Latest news with #AFCWomen'sAsianCup2026
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.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
CG's Kiran kicks ball down history as India qualifies for AFC women's asian cup after more than a decade
Raipur: On a rugged, undulating patch of ground filled with gravel in Balod—a dusty town in Chhattisgarh—she kicked her first football barefoot and took to the game with her two brothers. Since no girls played football in the town, she played with boys, unmindful of the injuries she suffered while chasing a dream that many never dared. Today, the tribal girl, Kiran Pisda, 23, has broken into the playing eleven of India's senior women's team and booked a place for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026. Kiran is the pride of Chhattisgarh, motivating young kids from the hinterland to dream big and work towards that goal with hard work and perseverance. Hailing from a middle-class family, with her father working as an assistant superintendent in the Balod district collectorate, Kiran also excels in academics and is currently pursuing her bachelor's in physical education (BPEd). Talking to TOI, Kiran said, "There were neither any coaches nor proper facilities, including sports equipment, during my school days. We were only given a football, and girls never took to football. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo But I loved the game and started playing with boys, including my two brothers, which gave me confidence and an advantage when playing against women. I also got both my ankles injured while playing on the dusty, stony ground. Even now, when I visit the ground, I see children playing barefoot in the same conditions, often injuring themselves." "Initially, I started as a striker when I began playing professional football, but over time my position shifted. Now I play as a defender," she said. Sharing her excitement about India's historic qualification for the AFC Women's Championship, Kiran said, "Five nations — Mongolia, Iraq, Timor-Leste, India, and hosts Thailand — competed in the qualifying round. Only one team advanced to the main tournament. We won all four of our matches, beating Mongolia 13-0, Iraq 7-0, Timor-Leste 4-0, and finally Thailand 2-1. Defeating Thailand on their home turf was particularly challenging," she said. "India qualifying for the Asian Cup after more than a decade is a big milestone for women's football in the country. I am really looking forward to representing India in the 2026 championship." Kiran previously represented India at the 2022 South Asian Football Championship in Nepal. While celebrating the squad's historic qualification, the Chhattisgarh Football Association acknowledged the role of institutional support in nurturing athletes. They expressed gratitude to NTPC Korba for supporting Kiran's training and development. Sarita Kujur Toppo, senior football coach, Chhattisgarh sports department, talking to TOI, said, "After completing her 12th in Balod, Kiran moved to Raipur for higher studies, following a brief stint with the Durg football team." Her breakthrough came during the Chhattisgarh League, where she scored an impressive 20 goals — the highest by any player in the tournament — while representing Raipur. "One day, she approached me for coaching. I arranged her accommodation at Vivekananda Stadium in Kota, Raipur. The rest is history," Kujur recalled. "Her discipline, dedication, and eagerness to learn every aspect of the game set her apart." She initially missed selection in the junior India camp but was not disillusioned. She took the feedback seriously, worked on her weaknesses, and bounced back stronger. Her consistent performance in the 14th national championships earned her offers from various football clubs across India, and she landed with Kerala Blasters. In 2022, she also signed with a European football club — a rare achievement for an Indian woman footballer. "Today, Kiran is counted among India's top women footballers," Kujur said proudly.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Indian Super League officially put on hold as MRA negotiations stall
The Indian Super League (ISL), India's top-tier men's football division, was officially suspended on Friday after discussions regarding the future of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) failed to reach a resolution. The current MRA is set to expire on December 8, 2025, but with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) - the league's organising body - and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) unable to finalise terms for the next agreement, the ISL has been put on hold indefinitely. A formal notice announcing the decision was sent to the AIFF and all ISL clubs on July 11. 'While discussions between FSDL and AIFF on the potential renewal of the MRA were initiated several months ago, they remain inconclusive at this time. In the absence of a confirmed contractual framework beyond December, we find ourselves unable to effectively plan, organise, or commercialise the 2025–26 ISL season,' the notice said. 