OFFICIAL: Japan defeats Australia to win Asian Cup for the third time

Japan's women's national team clinches the AFC Asian Cup 2026 championship after defeating host Australia with a score of 1-0.

A spectacular goal by Maika Hamano propelled Japan to the pinnacle of joy as they defeated Australia 1-0 to claim the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 title. This midfielder's first-half strike became the decisive goal before a record crowd of 74,397 spectators at an AFC Women's Asian Cup match, enabling the Japanese national team to crown its third Asian championship, following victories in 2014 and 2018—also against Australia.

Australia created the first opportunity just two minutes into the match when Mary Fowler received a long pass from the back and found Caitlin Foord inside the penalty area, who set up Sam Kerr for a shot that was blocked by Ayaka Yamashita. The Japanese goalkeeper was called upon again in the 11th minute after Fowler bypassed Toko Koga and created a chance for Foord to charge into the box, but the Arsenal forward shot straight into Yamashita's position.

Surprisingly, Japan opened the scoring in the 17th minute thanks to player number 17. Maika Hamano found space to turn outside the penalty area and unleashed a tricky curling shot; the ball veered away from goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold's reach and settled neatly into the bottom corner of the net.

Afterwards, Japan controlled the game with their familiar passing style but nearly conceded due to a lapse when Yamashita's weak clearance went straight to Foord, and her shot was blocked by goalkeeper Hana Takahashi.

The open match continued in the second half, with Japan having the first scoring chance after Hamano's heel pass created space for Kitagawa to deliver an immediate cross, but Riko Ueki headed wide of the goal. Australia increasingly dominated, and by the 60th minute, Cooney-Cross intercepted the ball from Fuka Nagano in midfield and attempted to lob over Yamashita, but the weak shot forced the Japanese goalkeeper to make a strenuous save.

With only five minutes remaining in regular time, the Japanese players exerted maximum effort to block shots from Emily Van Egmond and Foord; then Yamashita made an outstanding save to thwart Foord's header, enabling them to reclaim the championship and erase the memory of the 2022 semifinal defeat.

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