Summary
Thank you for joining me tonight. It was a fitting conclusion to a tournament that has grown in stature over the past three weeks. Australia gave everything and on another night would have benefited from the rub of the green and celebrated victory. But Japan were dominant for five and a half matches, then showed the fortitude of champions when it mattered most.
Samantha Lewis has filed her match report from Stadium Australia. I will hand you over to her and what is sure to be plenty of reaction and analysis tomorrow and through the week.
Congratulations Japan. I’ll see you back here soon.
As confetti rains down on a rapidly emptying Stadium Australia, Japan’s players, and coach Nils Nielsen, take their turn holding the trophy they thoroughly deserved after a stunning tournament.
Japan win the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup
With toy mascots in hand, medals draped around their necks, Japan rise as one in celebration behind skipper Yui Hasegawa as she hoists the Asian Cup to the sky.
Updated
Now it’s Japan’s turn, parading onto the stage through an Australian guard of honour.
A downcast home team, many in tears, accept Japan’s high-fives on their way to the podium to accept their runner-up medals.
Much to the delight of the crowd, Alanna Kennedy is named the tournament’s MVP. She scored five goals from her new station at the base of midfield, steering Australia into the final.
Updated
Riko Ueki wins the golden boot for the competition’s top goalscorer. She found the back of the net six times and could have easily added a couple more tonight before she was substituted.
Ayaka Yamashita is named the goalkeeper of the tournament. She was superb again tonight.
The match officials are first on the dais to accept their medallions. As a team they kept the game flowing, ignoring plenty of borderline fouls, never allowing the intensity ot dip. More of that please!
Credit to Japan, the best team over the six matches of the competition. They have exceptional technical ability and today matched that with guts and grit. For all the Matildas threw at them there was a blue jersey in the way blocking a shot, disrupting a header, or tracking a runner. The second half wasn’t pretty for Japanese fans but they can be mighty proud of their team’s ability to dig in when it mattered.
That played out much as expected, Japan’s composure and quality on the ball in the first half, honoured by a goal worthy of winning any match. Then Australia’s character in the second half, taking the game to their opponents, throwing everything they had in the final 20-30 minutes without anything breaking their way.
2014: Japan 1-0 Australia
2018: Japan 1-0 Australia
2022:
2026: Japan 1-0 Australia
Fulltime: Japan 1-0 Australia
Heartbreak for the Matildas in Sydney. Japan make it three in four Asian Cup triumphs.
Updated
90+4 mins: Arnold comes up and almost gets a head onto Catley’s delivery but Japan do enough and smother the ball clear.
90+3 mins: Superb ball through to Kerr that sticks to the skipper’s boot. She feeds Raso and her cross is headed behind for a corner. All or nothing?
90+2 mins: Australia hurl the ball long into the box then pick up the second ball. Every Japanese player is behind the ball as another hopeful punt is sent into the mixer. The volume of blue shirts tells as van Egmond then Torpey see efforts charged down.
90+1 mins: Japan safely navigate the first minute of injury time.
90 mins: Four minutes of added time is all that remains as Australia continue to pour against Japan’s blue wall.
89 mins: Kennedy! So so close! Was that the moment? Raso injects some urgency into proceedings, creating space for Carpenter on the right. The fullback takes her time and measures a sumptuous cross that Kennedy meets with force but Yamashita is equal to it diving low to her right.
88 mins: Australia can’t get the ball into a dangerous area as Wheatley, van Egmond and Carpenter play keep-ball on halfway.
87 mins: It’s attack v defence now as Australia lay siege to the Japan goal. Can they find a breakthrough?
85 mins: Van Egmond could score – twice! Great work down the right from Carpenter to find Raso, then underlap to great effect and pull the ball back top the penalty spot for van Egmond to lash against a Japanese defender. The rebound also falls kindly but that snapshot is also smothered. Gah!
84 mins: A little flow haas gone out of the match, which suits Japan.
83 mins: Now Montemurro goes to his bench, bringing on Wheeler and van Egmond for Cooney-Cross and – I’m surprised to say – Fowler. The latter was superb throughout.
