15 May 2025

AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Final Draw set to take centre stage on 29 July

The road to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ takes an exciting step forward with the announcement of the tournament’s Final Draw, set to take place on Tuesday, 29 July 2025.

Sydney Town Hall has been confirmed as the venue for the event, which will mark a significant milestone on the road to Asia’s premier women’s football tournament. The Final Draw will bring together key team representatives and football officials from across the region as the 12 qualified teams discover their tournament path.

Set against the iconic backdrop of this historic Sydney venue, the draw will underscore Australia’s role as a host nation and build anticipation for the tournament, which will take place from 1 – 21 March 2026, bringing world-class football to Perth, Gold Coast and Sydney.

On the night, the 12 qualified teams will be drawn into three groups of four with host nation Australia automatically occupying the top spot in Group A.

For the first time in the tournament's history, seeding will be based on the latest FIFA Women's World Ranking at the time of the Final Draw. Previously, the teams were seeded according to their performance in the previous tournament and qualification rankings.

The path to qualification for 34 nations will get underway from 23 June to 5 July 2025 as they compete for the final eight places in the tournament. These teams were drawn into eight groups with the group winners joining host nation Australia and the top three sides from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™ – reigning champions China PR, runners-up Korea Republic, and third-placed Japan – in the final line-up for next year’s showpiece.

Further details regarding the Final Draw event, including media accreditation, will be announced in the coming weeks.

AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Local Organising Committee Chief Operating Officer, Sarah Walsh, noted:
"The Final Draw is a significant milestone on the road to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™, and we are thrilled to host it at Sydney Town Hall. This event not only sets the stage for an incredible tournament but also highlights Australia’s commitment to elevating women’s football on the global stage. We can’t wait to see the excitement build as the qualified teams learn their paths, and we look forward to welcoming fans from across Asia and beyond to celebrate the power and passion of women’s football."

NSW Minister for Sport and Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said:
“It is an honour for Sydney to host the Final Draw for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™, which on top of being the tournament’s principal host city, reinforces Sydney’s position as the nation’s home of football. With 11 tournament matches including two Quarter Finals, a Semi Final and the Final, we can’t wait to welcome thousands of fans from around the nation and across Asia to experience a memorable football tournament in one of the great sporting cities of the world.”

--ENDS--

AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Media Contact

Angela Habashy | General Manager – Media & Communications

AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ LOC Office

E:  Angela.Habashy@womensasiancup.com.au | T: +61 (0) 424 747 049