Latest news with #AFCWomen'sAsianCup
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Visa Champions the Future of Women's Football as AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Official Global Supporter
SINGAPORE, July 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has announced its partnership with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ as its Official Global Supporter. This marks the first partnership between Visa and AFC Women's Asian Cup, further building on Visa's long history of commitment towards the growth in women's football. Hosted in Australia, the matches will be played in five stadiums across three cities with the top 12 national teams. The semi-finalists from this 27-match tournament will directly qualify for FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 in Brazil, while quarter-finalists will advance to the qualifying rounds for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Danielle Jin, Chief Marketing Officer, Asia Pacific, Visa, said, "At Visa, we believe in the power of sports to inspire, unite, and drive progress. Our partnership with the AFC Women's Asian Cup reaffirms our commitment to inspiring the next generation of female athletes. As we have seen from the record-breaking momentum of women's football, the future of the game is bright, and we are proud to be part of that journey." Women's Football Fuels Regional Growth in Sports Tourism Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing sports tourism region globally, projected to reach USD491.7 billion by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 18.4% [1]. Markets like Australia, China, India, Japan and Singapore are seeing rising participation and viewership, driven by increased regional demand for live sporting events – especially football. AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John said: "We are delighted to announce the expansion of our partnership with Visa, who we now welcome as an Official Global Supporter of the Continent's premier women's national team competition. The AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ aims to be the greatest ever edition in the tournament's history, and we look forward to working in close collaboration with Visa to realise our shared ambitions for the growth and empowerment of the women's game across Asia." Visa is one of the world's most active sponsors of women's football; it is the first ever standalone sponsor of UEFA Women's Football in a seven-year deal running from 2018 until 2025, and the first Global FIFA Women's Football Partner. Pre-sale Ticket access for Visa cardholders Pre-sale ticket access opens exclusively to Visa cardholders today, Friday, July 18 at 8:00 AM SGT, with general sales beginning Friday, July 25 at 8:00 AM SGT via Ticketmaster - womenasiancup2026. About Visa Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at
Malaysian Reserve
6 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Visa Champions the Future of Women's Football as AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Official Global Supporter
SINGAPORE, July 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has announced its partnership with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ as its Official Global Supporter. This marks the first partnership between Visa and AFC Women's Asian Cup, further building on Visa's long history of commitment towards the growth in women's football. Hosted in Australia, the matches will be played in five stadiums across three cities with the top 12 national teams. The semi-finalists from this 27-match tournament will directly qualify for FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 in Brazil, while quarter-finalists will advance to the qualifying rounds for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Danielle Jin, Chief Marketing Officer, Asia Pacific, Visa, said, 'At Visa, we believe in the power of sports to inspire, unite, and drive progress. Our partnership with the AFC Women's Asian Cup reaffirms our commitment to inspiring the next generation of female athletes. As we have seen from the record-breaking momentum of women's football, the future of the game is bright, and we are proud to be part of that journey.' Women's Football Fuels Regional Growth in Sports Tourism Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing sports tourism region globally, projected to reach USD491.7 billion by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 18.4%[1]. Markets like Australia, China, India, Japan and Singapore are seeing rising participation and viewership, driven by increased regional demand for live sporting events – especially football. AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John said: 'We are delighted to announce the expansion of our partnership with Visa, who we now welcome as an Official Global Supporter of the Continent's premier women's national team competition. The AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ aims to be the greatest ever edition in the tournament's history, and we look forward to working in close collaboration with Visa to realise our shared ambitions for the growth and empowerment of the women's game across Asia.' Visa is one of the world's most active sponsors of women's football; it is the first ever standalone sponsor of UEFA Women's Football in a seven-year deal running from 2018 until 2025, and the first Global FIFA Women's Football Partner. Pre-sale Ticket access for Visa cardholders Pre-sale ticket access opens exclusively to Visa cardholders today, Friday, July 18 at 8:00 AM SGT, with general sales beginning Friday, July 25 at 8:00 AM SGT via Ticketmaster – womenasiancup2026. [1] Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) – Asia Pacific Sports Tourism Market Size & Outlook, 2030 ### About VisaVisa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at
Time Out
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Time Out
How to get tickets to the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026: pre-sale, prices, dates and more
