Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

India see off Bangladesh to lift sixth title

Mergoa: India turned on the power to defeat defending champions Bangladesh 3-1 in the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 final on Saturday.

Ritu Porna Chakma cancelled out Pyari Xaxa’s first-half opener before India regained control in the second half with goals from Sanfida Nongrum and Lynda Kom to seal the win.

Bangladesh, India in title showdown

Thu, 04 Jun, 2026

Bangladesh, India in title showdown

Goa: Bangladesh and India will square off for the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 title after edging their respective semi-final opponents on Wednesday.

Sanfida Nongrum’s second half strike steered five-time winners India to a 1-0 win over Bhutan while Mosammat Sagorika came off the bench to send defending champions Bangladesh through to their third consecutive final with a stoppage time strike.

Nepal book spot in style; India turn on the power

Mon, 01 Jun, 2026

Nepal book spot in style; India turn on the power

Goa: Nepal topped Group A of the SAFF Women's Championship 2026 with a 2-0 win against Sri Lanka on Sunday, with the victory also confirming Bhutan's progression to the knockout stage.

India defeated defending champions Bangladesh 3-0 to take the Group B pole, with both sides advancing.

Bangladesh impress in opener; Bhutan back on track

Fri, 29 May, 2026

Bangladesh impress in opener; Bhutan back on track

Goa: Defending champions Bangladesh confirmed their 2026 SAFF Women's Championship semi-final spot with a 4-2 win against Maldives on Thursday.

The victory meant India also advanced, with their meeting against Bangladesh on Sunday to decide the Group B winners.

Bhutan, meanwhile, revived their hopes of progression from Group A with a 4-0 defeat of Sri Lanka.

Winning starts for India, Nepal

Tue, 26 May, 2026

Winning starts for India, Nepal

Margoa: Aveka Singh produced a sparkling performance as India cruised 11-0 past Maldives to kick off their SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 Group B campaign in style on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Nepal opened the tournament with a 1-0 win against Bhutan in a Group A encounter.

Kerr to leave Chelsea

Fri, 15 May, 2026

Kerr to leave Chelsea

London: Australia captain Sam Kerr, Chelsea's all-time leading scorer in English football's Women's Super League, will leave the club when her contract expires at the end of the season, it was announced on Thursday.

Kerr has scored 115 goals in 177 appearances for the Blues and her final game for the west London side will be at home to Manchester United on Saturday.

Japan end US winning streak; Korea Republic fall to Canada

Wed, 15 Apr, 2026

Japan end US winning streak; Korea Republic fall to Canada

Seattle: Tottenham Hotspur forward Maika Hamano scored the only goal as Japan ended the United States' 10-game unbeaten streak with a 1-0 victory in an international women's friendly in Seattle on Tuesday.

Korea Republic, meanwhile, were overpowered 3-1 by Canada in their FIFA Series tie.

Five-star Australia; defeats for India, Japan, Korea Republic

Sun, 12 Apr, 2026

Five-star Australia; defeats for India, Japan, Korea Republic

Nairobi: Sam Kerr netted her 74th international goal to help Australia begin their FIFA Series 2026 campaign with a 5-0 win over Malawi at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday.

India suffered a 2-0 defeat to Kenya while Korea Republic lost 5-1 Brazil in their respective FIFA Series ties.

Japan, meanwhile, were edged 2-1 by the United States in an international friendly.

Nadeshiko, Nielsen part ways

Thu, 02 Apr, 2026

Nadeshiko, Nielsen part ways

Kuala Lumpur: The Japan Football Association announced on Thursday that Nils Nielsen’s contract as head coach of the women’s national team will not be renewed.

The Dane steered Japan to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ title, defeating Australia 1-0 in the final.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_womens_asian_cup.html/video/wac2026-tournament-review

M27 JPN v AUS - Post Match Report

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_womens_asian_cup.html/video/wac2026-vote-for-your-favourite-knockout-stage-goal-presented-by-visa

Photos

Nadeshiko, Nielsen part ways

Thu, 02 Apr, 2026

Nadeshiko, Nielsen part ways

Kuala Lumpur: The Japan Football Association announced on Thursday that Nils Nielsen’s contract as head coach of the women’s national team will not be renewed.

The Dane steered Japan to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ title, defeating Australia 1-0 in the final.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_womens_asian_cup.html/video/wac2026-tournament-review

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_womens_asian_cup.html/video/wac2026-vote-for-your-favourite-knockout-stage-goal-presented-by-visa

#WAC2026 - Vote For Your Favourite Knockout Stage Goal Presented by Visa

Wed, 25 Mar, 2026

#WAC2026 - Vote For Your Favourite Knockout Stage Goal Presented by Visa

Sydney: The AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ knockout stage delivered football at its most dramatic, where moments of brilliance defined legacies and decided fates.

From ice-cold finishes under pressure to breathtaking solo efforts and perfectly crafted team moves, the stakes only elevated the quality on display.

The-AFC.com invites you - the fans - to vote for the goal which you think was the best in the knockout stage.

#WAC2026 - Facts & Figures

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026

#WAC2026 - Facts & Figures

Sydney: The curtain came down on the record-breaking AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ with Japan defeating Australia in the final on Saturday.

