Australia is hosting the twenty-first edition of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, bringing together twelve of Asia’s top national teams in a tournament running from March first to March twenty-first across Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast.

The competition serves both as Asia’s continental championship and a major qualifying pathway for the two thousand twenty-seven FIFA Women’s World Cup, adding further significance to each match.

Matches are staged in five stadiums including Stadium Australia and Western Sydney Stadium in Sydney, Perth Stadium and Perth Rectangular Stadium in Western Australia, and Gold Coast Stadium in Queensland.

Australia is hosting the event for the second time, seeking to secure its second continental title after its previous triumph in two thousand ten.

The tournament began with the group stage, where twelve teams were divided into three groups of four.

In Group A, South Korea finished first with seven points following a dramatic three-three draw with host nation Australia, who also finished with seven points but placed second on goal difference.

The Philippines secured third place after defeating Iran two-nil in their final match, while Iran finished fourth after three defeats.

Group B delivered a strong contest between East Asian powers.

China advanced to the knockout stage after defeating North Korea two-one in a key group match, while Uzbekistan secured a four-nil victory over Bangladesh in another fixture that helped determine the standings.

In Group C, Japan produced one of the most emphatic results of the tournament with an eleven-nil victory over India, reinforcing its reputation as one of the region’s dominant sides.

Chinese Taipei and Vietnam also competed closely for progression to the next stage.

The quarter-finals begin on March thirteen.

Australia faces North Korea in Perth, while China meets the runner-up from Group C in another knockout clash.

The following day, South Korea plays a third-placed qualifier, and the winner of Group C will face another third-placed team to complete the final four lineup.

Semi-final matches are scheduled for March seventeenth and eighteenth, followed by placement matches and the final on March twenty-first at Stadium Australia in Sydney.

The tournament’s knockout rounds will ultimately determine not only the Asian champion but also which teams advance directly to the next Women’s World Cup.

Beyond the title race, the event has drawn global attention for the high level of competition and the growing prominence of women’s football across Asia.

With packed stadiums and strong performances from leading players such as Sam Kerr and Alanna Kennedy, the tournament continues to highlight the rapid development of the women’s game in the region.