- AFC Women's Asian Cup records historic attendance milestone with 82,371 fans already through the gates across Australia
- 2026 tournament surpasses all-time attendance records after just eight matches
- Milestone achieved during WA Government's Power Her Play campaign championing women and girls in sport
- Cook Government committed to bringing blockbuster sporting events to WA to support local jobs and the economy
After a blockbuster opening match in Perth, the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 has made history, smashing the all-time tournament attendance records after just eight matches.
More than 82,000 fans have passed through the gates of venues in Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast so far, breaking records previously set at the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2010 in China, where 59,910 fans attended across the entire tournament.
The milestone follows a blockbuster opening match between Australia and the Philippines at Perth Stadium on Saturday, with the 44,379-person crowd setting a new attendance record for a Women's Asian Cup fixture.
The Opening Ceremony featuring an Australian-exclusive performance by Audrey Nuna fromKPop Demon Hunters and the Matildas first 2026 match was viewed by fans across the globe.
This record-breaking start comes as the WA Government's new Power Her Play campaign rolls out across Western Australia in March. The campaign celebrates the contribution of women and girls in sport, from grassroots participation through to elite international competition.
Power Her Play positions Western Australia as a national leader in driving gender equity in sport, reinforcing the WA Government's commitment to delivering inclusive, modern facilities, growing participation and increasing representation of women in leadership roles.
These high attendance numbers demonstrate the growing support for elite women's sporting events in Australia, with Western Australians encouraged to celebrate women and girls in sport at every level and share their stories using #PowerHerPlayWA.
The AFC Women's Asian Cup is supported by the Cook Government, through Tourism WA.
Perth is hosting a further seven tournament matches throughout March including two quarter finals and the semi-final on 17 March before the tournament concludes in Sydney on 21 March.
Securing these matches highlights the Cook Government's ongoing economic diversification strategy to deliver a year-round events calendar that boosts visitation and generates valuable tourism dollars for local businesses and local jobs.
Tickets are still available for the upcoming matches at Perth Rectangular Stadium, including the two hotly anticipated quarter finals on Friday 13 March and Saturday 14 March, plus:
- Chinese Taipei vs Vietnam 7 March 2026
- India vs Japan 7 March 2026
- Bangladesh vs Uzbekistan 9 March 2026
- Japan vs Vietnam 10 March 2026
Fans can also watch the winners of the quarter finals held at Perth Rectangular Stadium then battle it out at in the semi-final match on Tuesday, 17 March at Perth Stadium, with tickets available for the showdown.
Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com.au/womensasiancup2026
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:
"This is a phenomenal achievement for women's sport globally, and we are proud Perth supporters have helped smash tournament attendance records.
"The success of the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Perth highlights Western Australians' strong support for women's sport, supported by our government's long-term investment in developing talent pathways and community sporting facilities.
"March is shaping up as a defining month for women's sport in our State and through Power Her Play we're not only celebrating these record-breaking moments on the international stage; we're also inspiring women and girls at a local level.
"With thrilling matches still to come in WA, including the quarter finals and semi-final, there is still time to secure your seats and be part of sporting history."
As stated by Tourism Minister Reece Whitby:
"Drawing a record crowd to the opening match at Perth Stadium and setting a new benchmark for a Women's Asian Cup fixture is a tremendous result for Western Australia, and we're thrilled to have helped break the all-time attendance record so early in the tournament.
"This is the power of events - we know they draw visitors to Western Australia and deliver strong tourism and hospitality outcomes while showcasing our world-class venues on a global stage.
"The AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 is a celebration of elite sport, and yet another example of our government's economic diversification strategy that reinforces Western Australia's reputation as a must-see destination and supports local businesses and local jobs."
