Matildas hope to keep away from potential pitfalls at Ladies’s Asian Cup draw | Ladies’s Asian Cup 2026

Australia have begun a brand new period underneath head coach Joe Montemurro however are about to seek out out that life comes at you quick with the much-celebrated 2023 Ladies's World Cup a distant reminiscence and the 2026 Ladies's Asian Cup now simply seven months away. The continental event would be the second soccer showpiece on residence soil in lower than three years with the Matildas underneath stress to construct on the fantastic heights of their semi-final run two years in the past.

Montemurro has a brief runway to organize for the event after taking the reins of the nationwide aspect in June and instantly casting a watch towards the longer-term as a lot because the close to future. However the focus will flip firmly again on the Asian Cup with the draw to determine the group stage and match-ups going down on Tuesday night.

How did the groups qualify?

Australia certified as hosts after being knocked out within the final eight 4 years in the past, whereas 2022 champions China and runners-up South Korea in addition to Japan have been handed computerized qualification after ending within the high three at the latest version. Vietnam, Philippines, and Taiwan booked their spots when topping qualifying teams and can function once more as they did in 2022.

India additionally gained their group and can search to make up for misplaced time after being unable to take the pitch for a event debut as a consequence of a Covid-19 outbreak when co-hosting the final occasion. Uzbekistan return to the Asian Cup after a 23-year absence, whereas North Korea are among the many main contenders regardless of final showing on the event in 2010. Iran return after showing for the primary time 4 years in the past, leaving Bangladesh as the one event debutants in Australia and the outlier with a rating of 128 and nothing to lose.

How will the teams be determined?

The 12 groups which have certified for the event to be held in March 2026 shall be divided into three teams of 4 on Tuesday. Australia because the hosts are the highest seed and positioned in pot 1 of the draw, although they'd even have earned that proper based mostly on their Fifa rating as one of many high three groups on the occasion. Japan have the very best rating of all Asian groups at seven, whereas North Korea are shut behind at 9 and the one different staff ranked above the Matildas' fifteenth place when Fifa final ran the numbers on 12 June.

The three Asian heavyweights shall be positioned in separate teams although their hopes for a clearer path by means of to the knockout stage might be clouded on the attract Sydney. 9-time champions China and South Korea each loom massive in pot 2, with world No 37 Vietnam the staff most will wish to face regardless of them reaching the quarter-finals 4 years in the past.

Philippines have their work reduce out attempting to repeat their efforts of 2022 after they made the final 4, whereas this time being positioned in pot 3 alongside Taiwan and Uzbekistan. Iran, India and Bangladesh make up pot 4.

How do groups attain the knockout stage?

The highest two groups in every of the three teams will advance to the knockout phases together with the 2 finest third-placed sides.

When does the event begin?

The event begins on 1 March when the Matildas face a staff from pot 4 in Perth.

The place will the matches be performed?

The matches shall be held in Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast. Accor Stadium at Homesbush and Parramatta's CommBank Stadium will host video games in Sydney, whereas Optus Stadium and HBF Park shall be utilized in Perth. CBus Tremendous Stadium can even function throughout the group stage.

The Matildas will play in all three host cities within the group stage, whereas hoping to high their group to arrange a dream run at Accor Stadium by means of to the ultimate.

When will the ultimate be performed?

The ultimate shall be performed at Accor Stadium on 21 March. The Olympic stadium can even host a semi-final, with the opposite finalist to be determined at Optus Stadium.

What else is up for grabs on the Asian Cup?

In addition to chasing a prized continental trophy, every staff shall be out to make use of the Asian Cup to safe their place at future tournaments.

The continental occasion – for the final time – can be the ultimate stage of Asian qualification for the subsequent Ladies's World Cup, with the 4 semi-finalists becoming a member of the groups showing in Brazil in 2027. The 4 dropping sides within the quarter-finals could have one other likelihood with a playoff to assert two extra World Cup spots.

And for the primary time, the Asian Cup is a step in the direction of the Olympic Video games, with the eight quarter-finalists reserving a ticket to the LA 2028 qualifying event.