- Australia to host 2026 Women’s Asian Cup
- The 2023 Women’s World Cup was a great success
The Matildas will have another chance to thrill local football fans in their own country as Australia will host the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup.
The decision was confirmed at an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) executive committee meeting in Bangkok on Wednesday, after Australia was the only member country to submit a bid to host the tournament.
The 2023 Women’s World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, was a huge success and the Matildas reached the semi-finals before losing the third-place playoff to Sweden.
The AFC women’s football committee made a strong recommendation that the 12-nation Asian Cup also be held for a second time, and the executive committee agreed.
Australia has been named host nation for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup after the great success of last year’s World Cup (pictured Sam Kerr playing for the Matildas in 2023)
Tournament matches will take place in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, leaving fans in other states disappointed.
However, matches will only be played in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
“We are deeply honored to host the 2026 edition of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup,” Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said in a statement.
‘This decision reflects the confidence of the global football community in our ability to deliver exceptional events.
“Following the tremendous success of last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, we look forward to creating another tournament that celebrates women’s football and inspires a new generation.”
The Women’s Asian Cup was last held in Australia in 2006, and the Matildas won the next edition in China in 2010. They also reached the final in 2014 and 2018, but were eliminated from the last edition in India in 2022 in the quarterfinals. of final.
The 2023 Women’s World Cup gave Australia one of its greatest sporting moments when the Tillies beat France in a thrilling penalty shootout (pictured).
“I am confident that we will see a more vibrant and competitive edition in 2026 in Australia, where the unrivaled passion for women’s football is so palpable,” said AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.
The AFC also announced that Uzbekistan will host the event in 2029, the first time the country has hosted a senior continental tournament after hosting numerous Asian events at the youth level.