March 25 – With the dust settling on the record-breaking Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026, the women’s game in the region has only a brief time to reflect before the return this weekend of the AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) 2025/26 and the quarter final knockout stage.
The AFC and local organisers, from launch, set goals to create a new era and benchmark for the women’s game across the confederation.
The tournament delivered a number of firsts:
- Introduction of WAVEMAKER, the first bespoke Official Match Ball in the tournament’s history
- Naara as the competition’s first-ever official mascot
- Debut of That’s How We Winas its first Official Tournament Anthem
- Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology implemented from the Group Stage for the first time.
- The largest-ever panel of match officials with 45 referees and officials from 20 Member Associations overseeing matches throughout the tournament.
Attendances broke multiple records from the opening game when 44,379 fans packed Perth Stadium for Australia v Philippines, setting a new attendance record for the finals. That was then brioken in the group stages by the 60,279 at Stadium Australia in Sydney for the Matidlas’ clash with South Korea. The Australia – Japan final saw the record broken again with a sold-out crowd of 74,397 fans at Stadium Australia.
There was also a new record for the highest attendance at a match featuring two non-host nations, with that mark broken twice during the tournament before reaching 17,367 for the Korea Republic v Japan Semi Final.
In total a record 355,528 fans attending matches across Perth, the Gold Coast and Sydney.
Off the pitch a team of 1,200 dedicated volunteers welcomed teams and fans from across the continent – 55% of the volunteer workforce came from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, with 85 nationalities represented across the volunteer pool.
AFC President, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, said: “From the record-breaking attendances in Perth and Sydney to the seamless integration of technology and the vibrant fan atmosphere, this tournament has been a spectacular showcase of the progress of the Asian women’s game.
“The AFC’s Vision and Mission is clear: we want to provide our Member Associations with top level platforms to succeed, and our gratitude goes to Football Australia and the Local Organising Committee for their unwavering commitment and sharing our ambition.*
The tournament also set a new benchmark for major event entertainment. Global star Audrey Nuna delivered a spectacular Opening Ceremony performance in Perth, while Australian ZIPPORAH debuted the Official Tournament Anthem. There was a powerful International Women’s Day performance from chart-topping singer Dami Im, before ARIA Award-winning artist G Flip headlined the Closing Ceremony.
The Dream Fearless tournament brand – incorporating Indigenous design elements created in collaboration with First Nations artists Shauna Hill and Grace Amidy – celebrated Australia’s culture and reinforced core principles of unity and the celebration of the diversity of women’s football across Asia in a world where unity and tolerance of diversity is being challenged.
Federal Minister for Sport, Anika Wells, said: “I am beyond proud that Australia has hosted the most successful AFC Women’s Asian Cup in history, with record crowds joining the spectacle and celebrating the best of women’s sport.
“From the playground to podium, the Albanese Government is committed to supporting physical activity for women and girls and our $15 million investment in this tournament is elevating women’s sport in Australia through another world-class major event.
The 22nd edition of the competition will be played in Uzbekistan in 2029, the first time it has been held in Central Asia.
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