AFC Asian Cup Women

AFC Asian Cup Women

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Wikipedia - AFC Women's Asian Cup

The AFC Women's Asian Cup (formerly known as the AFC Women's Championship) is a quadrennial competition in women's football for national teams which belong to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It is the oldest women's international football competition and premier women's football competition in the AFC region for national teams. The competition is also known as the Asian Women's Football Championship and the Asian Women's Championship. 20 tournaments have been held, with the current champions being China PR. The competition also serves as Asian qualifying tournament for the FIFA Women's World Cup.

History

The competition was set up by the Asian Ladies Football Confederation (ALFC), a part of the AFC responsible for women's football. The first competition was held in 1975 and was held every two years after this, except for a period in the 1980s where the competition was held every three years. The ALFC was initially a separate organisation but was absorbed into the AFC in 1986.

From 1975 to 1981, matches were 60 minutes in duration.

The competition has been dominated by countries from the Pacific Rim or Eastern Asia (including East and Southeast Asia), with the China women's national football team having won 9 times, including a series of 7 consecutive victories as of 2022 edition. Countries from Central and West Asia have been rather less successful, with only Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Jordan and Iran having qualified so far. Eastern Asia has also been far more frequent in participating in the FIFA Women's World Cup, with five strongest women's teams of Asia (China, North Korea, Japan, Australia and South Korea) hail from this part.

The tournament frequency changed to every 4 years effective from 2010, after AFC had announced that the Asian Cup will additionally serve as the qualification rounds of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Until 2003, teams were invited by the AFC to compete. From 2006, a separate qualification was established and the number of teams will be decided by the merit by qualification process. The name of the tournament was also changed to as the "AFC Women's Asian Cup", to reflect the change and reforms of the competition.

The tournament was expanded from eight teams to twelve starting from the 2022 edition.

On 20 August 2023, AFC has decided to shift the AFC Women’s Asian Cup to non-FIFA Women’s World Cup odd years, which will see the edition after the upcoming 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup takes place in 2029 instead of 2030.

The AFC Asian Cup Women is a highly anticipated and prestigious soccer tournament that brings together the best women's national teams from across Asia. Organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), this tournament showcases the immense talent and skill of female soccer players in the region.

The AFC Asian Cup Women is held every four years and serves as a platform for teams to compete for the coveted title of Asian champions. The tournament features intense matches filled with thrilling moments, as teams battle it out on the field to secure victory for their nation.

Teams from diverse backgrounds and cultures come together to participate in this tournament, creating an atmosphere of unity and celebration of women's soccer. The tournament not only promotes the sport but also serves as a platform for the empowerment of women in the region, inspiring young girls to pursue their dreams in soccer.

The AFC Asian Cup Women attracts a global audience, with fans eagerly following the matches and supporting their favorite teams. The tournament showcases the highest level of women's soccer in Asia, with teams displaying their tactical prowess, technical skills, and competitive spirit.

Throughout the tournament, players demonstrate their exceptional athleticism, teamwork, and determination, captivating spectators with their speed, agility, and precision. The matches are filled with nail-biting moments, as teams strive to outperform each other and secure their place in the knockout stages.

The AFC Asian Cup Women not only provides a platform for teams to compete for the championship but also serves as a qualifying tournament for the FIFA Women's World Cup. The top teams from the tournament earn the opportunity to represent Asia on the global stage, further raising the profile of women's soccer in the region.

Overall, the AFC Asian Cup Women is a thrilling and highly anticipated soccer tournament that showcases the immense talent and passion of women's soccer in Asia. It brings together teams from diverse backgrounds, creating an atmosphere of unity and celebration of the sport. With its high-stakes matches and exceptional display of skill, this tournament is a must-watch for soccer enthusiasts and fans of women's sports alike.