The draw for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asia Cup has been completed, and Bangladesh has found itself in a challenging Group B, alongside defending champions China, Uzbekistan, and Korea DPR.
The Tigresses, who secured their place in the competition after a thrilling victory over Myanmar, thanks to a match-winning performance from RituPorna Chakma, topped Group C during the qualifiers with a perfect record.
Bangladesh now faces a formidable task, with their opening match against China, the defending champions and the 17th-ranked team in the world. This will be China’s 16th appearance in the tournament. Alongside them, the Tigresses will meet Korea DPR, a three-time champion and ranked 9th globally. The final team in the group is Uzbekistan, ranked 51st in the world, making their sixth appearance in the prestigious competition.
The draw, which took place in an event hosted by Jessie Dai, was attended by prominent figures including Australian captain Tameka Yallop, India’s Sangita Basfore, and South Korea’s Jeon Yu-gyeong.
The eight teams that have secured their place in the 21st edition of the AFC Women’s Asia Cup came through an intense qualification process held between June 23 and July 19. Along with Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, India, Iran, Philippines, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam earned their spot. These teams will join the hosts Australia, along with the top three finishers from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022, who all qualified automatically: China PR (defending champions), Korea Republic (runners-up), and Japan (third place).
The tournament will kick off on March 1, with the opening match taking place at Perth Stadium. The grand finale is scheduled for March 21, with the match being held at Sydney’s Stadium Australia.
Three Cities, Five Venues
The competition will be staged across three Australian cities and five venues. Matches in Sydney will take place at Stadium Australia and Western Sydney Stadium, while Perth will host games at Perth Rectangular Stadium and Perth Stadium. The fifth venue is Gold Coast Stadium.
In addition to the tournament matches, each host city will host watch parties to engage local fans. These events will livestream the Final Draw, adding an extra layer of excitement for invited guests and the wider community.
In Sydney, the Cumberland Lounge at Western Sydney Stadium will host the watch party, led by Sydney-based emcee Lavendar Baj. Meanwhile, in Gold Coast, guests will gather at HOTA Cinema, with comedian and TV personality Alex Ward taking on hosting duties. Over in Perth, the QT Hotel Rooftop will welcome local government members and other guests, with renowned presenter Lauren Markham hosting the evening’s events.
Tournament Structure and Stakes
The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals. The four semi-finalists will secure a spot at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027. Teams eliminated in the quarter-finals will face off in playoffs, where two more spots for the global competition will be up for grabs.
As Bangladesh prepares for its first challenge in Group B, the 2026 AFC Women’s Asia Cup promises to be an exciting and highly competitive tournament.