The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially confirmed the host nations for its upcoming women’s age-group competitions, marking a significant step in the continued growth and investment in women’s football across the continent.
At its meeting on April 11, 2025, the AFC Executive Committee ratified the decisions recommended by the AFC Women’s Football Committee to award the hosting rights for two key youth tournaments:
Thailand will host the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026, returning the tournament to its soil for just the second time.
China PR will stage the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup for three consecutive editions from 2026 to 2028, bringing its total number of times hosting the tournament to a record six.
These decisions reflect the AFC’s broader strategic reforms aimed at enhancing the development pathways for young female footballers across Asia.
Defending champions DPR Korea will return to both competitions with momentum, having claimed not only the continental titles but also back-to-back global triumphs in 2024.
The full competition calendar, including qualification and final tournament dates for both events, was previously approved in November 2024 by the AFC Women’s Football Committee.
This renewed focus on youth competitions signals the AFC’s long-term commitment to raising the standards of women’s football from the grassroots to the global stage.
Meanwhile, the Competitions Regulations of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 and the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025/26 as well as amendments to the Competitions Regulations of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 have also been approved.
Eleven groups drawn as 44 teams begin the road to Saudi Arabia 2026. Qualifiers kick off this September across Asia.