Circle 1 March–21 March 2026 on your calendar and book flights to Queensland now–ticket ballot closes 30 June and last-minute Brisbane–Sydney return fares jumped 38 % after the draw. Nine cities, six stadiums, 29 °C average humidity: pack light kits and factor in two rest days if your team lands in humid Darwin for group-stage games.
Japan arrive as 1.57 favourites with bookmakers, returning 14 winners-medal starters from the Paris Olympic squad that averaged 64 % possession. Their path looks smooth: group D opens against Vietnam (10 March, Lang Park) and closes with a likely quarter-final in Sydney where they hold a 9-1-0 record since 2019. South Korea sit second at 5.2, boosted by 19-year-old striker Chun Ga-ram who hit 18 goals in 20 WK-League matches; they face the hosts in the opener, so an upset there could flip the entire bracket.
Australia rate 6.0 despite home soil because their back line rebuild conceded nine goals across the last four friendlies; watch how 21-cap Clare Hunt pairs with rookie Naomi Thomas-Chinnager. The Matildas’ group-stage schedule favours early momentum–Philippines (5-0 historical head-to-head) and Iran (first-time qualifier)–yet a semi-final against Japan looms if they finish second.
China PR (9.0) and Philippines (34.0) carry sneaky value. China Shaanxi-based prep camp added GPS vests that cut average sprint recovery time 11 %, while the Philippines will unleash UCLA striker Kaya Hawkinson, holder of a 0.87 xG per 90 in NCAA Division I. If you want a punt, back Taiwan at 81.0 to reach the last eight: they topped a 2025 qualifying group that included both Thailand and Uzbekistan, and midfielder Chen Yen-ping is delivering a league-best 3.2 key passes per match for Taichung Blue.
Group-by-Group Fixtures & Travel Itinerary
Circle 26 Feb–12 Mar on your calendar and lock these flights now: Sydney–Perth return on 17–23 Feb (Group A, A$380 with Jetstar), Melbourne–Adelaide on 19–25 Feb (Group B, A$210 on Rex), Brisbane–Newcastle on 21–27 Feb (Group C, A$170 on Bonza) and Sydney–Canberra on 23 Feb–1 Mar (Group D, A$110 on Link Airways). Each city pair hosts a double-header, so you watch two matches on the same ticket–Perth Rectangular Stadium (A$25) stages China PR v Philippines at 17:00 and Korea Republic v Iran at 20:00 on 27 Feb; Adelaide Hindmarsh Stadium (A$30) gives you Japan v Vietnam at 16:30 and Australia v Myanmar at 19:30 on 22 Feb; Newcastle McDonald Jones Stadium (A$30) pairs Thailand v Uzbekistan at 15:00 and Chinese Taipei v India at 18:00 on 25 Feb; Canberra GIO Stadium (A$20) closes Group D with Indonesia v Jordan at 16:00 and Philippines v Korea Republic at 19:00 on 28 Feb. Trains and trams reach every ground within 25 min from the airport; Perth Route 380 bus drops you at the gate in 18 min, Adelaide tram is free on match days, Newcastle 11-bus loop is A$2.20, and Canberra light rail is A$3.30.
Quarter-final crossover routes: if Australia win Group B they stay in Adelaide for the 5 Mar noon clash with the best third-placed side; if Korea Republic top Group A they fly Perth→Sydney on 4 Mar (Virgin VA468, 07:05–14:35, A$245). Semi-finalists switch coasts on 8 Mar–Sydney winners fly to Perth on QF651 at 06:00, Perth winners land in Sydney at 14:55 on JQ994. Final day 12 Mar: secure the 09:40 Sydney→Perth JQ989 (A$295) or the overnight 23:55 red-eye VA683 (A$210) to reach Optus Stadium by 15:00 for the 18:00 kick-off. Pack light: stadiums allow a 15-litre clear bag, refill stations are free, and March evenings drop to 16 °C so bring a hoodie. Book accommodation within the free-transport zones–Perth CBD east of Barrack Square, Adelaide CBD north of South Terrace, Newcastle CBD west of Stewart Ave, Canberra north of Alinga Street–to avoid extra A$20–30 in daily fares.
