The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Visa have announced a significant expansion of their strategic partnership, with Visa becoming the official global supporter of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026.
This landmark agreement marks Visa’s first direct partnership with Asia’s premier women’s national team competition, underscoring a shared, deep-rooted commitment to accelerating the growth and global prominence of women’s football.
This collaboration is a pivotal step in the AFC’s ambitious vision for women’s football, leveraging Visa’s renowned expertise in fan engagement and secure payment technology. Visa brings unparalleled support to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, building on its extensive history of championing women’s football at the highest levels, including being the first-ever UEFA sponsor dedicated to women’s football and the first global FIFA women’s football partner.
AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John expressed his enthusiasm and said, “We are delighted to announce the expansion of our partnership with Visa, who we now welcome as an Official Global Supporter of the Continent’s premier women’s national team competition.
“The AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ aims to be the greatest-ever edition in the tournament’s history, and we look forward to working in close collaboration with Visa to realise our shared ambitions for the growth and empowerment of the women’s game across Asia.”
Alan Machet, Group Country Manager for Visa Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, added, “Over 11 million Australians tuned in to watch the Matildas face England in 2023, making it the most-watched TV program in over 20 years and we are confident that this passion will continue as we expand our commitment as the Official Global Supporter for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™.”
Patrick Murphy, CEO of AFG, continued, “Visa has been an exceptional partner, and with this new deal for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™, we’re taking our collaboration to the next level, and can’t wait to see this new venture unfold.”
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 is scheduled to take place from March 1 to March 21, 2026, across five stadiums in three vibrant Australian host cities: Sydney (Stadium Australia, Western Sydney Stadium), Perth (Perth Stadium, Perth Rectangular Stadium), and Gold Coast (Gold Coast Stadium). The tournament will feature 12 of Asia’s top national teams competing in 27 captivating matches.
Beyond continental glory, the tournament holds crucial qualification implications: the semi-finalists will earn direct berths for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, while quarter-finalists will advance to the qualifying rounds for the Women’s Olympic Games Football Tournament 2028 in Los Angeles.
The Final Draw for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 is set to be held on July 29, 2025, at the iconic Sydney Town Hall, where the path to continental glory will be unveiled.
This expanded partnership truly underscores a collective vision for the advancement of women’s football, promising an unforgettable tournament experience for players and fans alike.