82 mins: Japan resist, working their socks off not only to keep up with Australia on the ball but track every runner.
The injured Kitagawa finally makes way, as does Hasegawa, for Minami and Moriya.
81 mins: Carpenter surges, pushing Japan from a high press to a low block. She goes again, lofting a ball into the box but it’s too high for Kerr. Kennedy recycles, finding Foord. Fowler is busy. Australia again camp themselves in the final third, probing for an opening.
79 mins: The energy in Stadium Australia is rising as the Matildas grit their teeth and dig in for one final assault. Torpey feeds off the noise and turns a hopeful chase into a corner. This time the delivery reaches the far post but there’s no shot on goal. The Matildas recycle but the second effort is weak and Japan clear. Not only that, they slow the tempo and take some of the sting out of the rising crescendo.
77 mins: Australia are building! Fowler, who has been superb, continues to dictate play, dropping deep to accept possession then releasing Foord on the left. Her cross invites Raso to steam into the six-yard box but Japan have enough bodies in the danger zone to divert the ball away.
There’s a very rare stoppage in play to allow Kitagawa treatment for an injury she collected in that defensive action against Raso.
77 mins: The goalscorer Hamano is replaced by Chiba.
76 mins: Carpenter is the latest to throw herself into a contest and come out on top, sprinting away down the right touchline, but she also runs out of space for a cross and Japan clear.
75 mins: Australia are giving it their all. The game is currently on their terms. Can they find the shooting opportunities?
74 mins: Fowler shows great strength in midfield to win possession, then she drives at the heart of the Japanese defence, only to run out space and collide with Torpey as another decent opportunity fades away.
72 mins: Fowler’s delivery is awful and the energy evaporates from Stadium Australia. The second ball is eventually recycled and Fowler gets another opportunity but her cross from deep is too high for the leaping Kerr.
71 mins: The Matildas are now camped on the edge of the Japanese box, giving their foes a taste of their own medicine, circulating the ball, waiting for the moment to strike. Their patience earns a corner.
70 mins: Australia still on the front foot. Foord almost wriggles free. Raso is busy. Carpenter gets forward on the right. Nothing clear materialises.
68 mins: Torpey! Australia with some rare slow possession. The initial ball to the feet of Kerr is intercepted but Japan make a mess of the clearance. Torpey wins it back, feeds Foord on the left, then hares into the box. The cross finds her on the full but she gets her legs in a tangle and the volley dribbles harmlessly into the keeper’s gloves.
66 mins: Raso comes straight to the right wing, shifting Fowler into a No 10 position. That is Australia’s golden generation front four. If they can’t do it, can anyone?
64 mins: Fowler – the Australian with the most composure and vision in possession tonight – builds down the right. Into the space on the left goes the ball then over it’s swung to the far post but Carpenter gets to it fractionally after it’s gone out of play.
Time for Australia’s first substitution, and it’s the speed of Raso for the tenacity of Gorry.
63 mins: Japan threaten again after Wheatley is dispossessed coming out of defence but the Matildas have enough bodies and enough desperation to deny a clear shooting opportunity.
62 mins: Cooney-Cross is in the thick of the action again, dealing with the corner in the air then running it away from danger, drawing a valuable foul.
60 mins: Cooney-Cross tries the spectacular from long long range but she doesn’t get enough purchase on it. Japan go straight down the other end and earn a corner.
58 mins: Kitagawa, Hamano, and Nagano have linked superbly time and again down Japan’s left. Carpenter has had her hands full all evening dealing with the threat and barely had chance to rampage forward herself.
56 mins: Ueki should score again! Following a turnover Hamano feeds through an inch perfect pass for the striker to run onto without breaking stride, but from 10 yards out she belts her left-footed effort straight at Arnold!
And she’s immediately hooked afterwards, replaced by Matsukubo in the first substitution of the night.
55 mins: Japan spread play right to left, forward to back, for a couple of minutes, before threatening to raid down the left until an offside flag comes to Australia’s rescue.
53 mins: It should be 2-0! Ueki should seal the golden boot with a free header form six yards out after great work down the left and a beautiful cross from Kitagawa, but the effort is wide of Arnold’s near post.
