The AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 kicks off on Sunday in the Western Australian city of Perth, with Sam Kerr's Matildas facing the Philippines in a tournament organisers hope will generate the same excitement as the 2023 Women’s World Cup. While the Asian Cup is not the World Cup, organizing committee chief Sarah Walsh, a former Australian international, remains optimistic, saying it will “absolutely be the biggest Women’s Asian Cup ever.”Walsh stressed the event also aims to break down barriers for women on a continent where gender equality can sometimes lag. Australia’s women’s team is the firm favorite, thanks to home-field advantage and the return of star captain Sam Kerr, who is back in the squad after an 18-month ACL recovery. They are highly favored due to recent dominance in youth football, having won the U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups in 2024. The tournament marks Bangladesh’s first-ever appearance at Asia’s premier women’s football competition, a historic milestone for the country.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 28, 2026 15:43 UTC