Perth will host nine matches in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup including the opening game involving the Matildas, two quarter-finals and a semi-final.
The Opening Ceremony will also take place at Optus Stadium for the tournament which will be held between 1-21 March next year. The final will take place at Sydney’s Stadium Australia.
The announcement was made at this morning’s One Year to Go celebration at Scarborough Amphitheatre, where Football West Chair Sherif Andrawes joined Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti, AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Local Organising Committee COO Sarah Walsh and representatives of the four teams who have already qualified – Australia, China PR, Japan and Korea Republic.
Asia’s top 12 teams and the region’s best talent will go head-to-head in the 21-day festival of back-to-back football held across Perth, the Gold Coast and Sydney.
Perth will kick the action off, hosting Australia in a standalone opening match on Sunday 1 March, where 60,000 fans are expected to pack out Perth Stadium.
“It is a privilege for Western Australia to host the Opening Ceremony and have the Australia National Women’s Team kick off the competition in Perth,” Mr Andrawes said.
“This is part of a fantastic schedule for the west that sees WA stage six group matches, two quarter-finals and a semi-final.
“This chance for young players and fans to watch their heroes up close is very special and we know the WA public will again be out in huge numbers to support their team.”
Ms Walsh said: “Releasing the match schedule brings the tournament to life and sets the countdown well and truly in motion. From the opening whistle in Perth to the final in Sydney, we are excited to deliver a world-class tournament that showcases the best of Asian women’s football. We want everyone to get involved and feel part of the women’s football celebration and multicultural festival that will be the Women’s Asian Cup 2026.”
Football West Manager - Female Football and Advocacy Tash Rigby also attended today’s event. “It is an honour for Perth to host this event and we hope that the tournament will have a lasting impact on our local community, inspire the next generation of footballers and encourage a further increase in participation at all levels.”
Representatives from Perth Glory and youngsters from Queens Park SC and Kingsley Westside FC were also in attendance.
Key details from the Match Schedule
- Tournament Format: There will be three groups of four teams with the top two from each group moving through to the knockout stage as well as the two best third placed teams from across the three groups
- Opening Match: Australia will feature in the opening match at Perth Stadium, Western Australia’s premier sporting venue
- Matildas’ Matches: Australia will play one group stage match in each of the host cities - Gold Coast, Perth and Sydney. Australia’s last group stage match will be played on the poignant date of Sunday 8 March 2026, International Women’s Day at Stadium Australia
- Knockout Stage: The Quarter-finals will take place across two venues in Perth and Sydney, with the Semi-finals played at Perth Stadium and Stadium Australia
- Play-off Stage: Gold Coast Stadium will host the play-off matches for the 5th and 6th allocated slots for FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ on Thursday 19 March 2026
- Final: The Final will be staged at Sydney’s iconic Stadium Australia on Saturday 21 March
- Tournament Qualifiers: With eight tournament spots still up for grabs, the Qualifiers will take place in late June and early July, with the final teams confirmed by Friday 5 July
- Final Draw: Will take place in the Winter of 2025, where all qualified nations will learn their pathway to glory and teams playing in each group stage fixture will be confirmed, including designated kick-off times
Tickets: The ticketing program will offer a seamless, hyper-accessible experience for fans with frictionless digital ticketing and affordable pricing for all. Tickets will be on sale in Winter 2025, so fans are encouraged to sign up for priority access to guarantee their seat at this amazing festival of Women’s Football. Fans can register their interest at www.footballaustralia.com.au/afc-womens-asian-cup-2026 and follow on Instagram @WACAUS2026
Football West Chair Sherif Andrawes addresses the audience at the Scarborough Amphitheatre
Host City Key Match Schedule Details
Perth
- 6 group stage matches and 2 Quarter-Finals in Perth Rectangular Stadium
- Opening Ceremony and the Matildas playing the Opening Match as well as a Semi-Final at Perth Stadium
Gold Coast
- 4 group stage matches including Matildas playing a group stage match on Thursday 5 March
- 2 play-off matches to determine the 5th and 6th teams from Asia to qualify for FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ with both matches taking place on Thursday 19 March in the same venue
Sydney
- 6 group stage matches at Western Sydney Stadium, located in one of Australia’s most diverse communities
- 1 group stage match with the Matildas playing, 2 Quarter-Finals, a Semi-Final and The Final played in Stadium Australia
- 62% of the tournament tickets will be sold at Sydney stadiums, bringing the opportunity to really showcase the melting pot of cultures within the community and welcoming fans from all over Asia