The AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, set to take place in Australia, is shaping up to be the most significant edition yet, doubling as the final Asian qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and, for the first time, serving as the penultimate stage of qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
In a landmark change to the Olympic qualifying format, all quarterfinalists at the tournament will progress to the next round of Olympic qualification, adding new intensity to the race for continental glory.
India Book Spot, One Slot Remains
On Saturday, India became the latest team to qualify, pulling off an upset against higher-ranked Thailand. With their victory, they joined a growing list of confirmed participants for the 12-team tournament:
Qualified Teams for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026:
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Australia (hosts)
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Japan
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North Korea
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China
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South Korea
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Vietnam
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Philippines
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Chinese Taipei
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Uzbekistan
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India
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Bangladesh
The final spot will go to the winner of Group A, featuring Jordan, Bhutan, Lebanon, Singapore, and Iran.
Group A Rescheduled, Relocated to Qatar
Originally due to be played at the King Abdullah II Stadium in Amman, Group A matches were relocated to Qatar due to security concerns stemming from the Iran-Israel conflict. The fixtures, initially planned for June 23–July 5, will now take place from July 7–19.
Tournament Format and Qualification Pathway
Once the final lineup is complete, the 12 teams will be drawn into three groups of four, playing in a single round-robin format. The top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams will advance to the quarterfinals.
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Winners of the quarterfinals will directly qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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Quarterfinal losers will enter play-in matches among themselves, with the winners securing the remaining Asian spots.
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Losers of the play-ins will still have one last chance via the inter-confederation play-offs.
This format ensures more competitive fixtures and a broader path to qualification, especially as the women’s game continues to grow across Asia.
With high stakes for both World Cup and Olympic qualification, the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup promises to be a pivotal tournament in the global women’s football calendar.