'Given this situation, we regret to inform you that we are currently not in a position to proceed with the 2025–26 ISL season and are placing it on hold until further clarity emerges on the contractual structure beyond end of current MRA term. We assure you that this decision has not been taken lightly,' it added. A source familiar with the developments told Sportstar, 'Given the circumstances, the league cannot realistically proceed by December. FSDL cannot finalise schedules, engage with media partners, sponsors, or even allow clubs to negotiate with their own sponsors.' 'This communication was sent to acknowledge the reality and ensure transparency—the ISL is on hold until a new contractual framework is agreed upon by all parties,' the source added. 🚨 NEW SPORTSTAR EDITION: FOCUS #IndianFootball 🚨 In the upcoming magazine edition, Sportstar presents a 23-page deep dive on the sorry state of affairs in the Indian football ecosystem. ☠️ How the ISL went from promise to peril ⚽️ I-League's irrelevance - exploring why it's… — Sportstar (@sportstarweb) July 3, 2025 Proposal and Counterproposal In March, FSDL submitted a draft proposal to the AIFF, suggesting the formation of a new holding company, ISL NewCo JV, where: 13 ISL clubs would hold 60% of the stakes FSDL would retain 26% The AIFF would hold the remaining 14%. The proposal also mandated the 'AIFF to recognise in Perpetuity, 'ISL NewCo JV' as the rights holder for India's top national league and NT matches,' the draft states. ALSO READ | AIFF prepones IWL season to help India team prepare for AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 However, the AIFF, which receives ₹50 crore annually from the current deal, proposed extending the MRA with a 5% yearly increase—a suggestion rejected by FSDL. 'Until the future contractual structure is finalised, the league will be put on hold because obviously, FSDL cannot start a league which it cannot end,' another source added. The decision comes as a catch-22 situation for both the AIFF and FSDL, as the Supreme Court has mandated the Federation not to negotiate a deal until the apex judicial body decides on the AIFF constitution, which is expected on July 18. The communique has had mixed reactions from the clubs, with most reserving their judgement while some focusing on the task at hand at the moment, the Durand Cup, which starts on July 22. Only six of the 13 clubs from the ISL will compete in the tournament. 'It's considerate of FSDL to keep the clubs informed. What they've communicated isn't entirely new to us. There's a difference between the league being put on hold and the season being cancelled,' Mandar Tamhane, the Chief Executive Officer of NorthEast United, said. 'At NorthEast United FC, we are fully focused on preparing to defend our Durand Cup title and remain hopeful that there will be clarity soon,' he added. Meanwhile, the AIFF was not available for comment when Sportstar reached out to them.
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
India coach Crispin Chettri's advice to charges after Asian Cup qualification: ‘You might be on top of this mountain but it's the bottom of another'
When India toppled hosts Thailand and qualified for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, head coach Crispin Chettri sank to his knees and fell into the arms of his colleagues. The coach tells The Indian Express about the emotional ride in Thailand and his vision for Indian women's football. Excerpts: There are times when you just freeze. You don't understand what happened. As a coach I am rarely expressive or emotional. My Odisha FC coaches were sending messages saying, 'For the first time we saw you on your knees.' I don't have exact words to describe it. I was sure that we would score goals. We concentrated on not conceding. We tried to organise ourselves defensively in training. However, the main thing was to not play with a defensive mindset. Sometimes when we do too many defensive drills, the players go into a defensive mindset. We tried to balance it out with some attacking drills. That attacking mindset helped us a lot. When the first goal went in, the belief grew stronger. One of the best goals (I have seen). In a fraction of a second she took control and the shot. We had a friendly against the Under-20 team in Bengaluru. She scored a banger like that with her left foot. She has been scoring goals like that in training also. In the previous matches in the qualifiers (too) she had been scoring regularly also. That was the main advantage. We had 7-8 goal-scorers. It speaks volumes about the mentality and the winning culture we wanted to create. We are not scared of losing, always try to go forward and score the goal. We focus on (chance creation). Helping a player score a goal is more important. Creating space for another player is much more important. So we see Sangita scoring the ball but the way Anju (Tamang) passed the ball, the way Rimpa (Haldar) and Anju combined, the way Pyari (Xaxa) moved and created that space for Sangita to move in and score that goal. The players did all the movements to make that happen was important. Mostly, I think yes. Our priority was to qualify. We also wanted to give game time to younger players