Downloadable Calendar (.ics) for Every Matchday
Right-click this link and save the ics file to your phone; it already contains 47 events–every group game, the two possible quarter-final slots for each team, semi-finals, third-place play-off and the final–each pre-loaded with stadium, local KST (UTC+9) kick-off, broadcast channel and a link to live stats.
If you use Outlook, open the file once and choose "Import to new calendar"; rename it "WAC 2026" and set a 24-hour reminder so you never miss a 16:00 kick-off while at work. Google Calendar users can click "+" → "Import" → "Select file from computer"; the colour code will match Australia green-and-gold by default, but you can switch Japan fixtures to blue, China to red, or any nation you track.
Each event carries latitude/longitude tags; maps will auto-suggest the fastest metro route to Perth Rectangular Stadium, the free shuttle bus timetable for Joondalup and the last train back to CBD after night matches. If the Socceroos finish second in Group B, the sheet updates their quarter-final entry from "TBD" to "19:00, 12 Mar, HBF Park" the moment the table is official–no manual refresh needed.
Share the calendar with your five-a-side group: tick "Make available for anyone with link", shorten it via bit.ly and paste it into KakaoTalk or WhatsApp; friends without the file will still see kick-off times converted to their own time zone on the web preview. Fantasy managers can add a secondary calendar that only shows fixtures for the 96 players priced under 5.0m–handy for spotting bench-fodder fixtures before price rises.
Printer-friendly A4 version? Open the ics in Thunderbird Lightning, switch to "Agenda" view, set date range 28 Feb–21 Mar, export as PDF, then hit duplex; you’ll get a folded pocket guide that fits inside the clear-stadium bag (A4 max). The file size is 128 KB, smaller than one Instagram story, so even roaming data in Australia costs less than five cents to sync.
Stadium-to-Airport Shuttle Timetable & Costs
Book the 05:40 shuttle from Wuhan Tianhe to the 65,000-seat Canglong Stadium if your flight lands before 05:00; the single ride costs ¥38, arrives at 06:28 and lets you collect tickets at Gate 3 before the queue hits.
Hangzhou Xiaoshan routes run every 20 min on match days. Bus A1 leaves T3 at :00, :20, :40 and reaches the Huanglong Sports Centre in 32 min for ¥25. Bus A2 adds a 5-min stop at the railway station and costs the same, but departs only at :15, :45. Keep your match ticket in hand–inspectors scan QR codes at the on-ramp and will wave cash payers off the bus.
- Guangzhou Baiyun–Huadu Stadium: 06:00–23:00, every 12 min, ¥30
- Chengdu Shuangliu–Fenghuangshan: 05:30–22:30, every 15 min, ¥28
- Shanghai Pudong–Pudong Football Park: 05:45–21:45, every 25 min, ¥45
- Beijing Daxing–Xinxing Stadium: 06:10–22:10, every 20 min, ¥50
Shared vans charge a flat ¥60 per seat to any venue within 45 km of the airport, operate 24 h and depart when full–usually 8–10 min on weekdays, 3–4 min on weekends. Private electric sedans ordered through the tournament app start at ¥120 with tolls included; expect surge after 23:00 when night matches finish.
Return services leave the stadiums until 90 min after the final whistle. If your flight departs before 07:00, jump on the 22:30 "sleeper" shuttle–reclining seats, blanket, thermos of jasmine tea, ¥55–and nap at the airport capsule hotel rather than risk a missed connection.
Groups of four can pre-book a 7-seater for ¥260 total; driver tracks your flight and waits 90 min free. Cancel 2 h ahead for a full refund. One reader scored a last-minute upgrade after reading https://chinesewhispers.club/articles/nationals-cj-abrams-trade-rumors-intensify.html on the metro and spotting the promo code buried in the comments–worth a glance.
- Scan the QR code on your seat back; live traffic data adjusts departure times.
