Women’s Asian Cup: Optus Stadium to host Matildas in tournament opener in 2026

The Matildas will open their 2026 Women’s Asian Cup campaign in Perth, with Optus Stadium earning the honour of hosting the opening ceremony of the tournament.

Two-and-a-half years on from the Matildas’ 8-0 thrashing of The Philippines in front of 59,155 fans, the Australian national team will return to Optus Stadium for the cup’s opening game.

The decision comes off the back of the stadium getting the nod to open another major tournament - the 2027 Rugby World Cup - in another endorsement of its ability to house marquee events.

The March 1 opener will be one of 10 games Perth will host during next year’s Asian Cup, with Optus Stadium to host a semifinal as well.

HBF Park will also get in on the action as it prepares to host six group stage games - including four double-headers - and a pair of quarter-finals.

Perth hosted five group stage games at the Women’s World Cup in 2023, but no Australia games during their run to the semifinals.

2026 Women’s Asian Cup chief operating officer and ex-Matildas great Sarah Walsh said Perth was the perfect spot to launch the tournament, pointing to the city and state’s love of the round ball game.

“When we’re thinking about the holistic view of all the match content, where you open, where you close, we really needed to start strong,” she told The West Australian.

“There was really no better place to open up in Perth, with how well they did with the five matches. The WA Government here loves their football.

“That’s reflected in their investment into this tournament, but also community programs more broadly and so for us, we saw how Perth loved the Matildas when they played in the Olympic qualifiers against The Philippines.

“We’re expecting that to be packed to the rafters, but we’re also expecting to make sure it’s a celebration of culture and food and the Asian diaspora.”

Sydney’s Stadium Australia will host the final and the Matildas’ final group stage game.

As hosts, Australia have been drawn in Group A, which means they will not leave Sydney after the knock-out stages if they finish atop their group.

Japan, China and South Korea are the other three teams who have already qualified for the 12-team tournament.

Walsh said they wanted the tournament to celebrate not just Asian football, but also culture and diversity.

“There’s no doubt that by filling the stadiums and making sure that we create an atmosphere of one that actually celebrates multicultural Australia and the Asian diaspora,” she said.

“145,000 people here in Perth identify or have some kind of cultural connection to China. We don’t know where the teams will land, but we know that there’s communities out there.

“It’s not all about the Matildas; Matildas fans will turn up. We want to make sure these other countries are turning up and supporting their teams, and when they do turn up, that it’s a true celebration of their food, culture and heritage and some football.”

Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said the release of the match schedule marked the start of an exciting countdown.

“With the Matildas set to play in all three host cities, fans across the country will have the opportunity to witness world-class football as we showcase the very best of women’s football in Asia,” he said.

“This tournament is not only about the competition on the pitch – it is about uniting communities, celebrating our diversity, and building a lasting legacy for the growth of the women’s game in Australia.

“We look forward to welcoming Asia’s finest teams and creating an unforgettable experience for players, fans, and football lovers alike.”