- Western Australia selected as one of three host states for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026
- Event expected to attract thousands of out-of-state visitors and generate millions in economic impact
- WA to be showcased to an audience of over 100 million globally
- Follows WA’s successful hosting of FIFA Women’s World Cup and Matildas’ Olympic Qualifier matches in 2023
- Supported by the Western Australian Government
Western Australia has been selected as one of three host states for the 2026 edition of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup, further building on its reputation as a destination of choice for major football events.
The international football competition is held every four years as the Asian qualifying tournament for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Western Australia will share hosting rights for the event alongside New South Wales and Queensland, building on the legacy of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, which exceeded expectations and generated $25 million for the WA economy.
The Women’s Asian Cup is forecast to also attract thousands of out-of-state visitors, generating millions in visitor spend, while also delivering a cumulative broadcast audience of over 100 million across the event.
WA continues to demonstrate its place as a host destination for major football events with 2023 highlights including FIFA Women’s World Cup matches and the Matildas’ Olympic qualifiers, plus upcoming blockbusters including AC Milan vs AS Roma later this month, and the Socceroos vs Palestine in a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier in June.
Following the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, participation in football in WA has reached a record high with registrations surpassing the 50,000 mark, including a record-breaking 10,000 female players.
Perth fixtures for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 will be announced at a later date.
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As stated by Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti:
“We’re very excited to be hosting yet another world-class football event here in Perth, further bolstering our reputation as the fastest growing major events destination in the South East Asia region.
“Major events like these are so beneficial for our State in driving visitation, generating millions for our local economy, activating our city and showcasing our State to the world, and we saw this success through last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup and Matildas’ Olympic Qualifier matches.
“We are confident this AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 will continue to build on this, and we look forward to welcoming fans from far and wide to witness this fantastic event in a couple years’ time.”
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman:
“Hosting these events clearly has tremendous benefits for WA, bringing great value to our State’s economy while providing our community the opportunity to experience international football right here in Perth.
“We saw the huge turnout and support for women’s football during the FIFA Women’s World Cup and Matildas’ Olympic Qualifiers, and this event is another great opportunity to continue growing the world game.”
