Asian Cup Final Preview: Hosts Australia take on Japan
In a final that many predicted from the start, host nation Australia, buoyed by a home crowd and a ‘never say die’ attitude, take on terrifyingly clinical Japan in the final of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup on Saturday at 9AM (GMT).
The competition has showcased the joys of tournament football for players and communities alike with Uzbekistan making it out of the group stages for the first time in their history and 250,000 spectators entering stadiums across the country, a 5X increase from the previous record. From last minute Alanna Kennedy headers and an eleven goal thrashing in the group stage by Japan, the final could shape up to be a very exciting end to a historic tournament.
What is the Asian Cup?
The Asian Cup is the Asian Football Confederations (AFC) competition, comprising national teams across Asia (Australia joining from the Oceania Confederation in 2006), with the same format as UEFA’s Euro’s, COMENBOL’s Copa América or AFCON, it’s also the final stage in AFC’s FIFA World Cup qualifying process.
All teams who made it to the semifinal stage will travel to Brazil in 2027, with a play-off also seeing DPR Korea and the Philippines securing their spot. The Matilda’s became Australia’s favorite sporting team during their home 2023 World Cup, with 11.5 million people watching their quarter final against France paving their way to their first semi final after Makenzie Arnold’s shot stopping heroics in the longest penalty shoot out in the competition's history.
With 16 consecutive home sell outs after the tournament ending only last year, playing tomorrow's final in the same stadium as Sam Kerr game the Aussies hope against England in the World Cup semi-finals, the team will be hoping to give the home crowd in Sydney’s Stadium Australia, a win to celebrate.
Head-to-Head
Japan have consistently been an incredibly formidable opponent on the international stage, winning the World Cup in 2011 and already having won the AFC Asian Cup twice in 2014 and 2018, both in fact, against Australia. Two 1-0 wins is all that’s separated the sides in the previous title deciders, with Japan hoping tomorrow will see another title under their belt.
Japan are currently FIFA ranked 6th in the world with Australia 15th, two of the highest ranked in the AFC making a match up a predictable and exciting end to the competition. The last match up between the sides came in the 2025 SheBelievesCup where Japan thrashed the Tillies 4-0, two scored by Tanaka, in the squad tomorrow. Then manager Tony Gustavsson called the loss “unaustralian” and it came in a particularly difficult period for the Matildas losing all three games of the competition.
Australia last beat Japan in October 2018 with a 2-0 win with the sides very familiar with each other's play. Since then, Japan have become an increasingly frightening force for opposition, beating eventual champions Spain in the 2023 World Cup 4-0, and in this competition they have scored 28 goals and conceded just 1, with the Golden Boot front runner Riko Ueki getting 6 for her country. Australia have so far scored 12 and conceded 5, making Saturday’s final an interesting matchup where Australia will be looking to surprise Japan.
Familiar Faces
Fans of the WSL will recognise many of the players going head-to-head on the global stage. 12 Matildas and 16 Japanese players play their club football in England, top scorer Ueki based at West Ham and centre back Alanna Kennedy, scoring 5 goals for her country this tournament, moved to London City Lionesses in the summer, having previously played at Manchester City. The Arsenal trio, Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross will have recent memories of final wins after lifting the Champions League trophy in May, they will be hoping to add even more silverware to their arsenal tomorrow.
Man City’s “magician” Yui Hasegawa will undoubtedly be in the midfield of Japan tomorrow with Chelsea’s Maika Hamano (currently on loan at Tottenham Hotspur) scoring her first goal of the competition against South Korea in the semifinals, seen visibly emotional at the final whistle at the prospect of playing an international final. Chelsea’s Sam Kerr has had an uncertain run at club level since her return from an ACL injury at the beginning of the WSL season, having only 1 start since her return and questions of her future at the club circling, the Asian Cup has given her “some confidence”, the captain scoring 4 goals and hoping to add more.
In a home competition where so many play in Europe, the 5 Matilda’s who play in Australia including Holly McNamara of Melbourne City are significant in growing the domestic game.
Australia's Run to the Final
The Matilda’s came second in their group after beating the Philippines 1-0 in Perth on the opening day, followed by a convincing 4-0 win over Iran with an Amy Sayer’s wondergoal (or was it a cross?), Alanna Kennedy brace and lengthy VAR checks. The final game of the group against South Korea was a harder battle versus the team that knocked the Matildas out at the quarter final stage 4 years ago. A hard fought 3-3 draw, levelled by Kennedy in the 90+8 saw the team progress to the knockout stages.
They progressed to the quarter final stage without vice-captain Catley or Frankfurt’s Haley Raso but a physical 2-1 win against Korea booked their place at the World Cup and a semi-final against China, reigning champions of the competition. Whilst China dominated the game and Arnold conceded a first half penalty, the defense worked hard with Foord and Kerr on the scoresheet in her home town of Perth carving their road to Sydney.
Japan's Run to the Final
It's been goals galore for Japan in this competition, winning their group with an aggregate score of 17-0 against Chinese Taipai, Vietnam and an 11-0 demolition of India in their second game. 6 different players scored that night in Perth, West Ham’s Ueki and Manchester United’s Miyazawa scoring a hattrick with Brighton’s Riko Seike getting a brace.
The team continued their highly technical possessional style of play with 7 goals against the Philippines followed by a 4-1 win against South Korea who were runners up in 2022, securing Nadeshiko Japan’s place in Sydney.
Managers Said
Ahead of the final, the Matilda’s Manager Joe Montemurro (previously of Arsenal and Juventus) stressed that this is a “different Australian team” than in previous Asian Cup finals, citing their “levels of adaptability”. With tight results throughout the competition, he praised the team's ability to “find a way” with fullback Ellie Carpenter highlighting the squad's ‘never say die’ attitude reminiscent of their World Cup slogan ‘not done till it’s done’.
A loud home crowd will also surely edge the Matilda’s advantage, a massive factor in their 4th place run in the last World Cup, playing a final on home soil is a “once in a lifetime opportunity” says Carpenter, with Catley aware it only takes “one moment to win”.
Tactically Australia will look to bring their aggressiveness, physicality and speed into the game, playing to Japan’s weaknesses. Despite tactical talk, Australia are largely seen as the underdogs due to Japan's flying form but both managers were keen to stress the 50-50 chance of success.
Japan manager Nils Nielsen, former manager of Switzerland and hailing from Greenland, answered the question of Japan as favorites more poetically than Montemurro. “It’s like asking a bee to explain to a fly, why honey is better than s***?” wanting people to respect that a final is won in 90 minutes not previous statistics, the winner is unpredictable until the final whistle is blown.
Captain Hasegawa is “happy to play in a country where women's football is so popular” and Nadeshiko Japan are “full of belief” ahead of the clash with Nielsen hoping he can continue Japan's dazzling recent form against the home side.
Whilst the Champions of the Asian Cup will be crowned tomorrow, sides will hope that the tournament's legacy lives on. They will welcome upwards of 76,000 through the door in Sydney and hope to continue inspiring the next generation of footballers as a defining celebration of multiculturalism, the beauty of Asian football and passionate fan cultures. Whatever tomorrow's result, teams will look ahead to success in Brazil and more history to be made at the next AFC Asian Cup in Uzbekistan 2029.