latestnews

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ cemented its place in history by setting a new total attendance record of 82,371, after Thursday’s Group A fixture between Australia and the Islamic Republic of Iran drew a crowd of 22,398 at the Gold Coast Stadium.

The match saw the 21st edition of the Continental showpiece eclipse the previous tournament attendance record of 59,910, which was set in Chengdu, China PR, in 2010 when Australia were crowned champions.

This follows an unforgettable opening match at Perth Stadium on Sunday, which drew almost 45,000 fans to set a new benchmark for Asia’s premier women’s national team competition.

Hailing the historic moment, AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John said: “This is a defining chapter in the legacy of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ and a powerful testament to how far women’s football has come.

“We are only a week into the competition and have already recorded multiple milestones, and this achievement fills us with great hope. We are confident it has already inspired new generations to dream bigger and act fearlessly, and we look forward to many more wonderful moments that Australia 2026 will showcase.”

Chief Operating Officer of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Local Organising Committee, Sarah Walsh, said: “To have a full house here on the Gold Coast is an incredible statement and a credit to the fans who turned out in force. The energy and passion the supporters have brought to this tournament is what makes it truly special.

“Capacity crowds this early in the tournament demonstrate the strength of women’s football and the opportunity to deliver the biggest and most successful AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ in history.”

Leading up to the opener on March 1, the competition had already celebrated numerous firsts, including the introduction of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™’s first-ever bespoke official matchball, WAVEMAKER, the debut of its official mascot, Naara the Fire Horse, and the launch of the competition’s first official anthem, That’s How We Win, further cementing Australia 2026 as a landmark edition in the history of women’s football.