AFC Signals New Era for Women’s Football
SYDNEY, Australia – In a landmark move for the future of Asian football, the AFC Women’s Football Committee has announced a sweeping set of reforms designed to transform the continental youth landscape. At the heart of the announcement is a historic double-hosting appointment, with China PR officially recommended to host back-to-back editions of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ in 2028 and 2030.
The decisions were finalized during the Committee’s fifth meeting, chaired by Ms. Kanya Keomany, held amidst the high-stakes atmosphere of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ currently taking place in Australia.
By awarding both the 2028 and 2030 U20 tournaments to the Chinese Football Association (CFA), the AFC is doubling down on China’s proven infrastructure and commitment to the women’s game. These appointments will see China PR host the competition for a record seventh and eighth time, providing a familiar and high-standard backdrop for the continent's elite emerging talent. Under the new regulations, China PR will receive automatic qualification for both editions as the host nation.
The most significant shift comes in the form of a structural overhaul for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ Qualifiers. To address the technical gap between established powerhouses and developing nations, the AFC is introducing a two-phase format featuring promotion and relegation—a first for the women's youth game.
The Qualification Phase: 20 elite teams will battle in five groups. Only the top two from each group and the best runner-up will reach the Finals. To ensure high-octane competition, bottom-placed teams will now face relegation.
The Development Phase: Lower-ranked nations will compete in a dedicated tier focused on technical growth and essential match experience, with top performers earning promotion to the elite tier for the next cycle.
The meeting took place as the "best-ever" AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ nears its climax in Australia. Ms. Keomany praised the rising standards of the game, looking ahead to the highly anticipated final between Australia and Japan at Stadium Australia.
The Committee also celebrated the success of the six Asian nations that have officially punched their tickets to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027, marking a period of unprecedented growth for Asian representatives on the world stage.
With the approval of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026/27™ regulations, the AFC’s roadmap is clear: create a professional, tiered, and sustainable ecosystem that ensures every Member Association has a pathway to the top.