AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026: After the politics of Iran, the Matildas take centre stage

Tomorrow, the Matildas will captivate the nation when they meet Asia’s powerhouse team, Nadeshiko Japan, in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup final. Looking back to the Matildas’ semifinal loss to England – a match remembered as much for its record-breaking viewership as the result – it is set to be an exciting night in Australian sporting history.

Western Sydney University’s Emeritus Professor David Rowe weighs in ahead of the kick off.

Emeritus Professor David Rowe, Institute for Culture and Society

“Ironically, the louder lamentation that politics should be kept out of sport, the greater the evidence of its impossibility. By far the biggest story so far of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 has been the offer of asylum in Australia to Iranian women footballers and support staff.”

“Now that the Matildas have reached Saturday’s final in Sydney, they are attracting more attention to the field of play. In football parlance, the Matildas have ‘grown into the tournament’ after uninspiring wins against the Philippines and Iran, and a draw against Korea Republic that cost them top spot in their group and a long return trip to Perth. They were outplayed yet grittily overcame Korea DPR in the quarter-finals, and slogged out a win by the same 2-1 scoreline against Cup holders China PR in the semi-finals.

“Now the Matildas must defeat Nadeshiko Japan, Asia’s top team and by far the most impressive in the matches leading up to the final, easily defeating Korea Republic 4-1 in their previous game. And yet, any seasoned football watcher knows that outcome uncertainty is the essence of Cup contests.

“In their last game, the Matildas defeated a China PR team led by their former coach and Socceroo Ante Milicic. One of Japan’s assistant coaches is Leah Blayney, who has played and coached for Australia.  Such situations re-open a debate often heard in lounge rooms and pubs: should national teams only be coached by their own nationals?  In the global game win percentages tend to resolve the matter.

“Although far from the frenzied FIFA Women’s World Cup days of 2023, this is the biggest game for the Matildas – and one of the biggest sporting moments in Australia – since their semi-final loss to England’s Lionesses in the Olympic Stadium in front of almost 76,000 noisy football fans and Australia’s largest ever television audience.

“A Matildas victory would cement their prime place in Australia’s sporting landscape, and should give a desperately needed fillip to the women’s game at club level. A bitter lesson for football teams the world over is that, without a solid pyramid from the grass roots to clubs to national teams, periodic flashy international tournaments cannot sustain the national game’s overall health.

“But first many eyes will be on the Matildas’ opportunity to win a major trophy at home and make a sizeable down payment on the future of women’s football in Australia.”

ENDS.

20 March 2026
Media Unit
Photo credit: Emilio Garcia via Unsplash