The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, set to be held in Australia from March 1 to March 21, features a highly competitive field where Australia, Japan, and North Korea are the primary favourites to lift the trophy. Under coach Nils Nielsen, they boast a squad with 16 players based in England's WSL, including Manchester City's Yui Hasegawa and 2023 World Cup top scorer Hinata Miyazawa. They are highly favored due to their recent dominance in youth football, having won the U-17 and U-20 Women's World Cups in 2024. Key PlayersChoe Il-son (North Korea)At 19, she enters the tournament as a breakout star after winning both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the 2024 U-20 World Cup. Beyond continental glory, the stakes are high as the top four teams (semi-finalists) will qualify directly for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 28, 2026 06:48 UTC