It was a tournament filled with excitement and milestones and the-AFC.com picks out some interesting facts and figures from the continent's premier women's national team tournament.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_womens_asian_cup.html/video/wac2026-final-review-japan-v-australia

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_womens_asian_cup.html/video/wac2026-|-final-japan-1-0-australia

Hamano: That was my kind of goal

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026

Hamano: That was my kind of goal

Sydney: While many will consider Maika Hamano’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ title-winning goal as special, the forward knows it didn’t happen just by chance.

The 17th minute strike distinguished Japan from Australia in the final on Saturday, with the 21-year-old blasting home a swerving ball from the edge of the box that gave custodian Mackenzie Arnold no chance.

Nielsen hails brilliant Japan

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026

Nielsen hails brilliant Japan

Sydney: Japan’s resilience in the 1-0 win against Australia in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ final on Saturday won a special place in the heart of head coach Nils Nielsen.

Dominant in all their matches leading up to the final, the Nadeshiko had to dig deep to stop a buoyant home side backed by a record 74,397 partisan fans at Stadium Australia, much to the delight of the Danish tactician.

Montemurro proud of valiant Australia

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026

Montemurro proud of valiant Australia

Sydney: Disappointment of losing did not prevent Joe Montemurro from paying tribute to a remarkable performance from Australia in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ final on Saturday.

The head coach was proud that his side gave Japan the sternest examination the East Asian side faced in the competition as the Matildas fought right until the end in their 1-0 defeat at a packed Stadium Australia.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_womens_asian_cup.html/photo/wac2026-final-joy-tears

Australia’s Kennedy named Most Valuable Player

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026

Australia’s Kennedy named Most Valuable Player

Sydney: Australia's Alanna Kennedy was crowned the Most Valuable Player of the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2026™ after producing eye-catching performances throughout the tournament.

Australia’s 1-0 defeat to Japan in the final on Saturday did not take away a standout campaign for the 31-year-old.

Videos

Nadeshiko, Nielsen part ways

Thu, 02 Apr, 2026

Nadeshiko, Nielsen part ways

Kuala Lumpur: The Japan Football Association announced on Thursday that Nils Nielsen’s contract as head coach of the women’s national team will not be renewed.

The Dane steered Japan to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ title, defeating Australia 1-0 in the final.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_womens_asian_cup.html/video/wac2026-tournament-review

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_womens_asian_cup.html/video/wac2026-vote-for-your-favourite-knockout-stage-goal-presented-by-visa

#WAC2026 - Vote For Your Favourite Knockout Stage Goal Presented by Visa

Wed, 25 Mar, 2026

#WAC2026 - Vote For Your Favourite Knockout Stage Goal Presented by Visa

Sydney: The AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ knockout stage delivered football at its most dramatic, where moments of brilliance defined legacies and decided fates.

From ice-cold finishes under pressure to breathtaking solo efforts and perfectly crafted team moves, the stakes only elevated the quality on display.

The-AFC.com invites you - the fans - to vote for the goal which you think was the best in the knockout stage.

#WAC2026 - Facts & Figures

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026

#WAC2026 - Facts & Figures

Sydney: The curtain came down on the record-breaking AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ with Japan defeating Australia in the final on Saturday.

It was a tournament filled with excitement and milestones and the-AFC.com picks out some interesting facts and figures from the continent's premier women's national team tournament.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_womens_asian_cup.html/video/wac2026-final-review-japan-v-australia

Hamano: That was my kind of goal

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026

Hamano: That was my kind of goal

Sydney: While many will consider Maika Hamano’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ title-winning goal as special, the forward knows it didn’t happen just by chance.

The 17th minute strike distinguished Japan from Australia in the final on Saturday, with the 21-year-old blasting home a swerving ball from the edge of the box that gave custodian Mackenzie Arnold no chance.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_womens_asian_cup.html/video/wac2026-|-final-japan-1-0-australia

Nielsen hails brilliant Japan

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026

Nielsen hails brilliant Japan

Sydney: Japan’s resilience in the 1-0 win against Australia in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ final on Saturday won a special place in the heart of head coach Nils Nielsen.

Dominant in all their matches leading up to the final, the Nadeshiko had to dig deep to stop a buoyant home side backed by a record 74,397 partisan fans at Stadium Australia, much to the delight of the Danish tactician.

Montemurro proud of valiant Australia

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026

Montemurro proud of valiant Australia

Sydney: Disappointment of losing did not prevent Joe Montemurro from paying tribute to a remarkable performance from Australia in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ final on Saturday.

The head coach was proud that his side gave Japan the sternest examination the East Asian side faced in the competition as the Matildas fought right until the end in their 1-0 defeat at a packed Stadium Australia.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_womens_asian_cup.html/photo/wac2026-final-joy-tears

Australia’s Kennedy named Most Valuable Player

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026

Australia’s Kennedy named Most Valuable Player

Sydney: Australia's Alanna Kennedy was crowned the Most Valuable Player of the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2026™ after producing eye-catching performances throughout the tournament.

Australia’s 1-0 defeat to Japan in the final on Saturday did not take away a standout campaign for the 31-year-old.