Radio Brisvaani
Brisbane, August 25 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The countdown to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ has reached a major milestone, with single-match tickets set to go on sale for the first time from September 5. The announcement comes as the tournament marks 50 years since the very first Women’s Asian Cup was played in Hong Kong in 1975.
For the 2026 edition, matches will be staged across Perth, the Gold Coast and Sydney from 1–21 March, with prices starting at $20 for adults and $10 for children. Visa cardholders will receive exclusive early access from 10am AEST on September 5, with sales opening to all payment methods on September 11.
Strong demand has already been recorded, with thousands of multi-match packs sold even before the tournament draw in July, when Australia’s group-stage fixtures were confirmed. The Final, as well as knockout matches and the Matildas’ group games, have drawn significant early interest, organisers confirmed.
Fans can look forward to the Matildas’ opening clash against the Philippines in Perth on March 1, a second group match against Iran on the Gold Coast on March 5, and a highly anticipated Women’s Day showdown with Korea Republic in Sydney on March 8.
The tournament will be the 21st edition of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and the first to be held in Australia. It comes half a century after the inaugural competition, where Australia finished third in Hong Kong under captain Pat O’Connor. That 1975 tournament brought together six nations and laid the foundations for women’s football in Asia.
Sarah Walsh, Chief Operating Officer of the Local Organising Committee, paid tribute to those early pioneers. “As we celebrate 50 years of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, it’s important to pay tribute to the trailblazers of that very first tournament who showed what Dream Fearless truly means,” she said. “Their courage and determination played a key role in shaping the women’s game into what it is today, and in building the platform that today’s players now stand on.”
Walsh said fan response ahead of the main ticket release showed the strength of women’s football in Australia. “With single-match tickets now about to go on sale, we know interest will only intensify. I encourage fans to get in early and ensure they’re part of this once-in-a-generation event showcasing world-class football right here on home soil.”
Pat O’Connor, captain of the first Matildas side in 1975, reflected on the progress of the women’s game. “When we pulled on the green and gold uniform back in 1975, we could never have imagined how far the women’s game would come and the scale of what the AFC Women’s Asian Cup would grow into,” she said. “To see the Matildas inspiring the nation today, and to have this tournament here on home soil next year, is incredibly special.”
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup, the world’s oldest international women’s football competition, has since expanded to 12 teams and remains a key qualifying pathway to the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Eight Asian nations currently rank in FIFA’s top 50, underscoring the tournament’s importance as a showcase of elite talent.
Tickets will be available from September 5 at 10am AEST for Visa cardholders, and September 11 for the general public.
