Get ready for some epic football action Down Under! 🌏 Australia has officially been named host of the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, while Uzbekistan will take the spotlight for the 2029 edition. The Asian Football Confederation dropped the news today after its Executive Committee meeting in Bangkok – and fans are already buzzing! 🐝
This marks Australia's first time hosting the tournament since 2006, building on their rep as a women's sports powerhouse (remember the Matildas' iconic 2023 World Cup run? 👑). For Uzbekistan, the 2029 bid win signals Central Asia's growing role in football – and could give their women's team a major boost ahead of qualifiers.
⚡ Why it matters: The AFC called this decision a 'game-changer for gender equality in Asian football,' with president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa emphasizing 'opportunities for women on and off the pitch.' With record-breaking viewership in recent years, the cups could rival mainstream sporting events in their host regions.