52 mins: Catley has to swivel and hook clear an early cross from the left. Japan appear to have weathered that early storm and are back into their rhythm, stroking the ball around with ease.
52 mins: Japan win a second ball contest in midfield that sees Kerr sprawling, much to the displeasure of the crowd. They try to link up through the lines but Australia have the bit between their teeth early in this half.
50 mins: Now the Matildas build down the left with Torpey and Foord busy. The latter does well to keep play alive as possession is recycled through the middle until the ball is at the feet of Gorry to hook a snapshot that’s blocked off the boot. Australia with a concerted spell of pressure.
48 mins: Carpenter raids down the right, finds Fowler on the overlap, but the resulting cross is headed away. Australia come back again and find Kerr in the penalty area but she’s outnumbered and can’t fashion a shooting opportunity.
46 mins: Japan are immediately on the front foot but Carpenter bullies Kitagawa off the ball to snuff out the danger. Then just like the first half Australia send the ball into the channel for Kerr to chase, which she does effectively, but there’s nobody in the box to pick up the pieces of her scuffed cross.
The teams are back out for the second half. Japan are 45 minutes away from a dominant Asian Cup triumph.
“You’ve neglected to mention which team are the bees tonight and which are the flies,” comments Andrew Disseldorp, “and is sh*t tastier than honey?”
More on that here:
Chris Paraskevas puts his manager’s hat on. “Huge tactical conundrum for BJM (Big Joe Montemurro) with Torpey having a torrid first half and Carpenter often caught upfield out of position down the right.
Moving Steph Catley to centre-back to accomodate for a lack of pace in that area is logical: what is illogical is asking a decence with three speedsters (Carpenter, Torpey, Catley) to sit ridiculously deep against a midfield that thrive off time and space.
The sight of Fowler making sliding, last ditch tackles at right back should set alarm bells ringing amongst the coaching staff: this just isn’t clicking.
My suggestion? Move Kennedy into defence, Catley to full back and bring on Van Egmond’s for a touch of calm to the midfield.”
And on BJM’s stressed uncle look: “I feel you’ve missed a trick on Period 3 HSIE relief teacher: Mr. Montemurro. He is rocking the sideslung ID Badge, with just the lightest shades of Han Solo’s low-slung blaster. A subtle act of rebellion against the AFC? Even FIFA? It’s either that, or he looks like he runs one of those bars that sell Vodka Red Bull Buckets at the Full Moon Party in Thailand (the slung lanyard looks like a waist bag from behind).”
Kári Tulinius with the Japanese perspective. “Japan have conceded only one goal all tournament, and they’ve shown why today. That they combine that with goal threats from all over the line-up is the reason it will take something exceptional from the Matildas to win. I realize we’re a year out, but Nadeshiko must be considered one of the front runners for the World Cup, they’re that impressive.”
Agree entirely. The composure in possession is very impressive, and it’s not just possession for possession’s sake, you can see plans unfolding in real time with overlap runners and midfielders darting into the box. As Australia tire these incursions will become even more dangerous.
Phil; Withall with some half-time analysis. “Obviously the Matildas need to show a level of urgency, to push on at the opposition but I feel they need to slow the tempo of that attack. It all seems a bit too forced. Calm heads and patient probing are needed for now, over the top aggression can wait for later.”
I’m inclined to agree. I think the direct Plan A is the correct one, but it does look frantic and scattergun at times, as well as denying the midfield and defence any meaningful respite.
Half-time: Japan 1-0 Australia
The favourites lead at the break courtesy of a wonderful goal, worthy of winning any final. Australia have a mighty job on their hands but they are giving their all.
Updated
45+2 mins: Brilliant stand up wing-play and cross from Fujino but Wheatley gets her head to it.
45+1 mins: Foord again! For the third time tonight Caitlin Foord could (should?) score. A hopeful ball is turned into something by Kerr’s industry. She squares the ball along the six-yard box where it finds Foord among a couple of blue jerseys and with her back to goal. She swivels and strikes in one swift motion but drags the effort wide.
