippines | TBC | 🇰🇷 South Korea | TBC | TBC |
| Mar 5, 7:00 PM AEST | 🇮🇷 Iran | TBC | 🇦🇺 Australia | TBC | TBC |
| Mar 8, 7:00 PM AEST | 🇮🇷 Iran | TBC | 🇵🇭 Philippines | TBC | TBC |
| Mar 8, 8:00 PM AEDT | 🇦🇺 Australia | TBC | 🇰🇷 South Korea | TBC | TBC |
Group B
Hosted primarily in Western Sydney.
Matches in Group B feature a high-stakes clash between the defending champions and a powerhouse returnee, primarily hosted at the “Cauldron” in Western Sydney.
| Date | Team A | Score | Team B | Goal Scorers | Attendance |
| Mar 3, 1:00 PM AEDT | 🇰🇵 North Korea | TBC | 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | TBC | TBC |
| Mar 3, 7:00 PM AEDT | 🇨🇳 China PR | TBC | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | TBC | TBC |
| Mar 6, 7:30 AM AEDT | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | TBC | 🇰🇵 North Korea | TBC | TBC |
| Mar 6, 2:30 PM AEDT | 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | TBC | 🇨🇳 China PR | TBC | TBC |
| Mar 9, 12:30 PM AWST | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | TBC | 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | TBC | TBC |
| Mar 9, 8:00 PM AEDT | 🇰🇵 North Korea | TBC | 🇨🇳 China PR | TBC | TBC |
Group C
Hosted primarily in Sydney and Perth.
Group C brings technical precision to the West Coast, with former champions Japan leading a competitive group based primarily at Perth Rectangular Stadium.
| Date & Time | Team A | Score | Team B | Goal Scorers | Attendance |
| Mar 4, 1:00 PM AWST | 🇯🇵 Japan | TBC | 🇹🇼 Chinese Taipei | TBC | TBC |
| Mar 4, 2:30 PM AWST | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | TBC | 🇮🇳 India | TBC | TBC |
| Mar 7, 7:30 AM AWST | 🇹🇼 Chinese Taipei | TBC | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | TBC | TBC |
| Mar 7, 2:30 PM AWST | 🇮🇳 India | TBC | 🇯🇵 Japan | TBC | TBC |
| Mar 10, 12:30 PM AWST | 🇯🇵 Japan | TBC | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | TBC | TBC |
| Mar 10, 8:00 PM AEDT | 🇮🇳 India | TBC | 🇹🇼 Chinese Taipei | TBC | TBC |
Qualification Pathway
The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarter-finals. In addition to continental glory, the four semi-finalists will earn direct qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Last Time Out
The 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in India was a tournament defined by historic expansion and a dramatic return to glory for the continent’s most successful team. For the first time, the competition featured 12 teams, reflecting the rapid growth and professionalization of the women’s game across Asia. While the event was played under the challenging conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, it delivered a high level of competition, highlighted by Sam Kerr of Australia finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with seven goals.
The narrative arc of the tournament culminated in a miraculous comeback by China PR, known as the Steel Roses. After a 16-year drought, China entered the final against a disciplined South Korea side that was seeking its first-ever title. The match appeared decided by halftime, with South Korea holding a commanding 2–0 lead. However, demonstrating the mental resilience that has historically defined their program, China scored three unanswered goals in the second half to secure a 3–2 victory and claim their record-extending ninth title.
Beyond the final, the 2022 edition signaled a shift in the regional power dynamic, as established giants faced stiff resistance from emerging nations. While Japan continued to display their technical Nadeshiko style to reach the semi-finals, the Philippines made a historic run to the final four, securing their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification in the process. This blend of traditional dominance and new success stories served as the perfect prelude to the upcoming 2026 tournament in Australia, which will be the last to serve as a direct World Cup qualifier.
Participating Nations Directory
The 2026 edition features a mix of automatic qualifiers and nations that fought through a grueling qualification cycle to earn their place in Australia.
- Australia (Host)
- China PR (Defending Champions)
- Japan
- South Korea
- Iran
- India
- Bangladesh
- Chinese Taipei
- Vietnam
- Uzbekistan
- Philippines
- North Korea
Want to learn more about a specific contender? Click a flag below to explore our comprehensive Squad Guides and Player Profiles. These deep-dives provide tactical breakdowns of each team’s system and the individual stars set to define the tournament’s narrative.
Ready to go beyond the scores? Unlock the definitive history of The Empress’s Game with our full Asian Football Gateway Guide to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. From the tactical evolution of the Steel Roses to the rising force of the Matildas, explore the stories that shaped fifty years of continental glory. Click the image below!
Don’t miss a moment of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia! From the Perth opener on March 1 to the Sydney final on March 21, our guide covers every broadcast detail, no matter where you are. Stay updated on the quest for glory.