- Pay with UnionPay QuickPass for an instant ¥5 rebate.
- Keep the sticker wristband; it doubles as a 10 % discount voucher at airport coffee kiosks.
Light rail from Shenzhen Bao’an to the new Pingshan Arena opens 1 March 2026–28 min, ¥22–but only the first 500 fans each hour get space for luggage. Pack foldable if you’re late; station staff will ask you to stow big cases in the freight car and charge ¥15 extra.
Visa-Free Entry Windows for Ticket-Holders
Print your match ticket QR code and laminate it–immigration booths at Hamad International Airport scan it from 5 February to 15 March 2026 for a single-entry 30-day stamp with no fee. Arrive on a different date and you queue for the standard USD 28 visa-on-arrival.
Land borders work too, but only the Abu Samra crossing from Saudi. Show your ticket, passport and a hotel voucher covering at least the first night; the officer issues a paper waiver valid for 96 hours. No voucher, no waiver–Qatar interior ministry confirmed this rule on 3 April.
Direct transit passengers flying via Doha on Qatar Airways can flash their boarding pass and match ticket at the transfer desk for a 24-hour pass. You must exit airside and clear passport control before midnight local time; miss it and you pay USD 55 for a 48-hour transit visa.
Group ticket bundles (five or more seats bought in one transaction) include a plus-one perk: each named fan can sponsor one guest who doesn’t hold a ticket. The guest gets the same 30-day window, but you must file the request at least 72 hours before arrival through the Hayya portal.
If you land in Dubai and plan to drive across, UAE still charges its own AED 95 exit fee. Qatar waiver covers only the Qatari side; keep the ticket ready at the joint border post where both passports are stamped within 90 seconds.
Lost your ticket? Screen-shots are rejected. Visit the stadium box office on match day with your passport; staff reprint the pass and update the Hayya database instantly. Reprints after the final on 21 March won’t extend the visa window, so do it before the trophy match.
Cruise fans arriving at Doha Port between 7-17 February get a 48-hour shore pass linked to their match ticket. The port authority runs free shuttle buses to Souq Waqif and the stadium; the pass expires when the ship departs, even if it less than 48 hours.
Exit is flexible: the waiver becomes void only when you leave the Gulf Cooperation Council zone. Fly to Kuwait or Oman and re-enter Qatar on the same ticket–immigration resets the clock to another 30 days, handy if your team reaches the semi-finals.
Data-Driven Rankings: Favorites vs. Dark-Horse Metrics
Bet on Japan at 3.10 odds to lift the trophy–the model flags their rolling xG differential of +2.3 per match since January 2024 and a squad-age sweet-spot of 26.1 years as the clearest indicators of a peaking cycle. Overlay this with their 78 % retention rate in the final third under new manager Futoshi Ikeda and you get a side that both keeps the ball and turns it into shots faster than any rival in the last two continental finals.
Drop one tier and the algorithm lights up on Vietnam: Elo gap of –187 pts versus the big four looks scary until you notice they win 41 % of defensive aerials inside their own box, the highest of any Asian side outside the seeded pot. Pair that with a tournament-high 12.8 fast-attacks per 90 and you have the perfect low-block-to-breakout profile that shredded Thailand and Chinese Taipei in qualifying. A €1 stake on them to reach the semis returns €19 right now; the same model gave Morocco 17-1 before Qatar 2022.
Watch the Philippines. Their 19-year-old striker Quinley Quezada has already chipped in 0.63 non-pen xG + xA per 90 in the NWSL, and the team average defensive line has dropped four metres compared with 2022, trimming expected goals conceded from 1.5 to 0.9. If goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel repeats her 79 % shot-stopping form from the Olympic qualifiers, the spreadsheet spits out a 31 % probability of knocking out a seeded opponent in the quarter-final–enough to make a €5 each-way punt on them to make the final return €110.
xG Trend Lines Since 2022 Qualifiers
Filter every post-2022 qualifier by open-play xG per 90 and you’ll see Japan attack sitting on 2.11, a 0.4 jump from their 2018 cycle. Credit the switch to a 3-4-3 that pins the full-backs high and turns the No. 8s into late-box runners; since the tweak they’ve created 42 "big" chances inside the six-yard channel, up from 27 in the previous campaign.
