AFC WAC Final Recap: Who Won and Who is World Cup Bound Over the weekend, after 22 days of competition, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup (WAC) reach its conclusion. Japan defeated hosts Australia to conclude a dominant tournament wh...

The #AFCWAC finished recently. Catch up with how it concluded, and who is headed to the next #WWC from the tournament.

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ALANNA KENNEDY WINS THE #AFCWAC MVP

astonishing. Japan a worthy winner in a game for the ages. the #Matildas gave it everything they could, but sometimes even everything isn’t enough. I’m so proud of all of them. #AFCWAC

final on home soil!! australia 🇦🇺 v japan 🇯🇵 in the #AFCWAC tonight!! go the matildas 💚💛

some t-minus 3.5 hours til #AFCWAC final pre-reading for you?

How a Matildas XI from 2014 tells you everything about Japan's frightening Asian football dominance Can the Matildas achieve “mission impossible” against Japan in the Asian Cup final asks football360.com.au columnist SAMANTHA LEWIS.

tomorrow night's #AFCWAC final isn't just a clash between two teams of world-class players. it's a battle between two very different footballing ecosystems, playing styles, and future visions for the women's game.

here's my preview of #Japan v #Matildas.

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for anyone watching Taiwan play North Korea right now, you can hear old mate clapping and leading chants on the Gold Coast. might be the loudest clap I have ever heard at a football match. iconic. #AFCWAC

a cartoon of ralph from the simpsons sits on a bus with the words " chuckles i 'm in danger " below him ALT: a cartoon of ralph from the simpsons sits on a bus with the words " chuckles i 'm in danger " below him

the Matildas watching Japan easily dismantle South Korea 4-1. #AFCWAC

FUCKEN COME ON!!!!!!! ASIAN CUP FINAL BABY!!!!!!!! WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! #AFCWAC

AFC Women's Asian Cup Quarterfinals Update With the spots in the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Olympic Qualifying tournament secured by virtue of reaching the knockout stage, the remaining eight teams set about reaching their goal of…

The Quarter Finals of the #AFCWAC have taken place. Look back on the events with us. The losers still have another match to play, and the winners continue.

#FWWC2027 #RoadToBrazil2027:

North Korea: Looking to qualify for the 1st time since 2011, which in that edition were banned to qualify for 2015 edition after major doping scandal, failed to qualify to 2018 #AFCWAC and 2019 FWWC, withdrew in 2022 Asian Cup due to COVID-19 Pandemic missed out 2023

Can we turn off the sideline mic please #AFCWAC

20 minutes til kickoff and there’s… not a lot of people here. hopefully there will be a last-minute rush as Perth locals arrive after work, but a 6pm Friday kickoff isn’t super friendly. #AFCWAC #Matildas

not a whole lot of speed or composure under a high, physical press in this midfield… let’s see how they go 😬 #AFCWAC #Matildas

David Squires on … the plight of Iran women’s football team at the Asian Cup Our cartoonist takes a look at the impossible situation the players were put in at the tournament in Australia

David Squires, excellent as always on the Iran women’s national team.

grateful for the final panel, too, reminding us that there are other nations at the #AFCWAC that are just as oppressive of their women athletes. we’re playing one of them tonight.

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Matildas head coach Joe Montemurro and captain Sam Kerr speaking at a pre-match press conference at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

Joe Montemurro confirms neither Hayley Raso nor Steph Catley will be available for the #Matildas quarterfinal against North Korea tomorrow. #AFCWAC

North Korean head coach Ri Song-ho and player Choe Il-son at a pre-match media conference before their 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup match against Australia.

I asked #DPRK coach Ri Song-ho whether we might see the same “protest” tactics against the #Matildas tomorrow night if they disagree with a referee’s call.

“If that kind of situation happens again in tomorrow’s match, I will follow the match official’s decision.”

Let’s see! #AFCWAC

North Korea’s shady tactics show Matildas must be ready for more than football Australia are no strangers to the team’s bizarre protests but they will need to keep frustrations in check in Women’s Asian Cup quarter-final

as the #Matildas prepare to face North Korea in the #AFCWAC QF, history shows they’ll have to prepare for more than just football if they want to win.

I spoke to a former Matilda who was there in 2006 and 2010 when NK resorted to their now-infamous dark tactics.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

following @brisbaneroar.bsky.social’s offer for the five Brisbane-based Iranian players to train with them, both @sydneyfootballclub.bsky.social and @wswanderersfc.bsky.social have told me they’d love to invite the Sydney-based players to train with them while they settle in too. #AFCWAC #ALeague

Iranian women's football players have asylum in Australia, but what now? – podcast Women’s football journalist Samantha Lewis speaks to Nour Haydar about what went on behind the scenes to keep the women in Australia, whether more players could do so and what happens next

I spoke to the Full Story team about Iran at the #AFCWAC, with two more players (and I’m hearing one staff member) having been granted asylum overnight. my biggest question now is: why weren’t the tournament organisers prepared for this?

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

there it is! the #Matildas will play North Korea in the quarterfinal of the #AFCWAC in Perth, in a replay of the 2010 final. huge!

North Korea have just… refused to come back onto the field after conceding a second goal to China. they’re being booed by the whole stadium, with Wang Shuang encouraging the booing. WILD. #AFCWAC

Time is running out for the Iranian women’s football team as fears for their safety grow | Jack Snape There are urgent calls for Australia to take action before the team return to Iran but with no word from the players themselves the situation is fraught and uncertain

if neither the AFC nor LOC conducted a human rights risk assessment and put related safeguard mechanisms in place ahead of the #AFCWAC, when these issues were coming at them from miles away, there has to be accountability.

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

International Women’s Day asks us to 'balance the scales': What is football's role in this? Column: International Women’s Day asks us to “balance the scales.” This Women’s Asian Cup shows just how far football still needs to tip them.

today’s International Women’s Day theme is “balance the scales”, and the #Matildas have become an example of what that looks like in football. but this #AFCWAC has shown us how much further Asian football still has to go to address gender inequality.

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Ueki with a hat-trick in the 65th minute… after coming on at half time. 10-0 to Japan. all Asian Cups have blow-outs, and this seems to be the one for this edition. still some way to go to beat Australia’s record 18-0 over Indonesia in 2022 though! #AFCWAC #INDvJPN

there’s been some stunning goals from Japan already this game, but that one from Riko Ueki - an outside-backheel flick from a cross, in her first touch of the game (?!) - is the pick of the lot. shades of Homare Sawa 2011 WWC final to that. gorgeous. #AFCWAC #INDvJPN

Joe Montemurro confirms Hayley Raso won’t be available for tomorrow night’s game against South Korea due to concussion protocols. #AFCWAC #Matildas

Sign the Petition Provide protection for Iran’s women’s national football team

almost 23,000 people have already signed a petition started yesterday calling on the Australian government to provide protections to the Iran women’s national team #AFCWAC

c.org/wcrwVZBysc

#WomensFootball #AFCWAC #FIFAWWC2027:

Honorable mentions:

American Samoa at the moment gain 29.815 points following their 2 shocking wins over Samoa and Solomon Islands

Saudi Arabia gain 12.910 points following their wins over Bahrain and Kyrgyzstan

#WomensFootball #AFCWAC #FIFAWWC2027

Philippines drop to 41st after 2 losses to Australia and South Korea, Slovakia jump to 44th and Papua New Guinea in 46th, Venezuela remain in 48th despite upset win over Brazil, Uzbekistan drop to 49th, Morocco remain in 50th.