AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026: All you need to know about quarterfinals
The winners of the quarterfinals will book a spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil.
Though the Indian national women’s football team were eliminated in the group stage, the quarterfinals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 will still be an affair that you shouldn’t miss. Four unbeaten teams are still in the competition, with Japan and China boasting a 100% record in the group stage.
Aside from a semi-final berth, the winners of the four quarter-finals will also book their place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. Since two more spots will be up for grabs, the four losing quarterfinalists will play in two one-off games to determine the last two teams to qualify for the global event in Brazil.
Talking about the knockout ties, interestingly, defending champions China and the biggest contenders for the title – Japan – are on opposite sides of the draw. Hence, the dream final between the two nations is still a possibility. Both sides have faced each other thrice in previous AFC Women’s Asian Cup finals, with China winning on all three occasions.
Here is a look at the four AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 quarter-finals
QF 1: Australia vs North Korea
The first of the four quarterfinals is set to kick off on Friday at 3:30 pm IST with hosts Australia welcoming North Korea. The Matildas are ranked 15th in the world, whereas their opponents are ranked 9th in the FIFA Women’s rankings.
Though the odds will be against the hosts, with the backing of the home crowd, they will have wind in their sails for this match. Australia were unbeaten in the group stage with two draws and a loss, whereas North Korea lost to China in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
QF 2: China vs Chinese Taipei
A Central Asian derby takes centre stage in Australia, and it would see China go in as firm favourites in the second quarterfinals. Kick-off scheduled on Saturday at 10:30 am IST. History and current form are against Chinese Taipei in this game as they have never won against the Dragons in eight attempts.
China won all three group games and the defending champions look eager to win their 10th Women’s Asian Cup title. The winner of this game will face the winner of quarterfinal 1.
QF 3: South Korea vs Uzbekistan
Ranked 49th in the Women’s FIFA Rankings, Uzbekistan are the lowest-ranked nation to make it to the quarterfinals. They finished third in Group B and made it through as one of the best third-placed teams on goal difference.
South Korea will go into this game as the favourites, and kick-off is scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 pm IST.
QF4: Japan vs Phillippines
On paper, Japan is going to cruise through this game and will comfortably march on to the semi-finals. The Nadeshiko were dominant in Group C, winning all three games without conceding a goal and ending with a +17 goal difference. Japan’s 11-0 win over India was the biggest in this year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
The Philippines finished third in Group A, with their only win coming against Iran. The quarterfinal will kick off at 10:30 am IST on Sunday, with the winner scheduled to play the winner of quarterfinal 3 in the semifinal.
AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 quarter-finals fixtures
| Sl No | Team 1 | Team 2 | Venue | Date | Time (IST) | Watching Platform (India) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia Women’s National Football Team | North Korea Women’s National Football Team | HBF Park | Friday, March 13 | 3:30 PM | FanCode |
| 2 | China Women’s National Football Team | Chinese Taipei Women’s National Football Team | HBF Park | Saturday, March 14 | 10:30 AM | FanCode |
| 3 | South Korea Women’s National Football Team | Uzbekistan Women’s National Football Team | Accor Stadium | Saturday, March 14 | 2:30 PM | FanCode |
| 4 | Japan Women’s National Football Team | Philippines Women’s National Football Team | Accor Stadium | Sunday, March 15 | 10:30 AM | FanCode |
Where to watch the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 quarterfinals live globally outside India?
DAZN will broadcast the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 matches live in Japan, whereas the host country, Australia, has given its hosting rights to Paramount.
In the Middle East countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq and Jordan, viewers can tune in to beIN Sports for the live action of this game.Find more about different continents and streaming options here..
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Aasif, a football fan turned writer, has been writing about the sport since 2020. Based in Chennai, it is no surprise that love for Chennaiyin FC runs in his blood. Apart from Indian football, Aasif has also written and edited articles extensively about European football.