From March 1 to 21, Australia will host the Asia Pacific's top football teams – including the Matildas – for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026. First-release tickets for the quadrennial football tournament go live on July 18, with multi-match packs offering fans early access to the biggest matches, including the grand final showdown. Games will be staged across major stadiums in Perth, the Gold Coast and Sydney, where you can cheer on the Tillies as they face off against 2022 champions China, past runners-up South Korea and Japan, and newly qualified teams from India, the Philipines and Vietnam. If the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 is anything to go by – the single biggest female sporting event in the world – we expect tickets will be in high demand. Here's everything you need to know about scoring packs to the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026, with single-match tickets to follow in a second release later this year. When is the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia? The AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 will run from Sunday, March 1 to Saturday, March 21. Where is the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia? AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 games will be held at five stadiums across the country, including: You can see the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 match schedule here. When are the Matildas playing in the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026? The Matildas will kick off the tournament with an opening match at Perth Stadium on March 1, followed by a game at Gold Coast Stadium on March 5 and their final group stage match at Sydney's Stadium Australia on March 8. If they make it to the quarter-finals, they'll return to the field at Perth Rectangular Stadium on March 13 or 14 – and fingers crossed, we'll see them back in Sydney for the final on March 21. When is the draw for the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 released? The final draw for the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 will be announced at Sydney's Town Hall on July 19. When do AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia tickets go on sale? Multi-pack passes go on sale to the general public from 10am AEST or 8am AWST on Friday, July 25. Single-match tickets will be released in a second wave later this year. All pack purchases will unlock exclusive access to tickets for the grand final. Is there an AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia pre-sale? Visa cardholders can register for exclusive pre-sale access to multi-packs starting on Friday, July 18 at 10am AEST or 8am AWST. You'll need to register for the sale by midnight AEST on July 17 here. How much are AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia tickets? Tickets start at $50 for the Play-Off Pass, which includes access to the two play-off matches at Gold Coast Stadium. For the ultimate fans, the Follow Australia Pass is $130, and secures you seats to all three of the Matildas' group stage matches across Perth, the Gold Coast and Sydney. Who's playing in the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026? Eleven teams have qualified for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, including Australia, previous champions China PR, Korea Republic, Japan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea and Uzbekistan. Who won the last AFC Women's Asian Cup? China was the champion of the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022, with South Korea finishing second and Japan securing third place. What did Australia come at the last AFC Women's Asian Cup? The Matildas finished 7th in the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup, with their only tournament victory in 2010.
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Long camps, young blood, and tactical clarity: How India's women qualified for AFC Asian Cup 2026
After years of dealing with a sense of apathy from stakeholders, cases of alleged harassment, and the Indian Women's League (IWL) being little more than an afterthought, the Indian women's national football team has quietly qualified for next year's AFC Women's Asian Cup. This is the first time that the Blue Tigresses have made it to the continental tournament through the qualification route. In 2003, qualifiers did not exist. In 2022, India made it to the tournament as the host. The Crispin Chettri-coached squad topped Group B after an unbeaten qualifying campaign, which included dominant wins over Mongolia (13-0), Timor Leste (4-0), and Iraq (5-0), before grinding out a decisive 2-1 win against higher-ranked Thailand. Three years in the making Forward Pyari Xaxa, who top-scored for India in the qualifiers with five goals, still remembers the heartbreak she and her teammates suffered at the 2022 edition of the Asian Cup. After a goalless draw against Iran in its opening game, India was forced to withdraw from the tournament after a majority of its players tested positive for COVID-19. 'When I tested positive for COVID, it felt as if the ground beneath me opened up. I cried a lot, but I hid my tears from my teammates so that they wouldn't get disheartened. Unfortunately, most of them tested positive as well. All the hard work had gone to waste,' Pyari recalls to Sportstar. Cut to three years later, the 28-year-old seems to have manifested India's ticket to Australia, the host of the next edition. 'I'd written down my dreams in my diary about five to six years back. It's free to dream. After we qualified this time, I ticked it off the list. Next, the World Cup remains.' After Pyari, Sangita Basfore was India's next highest scorer in the qualifiers, netting four times. But it was her brace in the winner-takes-all match against Thailand that capped off a journey marked by perseverance and patience. 'I still haven't mentally returned from that stadium in Thailand,' she says of the match, at the end of which she broke down in tears. In 2021, during the home camp for the Asian Cup, Sangita suffered an ACL injury that sidelined her for nearly three years. While it took the Bengal player time to regain her rhythm and command in midfield, coach Chettri always believed in her potential. 'He gave me the confidence to go up the pitch and have a free role in midfield,' Sangita reveals. That decision bore fruit in the 29th minute against Thailand. Anju Tamang passed the ball to an onrushing Sangita, who took a touch and half-volleyed it into the far corner from outside the box. Her second goal – the winner in the 74th minute – was a team move straight off the training ground. Qualifying clutch: Sangita Basfore's stunning brace lit up Chiang Mai as India edged Thailand 2-1 in a high-stakes, do-or-die encounter. | Photo Credit: AIFF MEDIA Brushing up on the basics 'The set piece goal which Sangita scored, it was done for 53 days in training and then in three matches, but it came in use in the fourth match. That's why longer camps are always helpful,' India head coach Chettri says. In the lead-up to the qualifiers in Thailand, the Blue Tigresses trained at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru for almost two months. The extended camp allowed the team to play practice matches against local sides and two international friendlies against Uzbekistan, both narrowly lost 0-1. 🗣️ Sangita Basfore: It's not just about the Asian Cup! The World Cup is our target. 