The Westfield Matildas have a new destination in their sights following confirmation the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 will be hosted by India.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced the next installment of the confederations premier international women’s football tournament will be hosted by India for the second time in their history. It will also mark the first time since 2003 that more than 8 teams will feature with the AFC increasing the number of participants to 12 teams in the 2022 edition.
Having hosted the tournament back in 1980, and set to host the also hosted the 2020 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, India beat out expressions of interest from Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan for hosting rights.
The 12 competing nations will be comprised in three groups of four teams, and also serve as the qualification pathway to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
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Australia was part of the first AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 1975 and has participated in every edition since switching from the Oceania Football Confederation in 2005 – reaching at least the Semi Final stage of the competition in their five appearances.
The Westfield Matildas last won the competition in 2010 when they defeated North Korea in a penalty shoot-out in the Final at Chengdu Sports Centre in China – becoming the first ever women’s national team to win continental titles in two confederations.
Australia was also represented the last time India hosted the tournament, with a ‘Western Australia’ team reaching the knock-out stage in 1980 after finishing fourth in the group stage.
Dates and venues for the AFC Women's Asian Cup will be confirmed by the AFC at a later date.
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