Nov 13, V7N- The 2026 Women's Asian Cup will be held in Australia from March 1-21, with matches scheduled across five venues in Sydney, Perth, and the Gold Coast, organisers announced on Wednesday. This tournament marks Australia's largest soccer event since co-hosting the 2023 Women's World Cup with New Zealand.

The majority of the matches will take place at opposite ends of the country. Sydney will feature games at Stadium Australia and Western Sydney Stadium, while Perth will host fixtures at Perth Stadium and Perth Rectangular Stadium. The Gold Coast will host games at Gold Coast Stadium in Southeast Queensland.

The tournament's schedule and venue plan are expected to be confirmed at an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee meeting in early December. The AFC's hosting protocols require stadiums to be dedicated exclusively to the tournament during its run, which likely excluded major cities like Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide, where domestic competitions are expected to overlap at key venues.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson emphasized that Melbourne, as the country's sporting capital, remains important to their long-term goals, but noted that the top three host city bids were chosen. He also expressed excitement about the opportunities for soccer growth in Queensland and on the Gold Coast.

The 2023 Women's World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand, was a resounding success, drawing record crowds and TV viewership as the host nation reached the semi-finals. China won the most recent Women's Asian Cup in 2022 in India.

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