A dozen nations from across the continent have descended on Australia as both continental bragging rights and half a dozen berths for the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ are due to be settled at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
In addition to the six direct slots allocated to Asia for Brazil 2027, an additional two teams will secure passage to the Play-Off Tournament at the continental showpiece, which will be held from 1-21 March.
The competition also serves as the penultimate qualification phase for the 2028 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
For the final time before a standalone event takes place in the following cycle, Women’s World Cup qualification will be twinned with the Asian Cup. Given that the 12-strong field contains four nations inside the top 20 on the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking, competition for those direct berths to South America is expected to be fierce.
Germany 2011 victors Japan, along with former Women’s World Cup runners-up and defending Asian champions China PR, as well as Australia, semi-finalists on home soil in 2023, headline the tournament.
Both all conquering global youth queens Korea DPR and Chinese Taipei have continental titles to their name while Korea Republic and India have both finished as bridesmaids previously, indicating just how competitive the Asian Cup is set to be.
With the top two nations in each of the three, four-team, groups as well as the best pair of third place finishers reaching the quarter-finals, making a strong start will be important in the battle for Brazilian berths.
After their nation-sweeping heroics from three years ago, Australia enter their first major tournament under the guidance of Joe Montemurro with major expectations to win what would be just a second continental crown. They do so with a fit-again Mary Fowler and a star-studded side, and that will only add to the expectation when they play their group fixtures in Perth, the Gold Coast and Sydney.
Fellow 2023 World Cup participants, the Philippines are their first opponent and with Australian coach Mark Torcaso at the helm and a squad heavy on US-based talent, they will fancy their chances of knockout stage progression.
Korea Republic, runners-up four years ago in India, will have starlet Casey Phair available to headline an otherwise vastly experienced squad that contains several members of the 100-cap club in Ji Soyun, Jang Selgi and Kim Hyeri.
Having made their tournament debut with a pair of losses four years ago, IR Iran are back for a second appearance at continental level and will be looking to show steady progress under prolific title-winning local coach Marziyeh Jafari, the reigning AFC Women’s Coach of the Year.
At one end of the scale are debutants Bangladesh and an Uzbekistan side that are yet to advance from the group stage at the continental finals. At the other are the tournament’s two most successful nations. China PR are the defending champions, having seen off Korea Republic in the final four years ago, and with yet another Australian coach, Ante Milicic, in charge they will know the lay of the land.
Perhaps the most intrigue surrounds three-time champions Korea DPR who will be led by the enigmatic Ri Song-ho, the coach who masterminded the nation’s exhilarating title success at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup™ in Colombia two years ago. Half a dozen members of that exceptional side will travel to Australia and if they can translate youth form onto the senior stage they’ll surely be among the leading contenders.
As the planet’s eighth highest ranked nation and a former world champion, Japan enter not just as section favourites but also as likely tournament titans. In his first continental outing at the Nadeshiko helm, coach Nils Nielsen will be under pressure to deliver what would be a third title, and he arrives with a squad stacked with players at some of the biggest clubs in the game.
Hosts of the previous edition, India will be desperate for a strong showing after they were forced to withdraw from their home tournament due to a Covid outbreak and they do so under the leadership of Costa Rican coach Amelia Valverde, who was appointed just over a month ago.
By contrast, 74-year-old Mai Duc Chung remains at the Vietnam helm, a post he has held now for a decade. The veteran tactician has called up 17 members of the squad that crashed out in the group stage of Australia/New Zealand 2023 as the Southeast Asian power looks to reach a second global finals.
Chinese Taipei featured in the maiden edition of the Women’s World Cup but haven’t been back since and will be looking to build on an eye-catching qualification campaign that saw them win all three matches, where they scored 13 and conceded just the once.
“The danger for us is the expectation. That’s the clear danger. We need to show respect, remain humble and be clear that every moment and every situation against every team is going to be fundamental.”
Joe Montemurro, Australia coach
“The Asian title is one we must win. If we are aiming to win the World Cup, this is a tournament we can’t afford to lose.”
Saki Kumagai, Japan defender
“The World Cup is not only an accomplishment. It is a source of inspiration for young girls to believe they can dream big.”
Huynh Nhu, Vietnam captain
“After finishing as runners-up last time, our objective is clear – we want to win the title. There are three steps we must take: finish top of the group, reach the semi-finals to secure our World Cup ticket, and then win the final.”
Shin Sangwoo, Korea Republic coach
