Iran claimed the final available berth for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup on Saturday, defeating Jordan 2-1 in a decisive qualifying match in Amman.
Second-half goals from Sara Didar and Negin Zandi were enough to secure the crucial victory for Marziyeh Jafari’s side. The win meant Iran finished top of their qualifying group ahead of Jordan on their head-to-head record, booking their ticket to the finals for a second consecutive time.
The qualification process for Group A had been postponed due to the recent conflict in the region, making Iran the last of the 12 teams to confirm their place at the tournament, which will be held in Australia from March 1 to 21, 2026.
The full lineup for the continental championship is now set. Iran will join hosts Australia, defending champions China, Japan, and South Korea, who all qualified automatically. The other nations that successfully navigated the qualification phase are Bangladesh, India, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, and North Korea.
“There’s a real energy building, not just here in Australia but across Asia, and this diverse, high-quality line-up shows just how far women’s football has come,” said Sarah Walsh, the tournament’s chief organising officer. “With so much talent and so many great stories coming together, this is going to be a tournament to remember.”
The draw for the finals will take place in Sydney on July 29.
The tournament will also serve as the Asian qualifying pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The top six teams will secure automatic berths for the global showpiece, while two other nations will advance to an intercontinental playoff for a further chance to qualify.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.