Updated
45 mins: Japan do it again, slower this time, flicking and glancing and sliding the ball short distances at great speed and varying angles, keeping Australia at bay. A couple of crosses come to nought at the end of it.
43 mins: Glorious, absolutely glorious from Japan. They work the ball through the lines from back to front slickly until a dangerous cross from the right is headed away in desperation by Cooney-Cross. Miyazawa then leathers the second ball first time on the volley but straight at Arnold.
41 mins: Lovely close control from Japan to extricate themselves from the right corner in defence to the left wing in attack, before an offside flag rescues the Matildas. Japan’s technical ability is exceptional.
39 mins: Foord tries to take on the Japan defence alone down the left but can’t beat her direct opponent then fouls Takahashi in her bid to regain possession. I don’t mind that, Foord has the skill to beat a fullback with trickery and it’s clear intricate ball movement isn’t going to be Australia’s friend tonight.
38 mins: The decibels raise to signify a rare Australia attack as Foord collects a clearance and sets off – but she’s isolated. The Arsenal star recycles possession well and finds Fowler but Kennedy can’t bring the wall pass under control on the edge of the box and the opportunity ebbs away.
37 mins: Australia’s hopeful balls out of defence have turned from possible through-balls for Kerr into desperate hacks clear. Japan are bossing this.
36 mins: Japan are getting plenty of joy down their left, overlapping, overloading, and timing the pass inside or outside, confounding Australia’s defence. The latest corner is dealt with initially but Nagano looks dangerous from the follow-up until she’s crowded out. The final ball is pumped to the far post where Australia have enough bodies to shepherd the danger away.
35 mins: Another golden opportunity for Foord! She fashioned it herself, closing down the goalkeeper and intercepting the ball just inside the Japan box, but from a tight angle she lashes her shot miles wide. Australia have to make the most of those opportunities the way this hame is panning out.
Updated
34 mins: Japan are slowly asphyxiating Australia in the wide open spaces of Stadium Australia. The Matildas are exerting so much energy chasing blue jerseys they are increasingly stretched when they regain possession. The sporadic cheers from the crowd are from necessary defensive interventions, not slick interplay in the forward line.
32 mins: Fowler does superbly to track the overlap on the left then hook her boot into a challenge and divert the ball out for a throw. Japan reload quickly though and Miyazawa has a snapshot volley loop over the bar.
31 mins: Everything good from Australia has come from speculative balls forward or the industry of Fowler on the right. The left flank has been underserved.
30 mins: Hasegawa’s delivery is headed away by Catley and the follow up from Nagano is ballooned over the bar.
29 mins: Gorry is playing almost as an advanced spoiler, hurtling around like a Jack Russell Terrier chasing a dormouse. It’s an effective ploy, denying Japan the time they crave to build methodically from back to front. There is the occupational hazard of a foul though, and one allows Japan to build down the right, resulting in another infringement and a decent set piece opportunity.
Updated
27 mins: Another hack forward from Australia is turned into a handy long pass by Kerr’s strength. She holds up possession but the resulting cross is straight into the gloves of Yamashita.
25 mins: Kennedy flicks on a Torpey throw into the penalty area but the pullback is again hacked away by a Japanese defender. Japan’s defensive unit is operating effectively so far in broken play.
23 mins: Australia muscle the ball back in midfield then build down the right again through Fowler. Gorry, Kennedy, Catley, Foord, all get involved as play switches to the left. Foord almost wriggles free to fashion a cross but Japan hold their shape.
21 mins: Fowler and Carpenter link well on the right but the ball into Cooney-Cross is nicked away. The Matildas go long over the top and Kerr shows her turn of speed to reach it and cut back to the edge of the box but Japan head clear with Foord winding up for the volley.
Updated
20 mins: The first pause in proceedings as Koga receives some treatment for a shoulder injury. Montemurro uses the opportunity to get his team around him and bark some new instructions.
19 mins: Foord and Kerr hassle and harry the Japanese defence to force a turnover. Gorry whips over the early cross but there’s only Katrina Gorry – nicknamed Mini – running onto it, and she can’t get enough purchase onto her header.
