Eleven players of the Australian women’s national team (the Matildas) pose for a group photo on a brightly lit grass pitch at night. Six players stand in the back row, and five kneel in the front row. They are wearing their vibrant yellow and green patterned home kits with dark green shorts, except for the goalkeeper in the centre of the back row, who is wearing a light purple jersey. The captain, Sam Kerr (number 20), kneels in the centre of the front row holding a team pennant. A massive, blurred crowd fills the stands of the stadium under bright stadium lights in the background.

Waltzing Matildas: Australia’s journey to the final of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup

Enya Liu

As all eyes turn to the final game of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, it is only right to take a look at the hosts and sentimental favourites Australia and their journey towards the deciding game of this tournament. 

After capturing the hearts of the nation during the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the Matildas are looking to build on the ever-growing momentum they have acquired over the last few years. Boasting a star-studded side on what many would consider the “golden generation”, the Aussies are looking to take the silverware on home soil in what would be their first major trophy since winning the same tournament in 2010, in which a then teenage Sam Kerr scored an early goal. 

Following a string of shortfalls in recent tournaments including two fourth-place finishes in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2023 Women’s World Cup, the Matildas have grown increasingly hungry for success, and all that separates them and the cup is 90 minutes and 6th ranked Japan. Whilst guaranteed to be a challenging game all round, the hosts have already showcased a tremendous amount of grit and determination up to this stage.

Drawn into group A, the Matildas came out second in their group after securing two wins against the Philippines and IR Iran, along with a draw against Korea Republic. 

Following that, a quarter-final versus DPR Korea was in the cards, with both a semi-final position and qualification to the 2027 Women’s World Cup on the line. A game in which Australia were labelled very clearly as the underdogs, the Matildas secured a hard-fought and tenacious win, thanks to goals from skipper and Chelsea woman Sam Kerr and stand-out player Alanna Kennedy. 

The girls in green and gold then looked towards their biggest test of the tournament — a semi-final fixture against China PR. Known for their aggression and press on the pitch, the Steel Roses worked to dominate the game, and were not looking to give the Matildas an easy time. This didn’t phase the Australian’s however, with the hosts capitalising on the few chances they got, coming out on top with a 2-1 win.

Now having booked a place in the final, head coach Joe Montemurro will be hoping to taste glory at his first tournament at the helm, breaking the 16 year drought since the Matildas’ last continental trophy.

A win on home soil will no doubt fuel the flame of Australian women’s football, and the development of football within Asia on both grassroots and professional levels.

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Beyond the Pitch - Waltzing Matildas: Australia’s journey to the final of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup