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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Samantha Lewis at Stadium Australia

Matildas suffer heartbreak as Japan stunner wins third Women’s Asian Cup crown

Matildas captain Sam Kerr is left heartbroken after Japan beat Australia 1-0 in the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup final at Stadium Australia
Matildas captain Sam Kerr is left heartbroken after Japan beat Australia 1-0 in the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup final at Stadium Australia. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP

In a repeat of their past two finals, Japan has beaten Australia 1-0 to win their third Women’s Asian Cup title in front of a record crowd in Sydney on Saturday night.

A stunning first-half goal to winger Maika Hamano was enough for Asia’s only Women’s World Cup winners, viewed largely as the favourites coming into their seventh tournament final, to secure their first major trophy since 2018.

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