German sports broadcaster Sportdigital has acquired the rights to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and will begin coverage with the quarterfinals of the tournament currently taking place in Australia.
The competition features 12 teams and began with a group stage before moving into the knockout rounds. The quarterfinals kick off on 13 March, while the final is scheduled for 21 March 2026.
The tournament also serves as qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the finals in Brazil, while the losing quarterfinalists will compete in play-offs to determine two further World Cup participants.
The quarter-final fixtures are Australia vs North Korea, China vs Chinese Taipei, South Korea vs Uzbekistan, and Japan vs the Philippines.
Several of the biggest names in Asian women’s football are taking part in the tournament, including Sam Kerr of Chelsea Women, Japan forward Mina Tanaka, South Korea playmaker Ji So-yun and China midfielder Wang Shuang.
The tournament has also attracted political attention surrounding the Iran women’s national football team. Several players came under scrutiny after initially refraining from singing the national anthem and speaking publicly about security concerns. Following Iran’s elimination, five players applied for visas in Australia and were granted temporary permission to stay.
Reports about possible repercussions upon their return to Iran have triggered international debate, while some voices in Iran reportedly labelled the players “traitors”, adding a political dimension to the competition.
