- Title: Japanese and Australian fans united in celebration after Women's Asian Cup final
- Date: 21st March 2026
- Summary: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (MARCH 21, 2026) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF JAPANESE FANS WITH FLAGS CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAPANESE SUPPORTER, ANNA IMAI, SAYING: “Awesome.” (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAPANESE SUPPORTER, KAI NODA, SAYING: “I feel amazing. It was a tough opponent, but since we were here to support Japan, we were so happy to see our victory.” VARIOUS OF JAPANESE FANS CHEERIN
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: AFC Australia Japan Matildas Nadeshiko Womens Asian Cup soccer sports
- Location: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
- City: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
- Country: Australia
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001620521032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Japan edged tournament hosts Australia 1-0 in the Women's Asian Cup final on Saturday (March 21) to win the continental title for the third time in the last four editions and disappoint a record crowd of 74,357 at Stadium Australia.
Maika Hamano scored the decisive goal in the 17th minute, turning five metres outside the box and firing the ball past diving Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold and into the corner of the net.
Australia's Matildas, Asian champions in 2010, gave as good as they got in a high-quality final and ultimately paid the price for their inability to convert the chances they created.
Record goalscorer Sam Kerr was well shackled inside the penalty box and her fellow striker Caitlin Foord failed to make the most of a string of chances.
The Nadeshiko were forced into desperate defence in the final 10 minutes as Australia, roared on by the largest crowd in Women's Asian Cup history, poured forward in search of an equaliser.
Substitute Emily van Egmond had two shots blocked and Alanna Kennedy's header from Ellie Carpenter's cross was well saved by Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.
Former world champions Japan, playing in their seventh Asian Cup final, held on to add another Asian title to their 2014 and 2018 triumphs.
Defeat was heartbreak for Australia's golden generation, who had been hoping to finally win a major title on home soil three years after reaching the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup the nation hosted.
(Production: Cordelia Hsu) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None