💫#WAC2026#BlueTigresses#IndianFootball ⚽️ — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 5, 2025 Chettri, who took charge in late January, believes such long camps are particularly important in the context of Indian women's football, where tactical basics are often underdeveloped. 'Women's football and men's football are completely different. The latter is thoroughly professional; they earn money in crores. But when it comes to women, as soon as the IWL is over, they are not that professional to take care of themselves.' Dynamic duo: After a carousel of coaching changes, the AIFF finally struck gold in 2025 — Crispin Chhetri took charge with Priya PV as his deputy, and together, the duo has forged a winning formula. | Photo Credit: AIFF MEDIA Planning ahead Chettri's first assignment was the Pink Ladies Cup in the UAE, where India faced Jordan, Russia, and South Korea. That tournament, along with his stint with Odisha FC in the AFC Women's Champions League, gave him insight into where India stood in comparison to stronger sides. 'I took a younger side because I knew technically we might not be there with these teams, but physically we could be. I needed more energy on the field. Mentally, I was building a team of players which could be suitable for all kinds of matches. While I did lose some players to injury, I had the core in mind,' he explains. 'I need hungry players. I need good players who make a team great, not great players who think about their names rather than the badge. I think I took a risk [taking a young side] but the federation supported me in this, and I think now we know the result.' The 24-member squad for the qualifiers featured players like Manisha Kalyan, Grace Dangmei, Soumya Guguloth, Elangbam Panthoi Chanu, and Kiran Pisda – all of whom brought valuable overseas club experience. 'When our players go to Europe, they play at a certain intensity which we don't get regularly in IWL. With intensity, you improve your decision-making. That helps when they come and be part of the national team and inspire others to become better.' Room for improvement 'There were no shortcuts to success – this achievement was the result of a long-term vision and structured preparation,' an All India Football Federation (AIFF) release stated, while announcing a USD 50,000 reward for the team. The release also cited the impact of the ASMITA Leagues – a nationwide initiative launched in 2023 – which has contributed to a 232% increase in registered women footballers over the past year. 'How many people know about it? Can we share data about it? What we have started is good, but we have to promote it, share data and be transparent. Now that everyone is aware, we have to make parents aware of it, so that good players come through,' Chhetri said. 'While the federation and States have been working towards improving the women's game, the speed has been slow. This [qualification] will boost this process as well,' says assistant coach Priya P.V. 'We need to improve scouting from the grassroots level. You can find talent in schools, colleges, and even in random pockets. We shouldn't just stick to professional players because they have the IWL to play in,' adds the former Kerala footballer, who's been coaching for the past 15 years. Road to Australia – and beyond Financial boost: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced a reward of USD 50,000 (around ₹42.75 lakh) for the Indian women's team in recognition of its historic qualification for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026. | Photo Credit: AIFF MEDIA Next year's AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia will be the final edition that serves as a direct qualifier for the FIFA World Cup. The semifinalists will earn direct qualification for the 2027 tournament in Brazil, while losing quarterfinalists will contest for two additional spots through playoffs. Teams missing out here will still have a final chance via the inter-confederation playoffs. 'I'm showing them dreams here. It's important because when you have a dream, only then do you work towards it. After the Thailand match, I think everyone has started believing in themselves. We lacked that before,' says Chettri. The Asian Cup will also act as a qualification route for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with all quarterfinalists progressing to the second round of qualifiers. On July 11, the AIFF unveiled a 'roadmap' to support the team's preparation for the tournament. This includes an early IWL season (September to January) and an 83-day camp spread over three phases. The plan envisions '10-12 international friendlies and five to seven matches with domestic teams'. 'According to the draw we get, we can dedicate one phase of the camp to each team. By the time the AFC comes, we have a camp of around 40 days and play friendlies against different nations with different playing styles. They could be an African country, a European team with a lot of intensity, or even a Latin American team that is very skilled. This will help us adapt to all situations,' Chettri explains. The draw will be held on July 29. Until then, the Indian team and its well-wishers can dare to dream about a successful tournament – one that could become a watershed moment for women's football in the country. 'It's high time we start supporting them. They should feel wanted. They should feel wanted. I think we'll go a long way,' Chettri concludes. Related Topics AFC Women's Asian Cup
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Singapore vs Iran LIVE Streaming info — When, where to watch SGP v IRN AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers?
Iran will look to start its AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers with a win as it takes on Singapore at the King Abdullah II Stadium in Amman on Thursday. Singapore comes into the match after a 2-3 loss to Bhutan in its previous match and will hope to turn the tide before its too late. Iran, which made its debut in the Asian Cup in 2022, had a group stage exit. Head coach Marziyeh Jafari left her 13-year trophy-laden stint at Bam Khatoon FC to lead the Iranian team, and will aim to contribute to better stint this time around, if it makes it to the final tournament. When and where will Singapore vs Iran in AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers be played? The 2027 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers between Singapore and Iran will be played at the King Abdullah II Stadium in Amman, Jordan. The match is scheduled to kick off at 4:00 pm local time, which is 4:30 pm Iran time and 9:00 pm in Singapore. How to watch Singapore vs Iran AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers? The Singapore vs Iran AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers can be watches on the YouTube channel of the Jordan Football Association.