18 mins: And now Ueki almost gets a free header on the penalty spot. Japan have bared their teeth in impressive fashion.
GOAL! Japan 1-0 Australia (Hamano, 17)
Japan settle into their rhythm of pass and move in front of the Australian defence. The Matildas are happy to back off, inviting their opponents to stroke the ball around – until Hamano unleashes an absolute beauty from the left edge of the box! What a strike! Kennedy stepped off her and she was made to pay with an absolutely scorching curling effort that left the diving Arnold no chance.
Updated
16 mins: Japan pick up a second ball from a long diagonal headed away by Australia then take their time to work the overlap on the left. The low cross is sent behind by Wheatley. Japan get too cute with the corner.
14 mins: Australia are physical and urgent, winning most challenges where the ball is in dispute. Fowler has been noticeable for her intent – backed up by a couple of excellent through-balls after gaining possession.
10 mins: Foord should score! Australia are reliant on Catley and Wheatley for their “out” balls and after passing it among themselves Wheatley sends the ball through the lines until Fowler wins a 50:50 on the edge of the box and slips through a would-be assist for Foord but the Arsenal striker shoots straight at Yamashita with plenty of room either side.
Updated
8 mins: After that early excitement at both ends the game has settled down into more of a strategic battle. Japan are keen to play out from the back, make the pitch as wide and long as possible in order to create as much space for their pass-and-move to operate in. Australia are currently sticking to their task and force a couple of goal-kicks as the visitors overhit crucial passes in the final third.
6 mins: Joe Montemurro cuts the figure of a stressed uncle in his technical area. With his five o’clock shadow, white button down oxford shirt and blue chinos he looks like he’s just hassled a bunch of kids out of his SUV at the school gate before dashing to the office. Clearly an upgrade on Tony G’s Backstreet Boys centre part.
Updated
4 mins: But Japan immediately look dangerous with their first attack. The overlapping fullback run on the left leads to a cross to the far post where Fujino drills a cross-cum-shot that is hacked away. Japan recycle possession and come again down the right twice in quick succession but the crosses are poor and Torpey can clear. Again Japan raid down the right with Takahashi prominent, but yet again a poor low cross is dealt with, this time by Arnold, who can hold onto the ball and give her team some breathing space.
3 mins: This is a very good start from the Matildas, denying Japan the ball in midfield and snapping into challenges whenever there’s a loss of possession.
2 mins: One of those training ground moves occurs with Catley finding Fowler on the right. She does well to cut inside and find Kerr in the box but her snapshot is weak and is deflected wide. Catley’s corner is poor and Japan clear at the near post.
1 mins: Australia ping the ball around neatly between defence and midfield, giving just about everyone form the home team an early touch. The first mode of attack is to feed the feet of Cooney-Cross and Kennedy with their backs to goal, looking for the return pass to Wheatley or Catley who can then launch long diagonals to Foord and Kerr.
Kick off!
The final of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is under way…
Australia go for the full squad huddle, Japan the starters v subs high-10s. We’re all set in Sydney.
A reminder of the two line-ups:
📋 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗨𝗣𝗦 | 🇯🇵 Japan 🆚 Australia 🇦🇺
— #WAC2026 (@afcasiancup) March 21, 2026
This isn’t just a final. This is a battle for legacy!
One final moment that will define history. Who wants it more?
Watch 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀: https://t.co/iqCP4a0HEz#WACFinal | #WAC2026 | #JPNvAUS pic.twitter.com/SuIAnA5TKC
“A sell out stadium, the potential for a spectacularly competitive final and just the fact this is happening are all huge wins for Australian football,” emails Phil Withall. “The op-ed pieces about every game not being sold out and this meaning women’s football has somehow missed something, are proven to be the waffle they are. Go Matildas!”
Out come the two sets of players to deafening cheers. Stadium Australia looks pretty much full as the two teams stand for the national anthems.
Chris Paraskevas is tuning in as the sides line up in the tunnel, waiting to take the field of play.
