Matildas Gear Up for Home Soil AFC Women's Asian Cup

Australia faces tough group stage matches against South Korea, Iran, and the Philippines

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Australian women's national soccer team, known as the Matildas, are set to compete in the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup on home soil. The Matildas face a challenging group stage, drawn against South Korea, Iran, and the Philippines. Fans are eager to see if the Matildas can excel in front of their home supporters or if the pressure will prove too much.

Why it matters

The AFC Women's Asian Cup is one of the biggest tournaments in women's football, and the Matildas playing at home presents a rare opportunity for the team and their fans. A strong performance could boost the sport's profile in Australia and inspire the next generation of female footballers.

The details

The Matildas will play their group stage matches at three different stadiums across Australia - Optus Stadium in Perth, CBUS Super Stadium on the Gold Coast, and Accor Stadium in Sydney. Their first match is against the Philippines on March 1, followed by Iran on March 5 and South Korea on March 8.

  • The AFC Women's Asian Cup will take place from March 1-31, 2026.
  • The Matildas' group stage matches will be played on March 1, March 5, and March 8, 2026.

The players

Mackenzie Arnold

Goalkeeper for Portland Thorns FC.

Sam Kerr

Forward and captain of the Matildas, plays for Chelsea FC.

Ellie Carpenter

Defender for Chelsea FC.

Caitlin Foord

Forward for Arsenal WFC.

Hayley Raso

Forward for Eintracht Frankfurt.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to play in front of our home fans and show them what the Matildas are capable of. The AFC Women's Asian Cup is a huge opportunity for us.”

— Sam Kerr, Captain, Matildas (Instagram)

“The group stage draw is tough, but we're confident we can get through and make a deep run in the tournament. These are the kinds of challenges that bring the best out of this team.”

— Steph Catley, Defender, Matildas (Twitter)

What’s next

The Matildas will finalize their 23-player squad for the AFC Women's Asian Cup in the coming months, with the final roster announcement expected in early February 2026.

The takeaway

The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup represents a historic opportunity for the Matildas to shine on home soil and inspire the next generation of Australian female footballers. While the group stage draw is challenging, the team's talent and experience make them a formidable contender for the title.