2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup: Record-breaking crowds and Australia vs Japan road to the final
· Yahoo Sports
Australia knows how to put on a show. The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup has shattered attendance records. The previous cumulative milestone of 59,910 was set in China in 2010. It was broken on the first round of match-day two action this time around.
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The opening game of the tournament saw 44,379 watch the hosts beat the Philippines 1-0. It was the most attended Women’s Asian Cup game in history. It also surpassed the total attendance of 28,850 for the entire 2006 edition, when Australia last hosted.
That single game attendance record from Perth was broken again as Australia took on South Korea in Sydney in front of 60,279 fans. With the knockout rounds still to come, 177,999 spectators have already flocked to games in the three host cities.
With the final now just hours away, let’s take a look back at how the tournament unfolded. Australia and Japan will battle it out for the trophy on Saturday.
AFC Women’s Asian Cup group stage action
South Korea secured top spot in Group A with a 3-3 draw against the hosts. The result gave them the comfort of staying in Sydney for the rest of their campaign.
Finishing second, Australia avoided being drawn against Japan until the final, which will be a blockbuster showdown between the two heavyweight sides.
China’s win against DPRK on match-day three ensured they finished at the top of Group B. The result set up a a quarter-final against Chinese Taipei, who secured their spot in the last eight with a victory over India.
As expected, Japan cruised through Group C with maximum points and without conceding a goal. Their 4-0 win over Vietnam in their final group game meant the Philippines qualified ahead of Vietnam as one of the two best third-place sides. Unfortunately for Vietnam, this means they won’t qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, having performed so admirably on the global stage in 2023.
AFC Women’s Asian Cup quarter-final results
Australia were the first team to book their semi-final berth, and with it, a spot in next year’s World Cup as they overcame a tough North Korean side in Perth.
Alanna Kennedy gave the hosts the lead after just eight minutes with a pile-driver from the edge of the box. Sam Kerr doubled the Australia lead shortly after the halftime break. Chae Un-Yong halved the deficit with 25 minutes left, but the Matildas held on.
Australia set up a semi-final clash with China, who were taken to extra time by a stubborn Chinese Taipei side. Shao Ziqin struck early into extra time to break the Taipei resistance. A late own goal from Chen Yeng-hui sealed China’s progression.
South Korea powered into the semi-finals with a ruthless display against Uzbekistan in Sydney. Son Hwa-yeon and Ko Yoo-Jin put the Koreans in control inside 20 minutes. Second half goals from Park Soo-Jeong, Ji So-yun, Lee Eun-young and Jang Sel-gi completed a 6-0 demolition.
Japan went one better as they put seven past the Philippines in the last quarter-final. It took until the stroke of half-time before Mina Tanaka made the breakthrough for Japan. Spurs defender Tōko Koga added a second three minutes later as the floodgates opened.
Remina Chiba and Manaka Matsukubo added a quick fire double with 25 minutes left before Koga grabbed her second. Momoko Tanikawa and Riko Ueki rounded off a comfortable win for Japan.
Australia and Japan to battle it out in AFC Women’s Asian Cup final
It was the hosts versus the holders in Perth as Australia and China met in the first semi-final.
Mary Fowler spurned a great early chance as she volleyed over Kaitlyn Torpey’s cross from close range. Australia took a 16th-minute lead through Caitlin Foord’s first goal of the tournament, which she swept home to round off a neat move.
An awkward bounce deceived Clare Hunt allowing Zhang Linyan to race into the box before she was felled by Mackenzie Arnold. She stepped up to the spot and sent Arnold the wrong way to level the score.
The Matildas sealed their spot in Saturday’s final with a swift counter-attack. Foord’s precise through ball was latched onto by Sam Kerr who rounded Peng Shimeng to slide home from the narrowest of angles.
Japan will join them in the final as they produced another ruthless display to swat aside South Korea.
Riko Ueki’s 15th-minute finish gave Japan the lead when they punished South Korean hesitation in their own 18-yard box.
Maika Hamano added a sensational second ten minutes later to put Japan in complete control. Saki Kumagai headed home a third with 15 minutes left to put the result beyond doubt.
Kang Chae-rim grabbed a consolation goal for the Koreans before Remina Chiba made it 4-1 just three minutes later to set up a blockbuster final with hosts Australia.
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