“Re: attendance “issues” I think there are a whole heap of variables (including economic) that need to be factored in, as well as promotional (Asian Cup doesn’t have the name of the World Cup) mixed in with some natural public “fatigue” with so many Matildas games having been played and televised.
The results and performances since the WC have been a little unconvincing, though the ongoing presence (fitness) of our various match winners and X Factor players means we are a threat when not playing well: Foord, Kerr, Rasso, Fowler, Kennedy (the latter has really taken over as the team’s General on the pitch and added a touch of class to her game over time).
I’m not sure Joe M has evolved our style all that much, or widened our squad talent pool too much either. I suppose minor evolution rather than revolution, though I suspect he agrees with the above re: star power, and first and foremost wants to keep his big guns fit and happy.
Honestly, it can be dull and pragmatic, but it has got them to a final where they are a serious threat to a world class Japan side (serious depth, players at top clubs and in form).
Really hope this golden generation can stamp their legacy with a trophy - there’s a lot on the line here.”
What to look out for tonight? Put simply, this will be a clash of possession v counterattack and collective quality v individual brilliance.
Japan have completed the most passes by far this tournament. They have long prospered by utlising a precise pass-and-move style that has drawn comparison to the Spanish golden age of tiki-taka. Pay close attention to the speed of ball movement, especially the quick one-touch combinations in midfield involving Manchester United’s Hinata Miyazawa, Manchester City’s Yui Hasegawa, and Liverpool’s Fuka Nagano.
Australia, by contrast, have looked most dangerous in transition, so they will be happy to defend in a mid-block and spring forward as quickly as possible. This utilises the blistering speed of Ellie Carpenter overlapping down the right, the hold-up play of Sam Kerr to bring teammates into play, and the vision of Mary Fowler to execute the killer through-ball. The Matildas are likely to rely more on isolated moments than concerted pressure, which is where the big-game performers like Caitlin Foord come into their own, as well as golden boot contender Alanna Kennedy.
G Flip takes the nostalgia back to the late 80s as she moves from the microphone to the drum kit to rattle out a cover of All Fired Up (written by Melburnian Kerryn Tolhurst before it was sent stratospheric by Pat Benatar).
Both teams will be wearing their home strips tonight. Japan in blue, Australia in green and gold.
キックオフまで...
— JFAなでしこサッカー (@jfa_nadeshiko) March 21, 2026
あと30分⏳
開催国・オーストラリアとの最終決戦へ⚔️
🏆AFC女子アジアカップオーストラリア2026
⚔️決勝
🗓️3.21(土) ⌚️18:00(🇯🇵)
🆚オーストラリア女子代表🇦🇺
🏟Stadium Australia(オーストラリア)
📱DAZN(https://t.co/lNOMs0e68H)#WAC2026 @afcasiancup #なでしこジャパン… pic.twitter.com/5gIZQNoW8U
Tonight's kit for the final 👀🧵
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) March 21, 2026
🇯🇵v🇦🇺 21.03.26 8pm AEDT
🏟️: Stadium Australia, Sydney
📺💻📱: @10FootballAU #Matildas #HowWeWaltz #TilitsDone #WAC2026 pic.twitter.com/YxZAFat73B
The Welcome to Country has just been delivered. Now it’s time for the prematch entertainment, G Flip, with some early 00s nostalgia.
This will be the 29th time these two sides have met. Japan hold the upper hand with 12 wins to Australia’s eight.
The most recent clash was almost exactly one year ago at the SheBelieves Cup in Houston with Japan running out 4-0 winners. Nine of Australia’s likely starting XI started that match, but it did come during the interminable interregnum between Tony Gustavsson and Joe Montemurro when the Matildas were in the midst of a run of five defeats in seven outings.
Channel 10 (the host broadcaster in Australia) is describing the match as a sell-out, which is an incredible achievement.
Conditions are not ideal for a showpiece. It is muggy with the potential for thunderstorms later on in the night. There was rain around earlier but it should be dry for the majority of the game. Temperatures are in the mid-20s.
Has this tournament been a success? Objectively yes, but since the incredible 2023 World Cup on Australian soil and resulting heightened expectations, the nuanced answer is not so straightforward.
