Football Australia announces dates, cities and stadiums for AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™

The dates for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ were officially recommended to take place from 1 to 21 March 2026, following the 3rd AFC Women’s Football Committee meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday (12 November).

The prestigious tournament will be hosted across the Gold Coast (Queensland), Perth (Western Australia), and Sydney (NSW), with five iconic venues selected to provide an inspiring backdrop for Asia’s top 12 teams.

The selected venues include:

STATE / VENUES New South Wales Stadium Australia

Western Sydney Stadium Queensland Gold Coast Stadium Western Australia Perth Rectangular Stadium

Perth Stadium

All decisions will require formal ratification by the AFC Executive Committee to take effect – with that meeting due to take place on 3 December, 2024.

Football Australia will continue to share updates as the countdown to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ continues. To sign up to receive the latest tournament news, visit this link

Federal Minister for Sport, the Hon. Anika Wells MP: “The Albanese Government is proud to bring the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ to Australia, and with it, another $15 million investment in women’s sport. We saw what the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ did for our communities – it brought people together, inspired more Australians to be active, and put women’s sport centre stage. The Tillies showed us what we can achieve when we rally behind them, and we’re committed to keeping that momentum going.”

New South Wales Minister for Jobs and Tourism, John Graham: “Sydney’s history as Australia’s home of football will write another chapter during the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup™. Just like we saw during last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup™, international football brings a huge buzz to Sydney and we can’t wait to welcome fans from across the nation and the Asia Pacific for an incredible experience in one of the world’s great sporting cities.”

Queensland Minister for Sport and Racing & Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tim Mander: “I’m thrilled to welcome another major event for the world’s biggest sport back to Queensland, following the success of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup™. The Matildas’ unforgettable performance, including their quarter-final victory over France in Brisbane, continues to inspire a generation of young footballers. The AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ will also provide a significant economic boost for Queensland as we welcome players, their support teams, families and devoted fans from across Asia here to the Gold Coast.”

Western Australia Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism, the Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA: “The AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ will showcase Western Australia to a global audience of over 100 million people, further elevating our reputation as a destination of choice for major sporting events. We've got a proven track record in hosting these blockbuster international women's football matches, off the back of the huge success of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup™ and exclusive Matildas' Olympic Qualifier Series. We continue building on our vision to become the fastest-growing major events destination in the South East Asia region, and we can't wait to welcome many thousands of out of state and local fans to this massive event."

In anticipation of hosting one of the region’s most celebrated tournaments, James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia, expressed pride and enthusiasm for what this event represents for Australia and women’s football across Asia: “We are immensely proud to bring the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ to Australia in 2026. Hosting this premier event reinforces Australia’s commitment to growing women’s football and celebrating the incredible talent within the Asian football community.

“With world-class stadiums in iconic cities and the unwavering support of our state governments, we are set to deliver a tournament that will inspire players and fans alike. We extend our gratitude to the governments of New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, for their commitment to bringing this event to life, and we look forward to welcoming Asia’s top teams for a truly memorable experience on and off the field.”

In a historic milestone for women’s football, this will be the second time the AFC’s flagship women’s tournament is hosted in FIFA World Cup™ venues, similar to the acclaimed AFC Asian Cup™ held in Qatar earlier this year.

These same stadiums staged unforgettable moments during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™, including the final match at Stadium Australia, which featured a thrilling face-off between Spain and England, as well as group stage matches at Perth Rectangular Stadium.

With preparations underway, the Local Organising Committee is focused on delivering an exceptional tournament experience for players, fans, and communities across Australia.

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