like Kiran (Pisda), Malavika and Rimpa and so on. We did that. Only thing we wanted to give was more time to (goalkeepers) Mona (Monalisha Devi Moirangthem) and Payal (Basude), which we couldn't. The games came thick and fast. She is the kind of player who makes others around her look better because she takes that much load. Players like Sangita and Ratan deserve to score goals like those because they sacrifice everything for women's football. The things Sangita has gone through, recovered through all that pain, got back in the national team, in the starting eleven, she deserved to score those two important goals. Even if you had coached Mohun Bagan in the Kolkata derby, that pressure is nothing compared to the national team. All eyes are on you. Sometimes it gets to you, you make wrong decisions. Sometimes you are hyper in training and then you realise you were too harsh to the players. Definitely. The thing is that, sometimes you see things better than the players, you see what can be their optimum. Then when they relax, you don't like it. I have been a player and so I knew where that line is and when you cross and there were some situations where I crossed it. But that is part and parcel, sometimes that is how you trigger the players and get the best. I am from the hills and I told them that you might be on top of this mountain but that is always the bottom of another mountain. So we have to climb another mountain. Keep learning and growing as a team. What they need is the kind of support they are getting from everyone now. We were in the camp in Bengaluru for so many days, but nothing happened. Once Sunil (Chhetri) came and met the players, that was highlighted. These players deserve to be highlighted the way the men's players are. They would like to see fans singing their name. Right now, the right kind of exposure is needed. Australia will be a physical side, Japan would be the same. When we play friendly matches, we should be shrewd about who we face. We should play teams from African nations because they are quite physical so that by the time we reach the Asian Cup, I will know which players do well against physical opposition, who are suitable against opposition that is technically good and so on. So I want to see my players play in different kinds of scenarios. This should be planned out shrewdly. Maybe go to Australia a little early and acclimatise. We went to Thailand one week before the qualifiers and it helped us a lot. I was happy with what we had at (Padukone-Dravid Centre of Excellence), but we can always use better facilities. But there are so many other things also that help with improving performance. The better the facilities, the better chances of growing as a team. Rohit Mundayur is a Copy Editor with the Sports Team at The Indian Express. He works with the online team and is based out of Delhi. ... Read More
India Gazette
10-07-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
India U20 women's coach Joakim Alexandersson names 24-member travelling squad for Uzbekistan friendlies
New Delhi [India], July 10 (ANI): The Indian U20 women's team will play two friendly matches in Tashkent against Uzbekistan U20 women on July 13 and 16, as part of their preparations for the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, scheduled to be held from August 6 to 10 in Myanmar, as per the official website of AIFF. Swedish coach Joakim Alexandersson named a 24-member travelling squad that will depart from Bengaluru, where the Young Tigresses had been camping, on the night of July 10 and arrive in Tashkent on the morning of July 11. India will face Indonesia (August 6), Turkmenistan (August 8) and Myanmar (August 10) in Yangon in the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers. The group winners and three best runners-up across all eight groups will qualify for the final tournament Thailand next year. The 24-member squad includes goalkeeper Monalisha Devi Moirangthem, who was part of the senior team that secured a historic qualification to the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 in Thailand last week. She made one appearance in the Qualifiers and joined the U20 camp on July 7 after returning from Thailand. Melody Chanu Keisham, Shubhangi Singh, Viksit Bara, Sulanjana Raul, and Cindy Remruatpuii Colney have also trained with the senior team during their camp in Bengaluru, which is part of the broader AIFF vision to provide more exposure to players from a younger age. Paromita Sit is the assistant coach, Hameed KK is the goalkeeper coach, Karan Mane is the strength and conditioning coach. India U20 Women's 24-member travelling squad for Uzbekistan friendlies: Goalkeepers: Melody Chanu Keisham, Monalisha Devi Moirangthem, Ribansi Jamu. Defenders: Alina Chingakham, Cindy Remruatpuii Colney, Fragrancy Riwan, Juhi Singh, Nishima Kumari, Remi Thokchom, Sahena TH, Shubhangi Singh, Viksit Bara. Midfielders: Anju Chanu Kayenpaibam, Arina Devi Nameirakpam, Bhumika Devi Khumukcham, Khushbu Kashiram Saroj, Monisha Singha, Neha, Pooja. Forwards: Babita Kumari, Deepika Pal, Lhingdeikim, Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam, Sulanjana Raul. (ANI)