Although the Matildas have struggled to sell out their matches, they will have attracted about 250,000 attenders over three weeks, and ticket sales for the tournament have beaten the previous Women’s Asian Cup record by a factor of five.
Organisers had to spread a tournament of only a handful of elite teams across three states in a compressed schedule, just as Australia’s sporting eyes were turned by the start of the AFL and NRL seasons, as well as the Formula One grand prix in Melbourne.
Japan XI
Japan start with the same XI that dispensed with South Korea in the semi-finals. Riko Ueki leads the line, and with six goals is one strike in front of Australia’s Alanna Kennedy in the race for the golden boot.
1 A. Yamashita, 4 S. Kumagai, 5 H. Takahashi, 6 T. Koga, 7 H. Miyazawa, 9 R. Ueki, 10 F. Nagano, 13 H. Kitagawa, 14 Y. Hasegawa, 15 A. Fujino, 17 M. Hamano
Substitutes: 2 R. Shimizu, 3 M. Minami, 8 K. Seike, 11 M. Tanaka, 12 C. Hirao, 16 Y. Yamamoto, 18 H. Hayashi, 19 M. Tanikawa, 20 M. Matsukubo, 21 M. Moriya, 23 A. Okuma, 24 Y. Narumiya, 25 R. Chiba, 26 M. Hijikata
Australia XI
Joe Montemurro has made one change to his starting XI with Wini Heatley coming in for Clare Hunt, as she did during the second-half of the semi-final against China. Montemurro is a big fan of Heatley’s ball-playing as a right-footed centre-half alongside the left-footed Steph Catley.
This is a team packed with experience. Five of Australia’s starting XI have earned more than 100 caps – and tonight Ellie Carpenter moves to 99. Only Heatley and Kaitlyn Torpey have fewer than 50. They will never be more ready.
STARTING XI 🗒
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) March 21, 2026
Here's how we line up for the Final of #WAC2026 against Japan 👊
🔄 We make one change to the side that beat China PR, with Wini Heatley coming into the centre of defence.#Matildas #JPNvAUS #HowWeWaltz #TilitsDone pic.twitter.com/4dLCEWNIs5
But as Martin Pegan writes, despite Australia’s home advantage Japan deserve to start as clear favourites.
The world No 6 arrived at the tournament as the team to beat and have since cemented their place as the favourites across a near-flawless campaign.
Both coaches did their best to avoid favouritism during their pre-match press confereces.
“We are talking about a final in a major tournament. Both teams can win. They have 50% chance of winning,” Nils Nielsen said.
“There’s no favourites in the final, it’s the best team and the one who wants it more and the one who is smart enough to manage the moments,” added Joe Montemurro.
Jack Snape has been following the tournament since day one, and he sets the scene from Sydney.
Unless Kerr and co are embarrassed by Japan on Saturday in a match in Sydney expected to draw in excess of 70,000 fans, the tournament has at least helped repair the Matildas’ reputation after two unsettling years…Saturday also has them looking up for the first time since the 2023 World Cup, wondering again how high they might climb, and what future will be theirs.
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Japan v Australia in the final of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Kick-off at Sydney’s Stadium Australia is 8pm AEDT.
This is the most consequential football match on Australian soil since Spain defeated England in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final almost three years ago. It is the most significant fixture involving an Australian national team since Ange Postecoglou led the Socceroos to continental glory in 2015. There has been no shortage of hype around this golden generation of Matildas and they finally have the chance to honour it with silverware.
The hosts will have the majority of a 60,000+ crowd behind them but they will enter the decider as underdogs. Japan have reached at least the semi-finals of every Asian Cup since 1986, winning two out of the past three titles. They haven’t lost a match in 90 minutes in the competition since 2010. That defeat came at the hands of eventual champions Australia. A 90th minute substitute that day: 16-year-old Samantha May Kerr.
A generation on, Kerr is the only surviving member of the class of 2010 and she will captain a side packed full of close friends that blossomed alongside each other into what could prove to be their defining battle.
I’ll be back with all the build up, team news, and insight from Stadium Australia shortly. If you want to join in during the evening, you can reach me at jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com.
