March 15 – Football Australia and the Uzbekistan Football Association (UFA) have been nominated as the recommended Host Associations for the 2026 and 2029 editions of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
The decision, made at the second meeting of the AFC Women’s Football Committee in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, was taken a day before the Uzbeks host the final of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup between Japan and DPR Korea.
While final formalities of the bidding process are underway, the Committee has handed the details of the award of hosting rights to the AFC Administration to finalise.
Australia will host the AFC women’s showpiece for a second time, after Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan all withdrew from hosting 2026, leaving Australia as the sole bidder. They last hosted the 2006 edition in Adelaide.
AFC Women’s football chair Kanya Keomany said: “The FIFA Women’s World Cup that was co-hosted in Australia last year set new benchmarks and is widely regarded as the best edition in history, showcasing once again the strength of women’s football in Asia.
“Australia presents the opportunities to build on the commercial appeal of the competition and engage with more fans than ever before, so I am confident that Football Australia will stage a memorable spectacle that will not only elevate the women’s game but also set the standard for future editions of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.”
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will become the first Central Asian nation to host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2029. The Uzbekistan Football Association’s bid was lauded for the country’s successful track record in hosting recent AFC competitions, including the U20 Asian Cup 2023, the U23 Asian Cup 2022, and the ongoing U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2024.
Commenting on the milestone decision, Keomany added: “In 2022, India were the first South Asian host in more than 40 years, and in 2018, Jordan was the first ever West Asian host in history.
“Now in 2029, we have the opportunity to further realise our ambitions to grow and expand the reach of the women’s game all across the Continent, which will ultimately enhance the value proposition of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in the decades to come.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1732291589labto1732291589ofdlr1732291589owedi1732291589sni@g1732291589niwe.1732291589yrrah1732291589
