The Matildas will have another chance at home soil success when Australia hosts the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup.
On Wednesday night in Bangkok, the Asian Football Confederation confirmed Australia’s bid, the only one submitted to host the tournament, was successful.
“We are profoundly honoured to host the 2026 edition of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup,” Football Australia chief exectuive James Johnson said in a statement.
“This decision reflects the global football community’s confidence in our capability to deliver outstanding events.
“Following the resounding success of last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, we are eager to create another tournament that celebrates women’s football and inspires a new generation.”
New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia will host matches after the Victorian Government decided to not bid for hosting rights.
In previous Women’s Asian Cups, the Matildas were victors in 2010 agaisnt China, reached the final in 2014 and 2018, but were knocked out in the quarter-finals in their last appearance in 2022.
It is the first time the women’s edition of the cup will be held in Australia since 2006.
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The decision comes after Australia and New Zealand joint-hosted the 2023 Women’s World Cup, with the Matildas making it all the way through to the semi-finals – the furtherest both Australia’s national men’s and women’s teams had ever made a World Cup.
Despite their efforts, the Matildas finished the tournament in fourth-play, having lost to Sweden in the third-place playoff.