The AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 — the 21st edition of Asia’s premier women’s national team football championship — is taking place across three Australian host cities from March first to March twenty-first, serving as both continental competition and part of qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Olympics qualifying pathway.

Australia, South Korea, Iran and the Philippines contest Group A; China, North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea), Bangladesh and Uzbekistan are in Group B; and Japan, Vietnam, India and Chinese Taipei make up Group C in the tournament hosted in Perth, the Gold Coast and Sydney.

The opening match saw Australia defeat the Philippines one-nil at Perth Stadium, with Matildas captain Sam Kerr scoring the decisive goal in the early stages of the contest, while South Korea secured a three-nil victory over Iran in the Gold Coast.

In Group B, North Korea recorded a three-nil win over Uzbekistan and China prevailed two-nil against Bangladesh in Sydney.

Group C fixtures have featured Japan facing Chinese Taipei and Vietnam meeting India in Perth as the round-robin group matches progress.

Group standings after the initial round place Korea Republic and Australia on three points each in Group A, North Korea and China atop Group B, with Group C early table positions forming as matches are played.

Following the group stage, quarter-finals are scheduled from March thirteenth, with semi-finals on the seventeenth and eighteenth and the final to be played on March twenty-first at Stadium Australia, where the tournament champion will be decided.

The top teams will also secure berths in the global World Cup qualifying slots and advance in the Olympic qualification process, adding competitive intensity to every match of this continental showcase.