Visa Champions Women’s Football as Official Global Partner of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026
07/03/2025
- Following the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ 2023, Visa deepens its investment in women’s football with a landmark partnership for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™
- Australia will host the tournament in March 2026, featuring 12 top national teams competing across 27 matches in three host cities
Visa, a global leader in digital payments, expands upon a long history supporting the growth of women’s football, announcing its sponsorship of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™.
Ellie Carpenter, Team Visa ambassador and Australian Matildas’ star, said: “I’m excited to play in Australia again as there’s nothing quite like playing in front of an Aussie home crowd. Visa has been one of the first supporters of my sporting journey, and I can’t wait to see how we build on the momentum and energy from the FIFA Women's World Cup back in 2023 for the AFC Women's Asian Cup.”
Alan Machet, Group Country Manager for Visa Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, said: “Over 11 million Australians tuned in to watch the Matildas face England in 2023, making it the most-watched TV program in over 20 years. I am proud that we are expanding our commitment as the Official Global Supporter for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.”
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup will be played in five stadiums across three host cities, featuring 27 matches with the top 12 national teams. The semi-finalists from this tournament will directly qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 while quarterfinalists will advance to the qualifying rounds for the 2028 Olympics.
AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John said: “We are delighted to announce the expansion of our partnership with Visa, who we now welcome as an Official Global Supporter of the Continent’s premier women’s national team competition.
“The AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 promises to be the greatest ever edition in the tournament’s history, and we look forward to working in close collaboration with Visa to realise our shared ambitions for the growth and empowerment of the women’s game across Asia.”
By partnering with the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, Visa reaffirms its long-term commitment to women’s football, with the goal of inspiring the next generation of female athletes across Asia and beyond.
Patrick Murphy, CEO of AFG, said: “Visa have been an exceptional partner, and with this new deal for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026, we’re taking our collaboration to the next level, and can’t wait to see this new venture unfold.”
Visa is one of the world’s most active sponsors of women’s football; it was the first ever UEFA sponsor dedicated to women’s football and the first Global FIFA Women’s Football Partner.
This partnership complements Visa’s support for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027 and the Women’s Olympic Games Football Tournament in 2028. Ongoing partnerships include the UEFA Women’s Football, the U.S. Women’s National Team and the SheBelieves Cup.
About Visa Inc.
Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.