AIPS ASIA News:

The dates and venues of the upcoming edition of Asia’s most prestigious women’s tournament – the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ – were recommended on Tuesday at the 3^rd AFC Women’s Football Committee meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Scheduled to take place across three cities – Sydney, Perth and Gold Coast – the eagerly anticipated AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ will be held from March 1 to 21, 2026.

Among the world-class stadiums set to provide the perfect backdrop for Asia’s top 12 sides are the iconic Stadium Australia and Western Sydney Stadium in Sydney, the Perth Stadium and the Perth Rectangular Stadium as well as the Gold Coast Stadium.

Similar to the highly acclaimed men’s equivalent which concluded in Qatar earlier this year, the AFC’s flagship women’s showpiece will take place in FIFA Women’s World Cup venues for the second time in history.

Stadium Australia served as the venue for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Final between eventual winners Spain and England as well as the tournament opener in Australia and three knockout ties, while the Perth Rectangular Stadium staged five Group Stage matches.

Meanwhile, the Committee also approved the Competitions Regulations of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ and the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ 2026.

Additionally, following the introduction of several strategic reforms to the AFC’s Women’s National Team Competitions, the Committee also approved the AFC Women’s Competitions Calendar 2025-29 whilst mandating the AFC Administration to adjust the calendar where necessary.

The guiding principles of the AFC Women’s Competitions Calendar 2025-29 have been aligned with the aims of the reforms, which include maximising the use of the international match calendar to benefit player release and welfare, increasing and creating an equal number of match opportunities for all teams over each four-year cycle, improving the competitive balance, and also generating opportunities for Member Associations to build up their hosting capacity and local fan base.

AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ Qualifiers
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Qualifiers will take place during the international window from June 23 to July 5, 2025, while Round 1 of the Qualifiers for the 2029 edition will be held from April 4 to 15, 2028 with Round 2 scheduled for November 21 to December 2, 2028. 

FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers
Round 1 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers for the 2031 edition will be held from April 10 to 21, 2029 with Round 2 to be staged from November 27 to December 8, 2029.

Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Qualifiers
The Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Qualifiers for the 2028 Summer Olympics will be held across three international windows – October 4 to 12, November 23 to December 4, 2027, as well as February 22 to March 4, 2028.

Courtesy AFC