December 21 – The 30 days to go countdown has begun for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 which will be played across three venues in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Pune from January 20 to February 6.
With the tournament to be played behind closed doors due to Covid-19 protocols in place, the AFC and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) have developed a digital engagement plan to make their presence felt.
Fans can send their support to their national teams in the form of creative banners that will display the stands and fill the seats in stadiums.
Fans are invited to email their artwork (not exceeding 3 metres x 5 metres) before a deadline of January 10, 2022. The AFC and LOC will select five banners from each participating team to print and place it the stands during that team’s matches.
The Women’s Asian Cup has been expanded to 12 teams, an additional four from the 2018 edition, a total of 29 matches, including play-offs, will be played.
Japan will open their defence of the title in Mumbai, against tournament newcomers Myanmar. The group stage draw also placed Korea Republic and Vietnam in Group C with Japan. Japan won the last two AFC titles in 2014 and 2018.
The tournament will open January 20 between eight-time champions China PR and Chinese Taipei. They will be followed later in the day by Group A rivals and hosts India, who will face Iran.
In Group B Australia, champions in 2010 and runners-up in the last two editions, were drawn alongside Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia.
The tournament will qualify five teams directly to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
If Australia finish in the top five teams in India, the sixth ranked team will earn a spot at the 2023 World Cup finals – Australia automatically qualify as co-hosts.
Two teams will also qualify for the 2023 World Cup inter-continental play-offs.
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