Japan Aim To Reclaim AFC Women's Asian Cup Title In 2026, 'Good Draw' Says Head Coach
Japan's coach Nils Nielsen aims to reclaim the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia next year. Japan is in Group C with Vietnam, India, and Chinese Taipei.
Japan's head coach, Nils Nielsen, aims for his Nadeshiko team to enhance their performance in major tournaments as they strive to reclaim the AFC Women's Asian Cup title in Australia next year.
Nielsen's squad has been placed in Group C alongside Vietnam, India, and Chinese Taipei for the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026. The Official Draw in Sydney on Tuesday set the stage for their quest to win the title for the first time since 2018.
'It was a good draw, and the most important aspect is being in Group C as it's logistically better than Group B. We need to prove why we're the highest-ranked team. I don't want to disrespect anyone, but I believe we have a good chance to win the group, which would set us up against one of the third-place teams in the quarterfinals," said the Danish coach, who succeeded Futoshi Ikeda last year.
Japan will play all three group-stage matches in Perth, beginning against Chinese Taipei on March 4. They aim to top the standings to secure a quarter-final match with one of the third-place finishers, as per AFC rules.
Winning there would qualify Japan for their 10th consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup, guaranteeing one of the six berths for the finals in Brazil and keeping their hopes alive for reclaiming the world title for the first time since 2011.
'Obviously, it's a World Cup qualifier, so the Women's Asian Cup holds immense importance. But as a team, we need to return to winning ways, not just in individual matches but also in tournaments. Each tournament has its unique dynamics, so it's vital to understand and prepare for that. We haven't fully addressed these details yet, having only played friendly matches so far.
'But we have ample time to prepare, with more good matches on the horizon. I'm particularly pleased with the efforts of the administrators, as they have provided us with excellent preparation," said Nielsen.
The AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 will be Nielsen's first major tournament as the Nadeshiko's head coach since he took over after the 2024 Olympic Games, where Japan was defeated in the quarter-finals by the eventual gold medallists, the United States.
Currently ranked seventh by FIFA, the Dane expressed satisfaction with his squad's development since his arrival in December. However, he emphasizes that the time for assessments and adjustments is over.
'We've faced very strong teams, which is invaluable preparation for major tournaments. It's crucial to have formidable opposition in all our games," he said regarding the team's schedule so far.
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First Published:
August 02, 2025, 14:39 IST
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