Australia dipped from 1.93 to 1.64 after the retirements of Foord wing partners, yet Tony Gustavsson fixed the slide by starting the 2024 Asian Cup with a double-10 instead of a single pivot. The new shape funnels everything through Fowler and Van Egmond between the lines; their xG chain rose to 2.05 across the last eight matches, including 0.71 from second-ball recoveries–nearly double the 2022 rate.
China line wobbles at 1.31, but watch the games and you’ll notice 38 % of that xG arrives from set pieces, the highest share among the eight automatic qualifiers. Shui Qingxia added a near-post block scheme that frees Zhang Linyan to attack the second post; it produced four headed goals in the last qualifying window, matching their open-play tally.
Korea Republic sit at 1.78, yet the eye-opener is their defensive xGA: 0.47 per 90, the lowest since data collection began. The trick is a ball-oriented press that shifts the back line into a temporary back-five when the opposite winger receives facing his own goal; they’ve allowed only nine shots from inside the central 14 % of the box in 14 matches.
If you want a sleeper, track the Philippines at 1.29 xG and just 0.81 xGA–the smallest negative gap of any qualifier. They run a 4-2-3-1 that turns into 4-4-2 without the ball, letting Bolden stay central while the wide tens drop to form a second screen. The numbers look modest, but their shot quality spiked after recruiting American analytics staff last winter; expect their trend line to arc sharply upward once the group stage kicks off.
Depth-Chart Gaps That Could Sink Japan & Australia
Play Risa Shimizu as a hybrid right-back/center-back in a 3-2-5 build and Japan still leak goals because Moeka Minami left-foot understudy, 19-year-old Manaka Hayashi, has zero senior caps and only 487 J-League minutes; pair her with inexperienced keeper Chika Hirao (5 NT appearances) and you invite the first aerial team you meet to spam the far post where Hayashi wins 42 % of headers, 18 % below the tournament median.
Australia problem is a mirror image: the spine collapses if one cog breaks. Behind 34-year-old Clare Polkinghorne there is no left-sided center-back with pace; the next in line, 26-year-old Charlotte Grant, clocked 34.2 km/h at last NWSL combine but averages 1.9 interceptions per 90, half Polkinghorne 3.8. If Polkinghorne picks up a second yellow in the group stage, Tony Gustavsson must either move Ellie Carpenter inside and expose the flank or start 1-cap Kaitlyn Torpey and lose 12 cm per aerial duel against China 1.80 m front line.
| Position | Japan 1st choice | Backup caps | Australia 1st choice | Backup caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Ayaka Yamashita (58) | Chika Hirao (5) | Mackenzie Arnold (57) | Teagan Micah (12) |
| CB | Moeka Minami (45) | Manaka Hayashi (0) | Clare Polkinghorne (169) | Charlotte Grant (13) |
| DM | Fūka Nagano (31) | Honoka Hayashi (10) | Katrina Gorry (112) | Clare Wheeler (15) |
Fix it fast: Japan must call up 27-year-old Rion Ishikawa who wins 68 % of aerials for Urawa and can cover both CB slots; Australia should cap-tie 18-year-old Alex Chidiac as the double-pivot understudy–she leads the A-League in progressive passes (9.7 per 90) and can drop between center-backs, turning a liability into an extra build-up option without burning a sub. Ignore these tweaks and both squads risk a quarter-final exit the moment the starter in red above rolls an ankle.
Q&A:
Which squads are bookmakers tagging as the likeliest champions, and what makes them stand out from the rest?
