Japan and Australia Clash in Women's Asian Cup Final in Sydney

By WSN Editorial TeamTech ReporterMarch 20, 20263 min readUpdated less than an hour ago

The Women's Asian Cup final features Australia versus Japan, with both teams unbeaten and key players like Sam Kerr leading the charge.

Australia and Japan will face off in the Women's Asian Cup final at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Saturday at 8pm local time (09:00 GMT). This match marks the third time these teams have met in the final, with Japan winning the previous two encounters in 2014 and 2018.

Teams' Paths to the Final

Australia, ranked 15th in the FIFA world rankings, advanced unbeaten from Group A with a 1-0 win over the Philippines, a 4-0 victory against Iran, and a 3-3 draw with South Korea. In the knockouts, they defeated North Korea 2-1 in the quarterfinals and edged China 2-1 in the semifinals.

Japan, ranked sixth globally, topped Group C undefeated, starting with a 2-0 win over Taiwan, followed by an 11-0 rout of India, and a 4-0 win against Vietnam. They continued their dominance with a 7-0 quarterfinal victory over the Philippines and a 4-1 semifinal win against South Korea.

The two teams have met 30 times historically, with Japan holding an edge in major finals. Their most recent clash was at the SheBelieves Cup, where Japan won 4-0.

Australia's squad features standout performances from captain Sam Kerr, who has scored four goals in five matches, including a crucial winner in the semifinal. Midfielder Alanna Kennedy has added five goals, and Caitlin Foord has provided three assists.

For Japan, striker Riko Ueki leads the tournament with six goals in four games, including a hat-trick against India. Winger Kiko Seike has scored four goals, making Japan's attack a significant threat.

Japan's coach Nils Nielsen described Australia as "massive favourites," despite Japan's near-flawless tournament. The winner will receive $1.8 million in prize money, the same as in 2022.

Australia won the Women's Asian Cup once in 2010, defeating North Korea on penalties, with Kerr scoring in that final. Japan has two titles from 2014 and 2018 and is the only Asian team to win the Women's World Cup in 2011.