April 22 – Football Australia, already confirmed as sole candidates in the bidding for the Women’s Asian Cup 2026, have announced the three states that will host matches if their bid is rubber-stamped.
New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia have all been given the nod, the notable exclusion being Victoria whose capital city Melbourne is one of Australia’s major sports hubs.
Football Australia CEO James Johnson said: “We are also engaging with the governments of states and territories that were not selected to be put forward as proposals, to explore future opportunities andensure that the benefits of football’s growth are shared nationwide.”
The AFC’s executive committee is expected to ratify Australia’s hosting at its May meeting.
Football Australia said that the tournament dates will be discussed with the AFC “in due course”.
The Australian bid is projected to generate up to $260 million in economic output and create over 1,000 jobs, further building on the co-hosting of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The success of the 2023 hosting and the Australian women’s team stimulated an overall l 2% increase in football participation in 2023, with a further 20% increase already noted in 2024.
“Hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 offers a golden opportunity to continue the dynamic growthand popularity of women’s football in Australia. Last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup laid a robust foundation, and we are eager to build upon this legacy to further enhance our football landscape both nationally and regionally,” said Johnson.
“The backing from all levels of government is crucial as we tackle the surge in participation and theurgent need for improved facilities. This support is essential to maintain the momentum and ensure thecontinuous development of the sport across the country,” he continued.
“The Federal Government’s ‘Play Our Way’ Grants programs is a welcomed initiative to address the community facilities gap. This type of ongoing support is essential to maintain the continuous development of the sport across the country.”
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