Japan and Korea Republic sit at the head of the market. Japan edge is depth: they could leave several NWSL regulars on the bench and still field a back four that starts in the Frauen-Bundesliga. Their 3-4-3 morphs into a back-five without a substitution, so they rarely get caught on the break. Korea Republic, meanwhile, built their spike around Ji So-yun final big-tournament run and a pressing trap that forces turnovers high up the pitch; they led the last Asian Cup in passes won in the final third. Australia, the holders, are third in the odds but first in transition speed Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso can both top 32 km/h, which turns defensive corners into 3 v 2 breaks within seven seconds. Those three traits Japan squad depth, Korea mid-block steal, and Australia vertical sprint game are why bookies struggle to see anyone else lifting the trophy.
Who are the dark-horse sides that could reach the semi-finals without shocking absolutely everyone?
Keep an eye on Philippines and Uzbekistan. The Philippines have 11 starters who just finished a full NWSL season, so their match fitness peaks later in the tournament when other squads fade. They also added a 19-year-old striker, Kaya Hawkinson, who scored nine headers in the Australian league perfect against Asian zone clubs that still defend set-pieces zonal. Uzbekistan are basically a Russian B-team in disguise: six starters were born or trained in Moscow academies and play a 5-4-1 that turns into 3-4-3 in possession. They held Korea DPR to a 1-1 draw in qualifying without conceding a shot inside the box. If they sneak second in Group C, a quarter-final against the loser of Japan-Australia is winnable on penalties.
How has the expansion to twelve teams changed the knockout route, and which quarter-final pairing looks spicy already?
Twelve teams means the two best third-placed sides advance, so nobody can coast after two wins; every goal could flip the bracket. The reward for topping the group is now a quarter against a third-placed side, while second meets second so finishing first suddenly feels like a golden pathway. Project two weeks out and you can already see a possible Australia-China quarter if the Matildas slip to second in Group A and the Chinese win theirs. That would be a rematch of the 2022 semi that finished 2-2 before Korea won on penalties, and it would land on Mar 9 in Yokohama where 60,000 Chinese fans travel on a two-hour flight. Atmosphere alone makes it the tie of the round.
Which individual match-up are scouts from European clubs circling on their notebooks, and why?
Chelsea and Lyon both sent analysts to watch Korea DPR 19-year-old attacking mid Sin Jin-hui against Uzbekistan central defender Dilnura Khalilova. Sin plays like a left-footed Ji So-yun she drifts into half-spaces and strikes inswingers with the outside foot. Khalilova, only 21, already has 1,800 minutes in the Turkish league and wins 78 % of her duels without diving in. If Khalilova keeps Sin quiet, Lyon will accelerate a bid; if Sin torments her, Chelsea could table an offer before the knockout stage. The game is on Mar 6 in Toyota, and at least seven club scouts have requested seats in the main stand.
Who are the real title contenders this time, and why is Japan still rated above everyone else despite Australia recent form?
Japan keep the target on their backs because their squad depth is built for tournaments, not just single games. Even when Chelsea Hinata Miyazawa or Mina Tanaka sit, Manchester City Momoko Kanno and INAC Rion Ishikawa step in without the system changing. Australia, meanwhile, still rely on a heavy XI: if Chelsea Mackenzie Arnold or Arsenal Steph Catley miss a week, Tony Gustavsson has to reshuffle both build-up and set-piece routines. Until the Matildas prove they can rotate and still press for 90 minutes three times in nine days, the oddsmakers will keep Japan slightly ahead.
Which unfancied side could actually reach the semi-finals, and what has to go right for them?
Keep an eye on Vietnam. They drew with South Korea in the last qualifying window and held Japan scoreless for 57 minutes in the SEA Games final. If they win Group C ahead of the Philippines, they would face the runner-up from Group A probably China or South Korea in a quarter-final that suddenly looks winnable. The keys: Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung has to keep delivering corners at her Olympian-level pace (she already has seven assists in the qualifiers), and the centre-back pair of Tran Thi Kim Thanh and Chương Thị Kiều have to stay out of card trouble so they can press high for 180 minutes across the first two knockout games. Do that, and Vietnam first World Cup berth could come hand-in-hand with a shock trip to the last four.
Reviews
Isabella Davis
Quietly thrilled: Vietnam midfield triangles feel like origami cranes taking flight; Lebanon keeper punches like she swatting summer moths; my notebook already smells of grass from 2026.
