Less than a year away from hosting a record-breaking Women's World Cup, Australia is almost certain to win hosting rights to the 2026 Women's Asian Cup after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recommended it as its preferred bidder for the tournament.
In addition to its recommendation that the Uzbekistan Football Federation be granted the right to host the 2029 edition, the confederation's Women's Football Committee said in a statement late Friday that it “ordered the AFC administration to confirm the award of headquarters rights once all requirements are met”. “.
With Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Uzbeks withdrawing their bids for 2026 (the latter being the only bidders for the 2029 edition), ratification by the AFC Executive Committee for the tournament to be held in Australia is expected to be a formality.
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“The Women's World Cup that was co-hosted in Australia last year set new benchmarks and is widely considered the best edition in history, once again showcasing the strength of women's football in Asia,” said the Football Committee president. Female, Kanya Keomany.
“Australia presents opportunities to harness the commercial appeal of the competition and attract more fans than ever before, so I am confident that Football Australia will put on a memorable spectacle that will not only elevate women's football but also set the standard for future editions. of the AFC Women's Asian Cup.”
Australia previously hosted the 2006 version of the Asian Cup, the same year it formally moved from Oceania to the Asian Confederation. Back then, matches were played at Adelaide's 16,500-capacity Hindmarsh Stadium and the 6,000-capacity Marden Sports Complex, with the biggest attendance coming for the final, when 5,000 people watched the Matildas fall to China in a penalty shootout.
However, 20 years later, the tournament will be on a significantly larger scale; At the 2023 Women's World Cup, which was held in Australia and New Zealand, just under 2 million fans attended matches, well above the target of 1.5 million set by FIFA.
“We are delighted to be recommended as hosts of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup,” said Football Australia chief executive James Johnson. “This recognition reflects the tireless efforts and commitment of everyone involved in women's football across Australia.
“We are committed to working with the AFC to meet the remaining requirements and deliver an exceptional tournament that will further enhance women's football and create a lasting legacy for future generations.”
Widely considered Australia's favorite sporting team thanks to the success of the Women's World Cup, the Matildas are on track to sell out the 53,500-capacity Adelaide Oval and the 83,500-capacity Stadium Australia in Sydney when they play their final match. at home before Paris. Olympics against China at the end of May and beginning of June: the thirteenth and fourteenth time in a row they will have sold out a home match.
Meanwhile, their loss to England in the 2023 World Cup semi-finals became the country's most-watched television show on record, drawing nearly 11.15 million viewers at its peak and an average audience of 7 .13 million.
With Matildas matches and major knockout matches likely to be in high demand, Football Australia has already stated it will seek support from the federal and state governments to host the event.
“The FIFA Women's World Cup had a profound impact, not just on women's football or women's sports in general, but also on Australian society as a whole,” Johnson said.
“It put Australia on the world football map and cemented our reputation as an excellent host of global football competitions.
“We are confident that hosting another global event like the AFC Women’s Asian Cup will have an equally positive impact for Australians, the AFC and women’s football in Asia.”
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will become the first Central Asian nation to host a women's Asian Cup when it hosts the event in 2029.
It will also mark the first major senior tournament the country has ever hosted, currently in the process of hosting the U20 Women's Asian Cup, which will see Japan and North Korea meet in the final on Sunday, having previously hosted the U20 Asian Cup masculine. Asian Cup, Men's U23 Asian Cup.
