AFC Women’s Asian Cup

The AFC Women's Asian Cup is a quadrennial international football tournament contested by the women's national teams of Asia. The 2026 edition, hosted by Australia, is currently newsworthy due to the ongoing competition and related controversies. Japan defeated South Korea 4-1 in the semi-final to secure a spot against Australia in the final. This marks the third time Japan and Australia have met in the Asian Cup final. Simultaneously, the Iranian women's national team's participation has been overshadowed by asylum requests made by several team members while in Australia. While some players, including the captain, have withdrawn their requests, the situation has drawn international attention and led to the team's departure from Australia to Malaysia. The AFC confirmed the team's transit. The events highlight both the competitive aspect of the tournament and the socio-political issues impacting participating teams.