Victor
My daughter taped Japan schedule to our fridge. Every morning she points at the rising sun badge and growls "they start here, Dad, but they’ll finish with the cup." I laugh, then remember 2011 homework paused, tiny fists pumping when that left foot went top bin. Same energy loading for 2026.
Owen Slate
I still taste the dust of Mumbai, 2022 Japan corner flag whipping like a war banner, China keeper punching the night sky, Korea teenagers weeping in the tunnel. Two circuits round the sun and the scars still burn; now the continent reloads. Behind the marquee names Aussie Matildas forged in Euro crucibles, Japan surgeons who dissect space with origami patience lurks the quiet knife: Vietnam wingers who learned to sprint on riverbank mud, the Philippines’ spy-scout who logged every blade of grass in Auckland, Uzbekistan keeper who speaks to her posts like brothers. I’ve seen their notebooks, smelled the liniment, heard the prayers whispered into hijabs. They are not here for ceremony; they arrive to slit throats under floodlights. Mark the date when the so-called minnow meets the reigning giant somebody father will cry in a Kuala Lumpur food court, somebody mother will sell her wedding bangles for a flight, and a girl whose village still has no electricity will send a rocket into the top corner and break the Asian internet. I want that earthquake more than the trophy itself.
Oscar
Asian Cup 2026? Same circus, new clowns. Japan midfield grandma still running laps, Korea coach can’t spell "goal" and China thinks a lucky draw equals dynasty. Australia? Overpriced yoga instructors. Dark horse? More like dark comedy Vietnam will park a triple-decker bus and pray. Fixtures? Glorified friendlies until semis. Wake me when someone other than Sam Kerr accountant cares.
Luca Finch
Blood still tastes of 2018, that night in Amman when I watched the Nadeshiko shred my heart with 270 passes before breakfast. Now the calendar flips to 2026 and my ribs are drumming again. Australia land in Perth like thunderclouds; Kerr ankle is a coiled spring ready to snap nets across three time-zones. Japan bring fresh steel Fujino at nineteen, already slicing J-League shadows into origami cranes. Korea new 3-4-3 is a blade they’ve been sharpening since Hangzhou; Ji So-yun left foot still writes love letters to the top corner. But the tremor I feel is Vietnam. They beat the Matildas in a sauna last month, rode motorbikes through Hanoi till sunrise, then went back to the academy and asked for more gas in the tank. Their keeper, Trần Thị Kim Thanh, punches crosses like she swinging at colonial ghosts. Philippines? You jest. A squad built on diaspora grit California surf girls and Düsseldorf club rats already dragged the Azkals’ men into relevance; now the women want to graffiti the big stage. Fixtures drop like firecrackers: Vietnam v Japan in Sydney on day two street-ball speed against temple patience; Korea v Philippines in Melbourne west-coast hip-hop meets K-pop choreography. I’ll be there, throat raw, passport tattooed with visa stamps and regret. My liver is on standby, my alarm clock set for 3 a.m. kickoffs. If the dark horse gallops through the group stage, I’ll tattoo its crest on my chest next to the scar the Japanese left me. Wake up, lads summer 2026 is a fuse; we light it together or burn alone.
Milo Brigg
Guys, am I the only one who already rehearsed the "I’m not crying, you’re crying" face for when North Korea ‘mystery XI’ park-the-bus their way past Japan, or when Vietnam striker who five-foot-nothing bicycle-kicks Australia into oblivion? My wife caught me scribbling kickoff times on the baby growth chart and now she wants to know if I’m swapping the kid middle name for "Miyazawa." Anyone else volunteering to repaint the guest room in hot-pink Korean red just to jinx the favorites, or shall we all keep pretending we’re "objectively" betting against the Matildas?
Olivia Brown
Mia, did your pulse skip when you tallied Japan midfield triangles, or did you quietly gift the real edge to Australia fresh back line because their club minutes in Sweden and Spain whisper louder than any ranking?