Who: Japan vs Australia
Content: AFC Women’s Asian Cup Final
Location: Stadium Australia, Sydney
When: Saturday 8pm (09:00 GMT)
How to follow: All content will be broadcast on Al Jazeera Sports from 06:30 GMT, ahead of a live text commentary stream.
Two-and-a-half years after their dreams of a Women’s World Cup on home soil came to a heartbreaking end, Australia are back on the same turf looking for redemption.
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Ghosts of the past may still linger, but Saturday’s final will offer much more to the Matildas’ golden generation. It’s a chance to rewrite their story and lift their first major trophy in front of their fans.
Australia, seeking a second continental title, will take on two-time heavyweight champions Japan in the blockbuster Women’s Asian Cup final at Sydney’s Stadium Australia. This was the same venue where the Matildas lost 3-1 to eventual runners-up England in the 2023 World Cup semi-finals.
While many believe Australia will be the favorites to lift the trophy this weekend, history tells a different story. The Matildas have lost both of their previous continental finals against Japan, and the hosts hope the third time will be the charm.
Al Jazeera Sports takes a closer look at the final and what to expect from both teams.
How did Australia and Japan reach the final?
Both Australia and Japan advanced to the finals undefeated, with Australia finishing second in Group A and Japan taking first place in Group C.
Australia, ranked 15th in the FIFA world rankings, defeated the Philippines 1-0 and defeated Iran 4-0, but had to fight out a 3-3 draw with South Korea in their final group match.
In the final tournament, Australia defeated North Korea 2-1 in the quarter-finals, and were brutally tested by China, who have won a record nine times, in the semi-finals, winning 2-1.
In contrast, the tournament’s top team, world No. 6 Japan, dominated from the start, defeating Taiwan 2-0 to open the tournament. They then defeated India 11-0 and Vietnam 4-0, allowing Nadeshiko to advance to the final tournament without conceding a goal.
They dominated the Philippines 7-0 in the quarterfinals and defeated South Korea 4-1 in the semifinals, reminding fans why they are the most dangerous team in the tournament.
How many times have Australia and Japan played against each other?
Australia and Japan are familiar foes, having played each other 30 times. The decisive clashes occurred in the 2014 and 2018 Women’s Asian Cups, where Japan defeated Australia 1-0 in both tournaments’ finals.
Saturday’s match also marks Australia’s first appearance in the final since losing in the 2018 tournament.
The last time Australia and Japan met was a little more than a year ago at the SheBelieves Cup in the United States. Japan defeated Australia 4-0 and aimed for the championship.
How many times have Australia and Japan won the Asian Cup?
Australia have won the Women’s Asian Cup once, their only major title coming in China in 2010, when the Matildas defeated North Korea 5-4 on penalties. The first goal in the final was scored by current captain Sam Kerr, who was only 16 years old at the time.
Japan has won the Asian Cup twice, in 2014 and 2018, but finished as runners-up four times (1986, 1991, 1995 and 2001).
Japan is also the only Asian team to win the Women’s World Cup, defeating the United States in a penalty shootout at the 2011 tournament in Germany.
How much is the winner’s prize?
In addition to continental bragging rights, the champion will receive a check for $1.8 million, the same prize money from 2022 and lower than comparable tournaments in confederations outside Oceania.
By comparison, the winner of the 2023 Men’s Asian Cup took home $14.8 million in prize money.
Kerr shines in Australia, Ueki leads Japan
Australian captain Kerr, who was sidelined for two years with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, entered the 2026 tournament with doubts about his fitness and the burden of restoring pride to the Matildas.
Now, with four goals in five games, including a stunning winner in Tuesday’s semi-final, the 32-year-old striker has silenced any doubters and put his team back in the national spotlight.
“I know I can be one of the best players in the world and I’m proving that in this tournament,” the Chelsea striker said of his recent form.
Along with Kerr, central midfielder Alana Kennedy was a scoring machine for the Tillies, scoring five goals in as many games and finishing second on the top scorer list, while Caitlin Ford was a key playmaker with three assists.
However, all eyes in the tournament were on Japan’s Riko Ueki, who came out on top with six goals in four games, including an incredible hat-trick off the bench against India.
The striker has often been a key part of Japan’s front three, causing headaches for opponents alongside winger Kiko Seike, who has scored four goals in four games.
Japan national team coach says Matilda is a “huge favorite”
Japan manager Nils Nielsen claims Australia will be the “big favorites” in the final, but the team’s near-perfect progress to the title match suggests otherwise.
Japan’s offensive line has scored an astonishing 28 goals in five games, but their solid backline conceded just one goal in the semifinal match against South Korea.
The Nadeshikos will have to deal with a partisan crowd at the 83,500-capacity Stadium Australia, but Greenlander Nielsen has brought together the front-runners to put pressure on Kerr’s Australia.
“The Matildas have a really great team. They’ve adapted to whatever happened,” Nielsen said. “They have a great coach…he’s only been here a short time, but he’s already made a lot of great transformations.
“When you play in front of a crowd like this, Australia are the big favorites, the big favorites for the final.”
Meanwhile, Australian head coach Joe Montemurro believes his team can do better than what they showed against China in the grueling semi-final.
“We have to be better,” he told Australia’s Network 10. “We have resilience in our minds. We need to be able to handle the ball more. We need to be smarter and control the tempo.”
Kerr dreams of winning the Asian Cup for the second time
Considered one of Australia’s greatest athletes, Kerr is the only player in the current squad to also be part of the 2010 Asian Cup winning team.
However, she has never lifted a silver medal with the current squad, many of whom have been playing with her on the team for more than a decade.
“Honestly, it would mean everything,” Kerr said of winning the title with them. “We’ve been talking about this for years. This is our dream and these girls are like family to me.”
Australia’s expected starting lineup
Matildas head coach Montemurro is likely to select defender Winona Heatley ahead of Claire Hunt.
Mackenzie Arnold (goalkeeper); Ellie Carpenter, Winona Heatley, Steph Catley, Caitlin Torpey. Keira Cooney-Cross, Alana Kennedy, Katrina Gorey. Mary Fowler, Sam Carr, Caitlin Ford
Japan representative starting lineup
Japan’s head coach Nielsen may continue to use the same squad from the previous game.
Ayaka Yamashita (goalkeeper) Hana Takahashi, Toko Koga, Saki Kumagai, Hikaru Kitagawa. Fuka Nagano, Hinata Miyazawa, Yui Hasegawa; Maika Hamano, Riko Ueki, Aoba Fujino
