Twelve teams. Three groups. One trophy. The AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 kicks off on April 1, 2026, in Bangkok, Thailand, with Thailand taking on Bangladesh at Thammasat Stadium.
In the last edition, Japan claimed the title, but this time around, Australia, South Korea, and India are all in the mix with squads good enough to go deep. The tournament runs until April 18, and every group stage result carries knockout consequences. Here is everything you need before the first whistle blows.
AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026: Full Match Schedule
The tournament runs from April 1 to April 18, 2026, across three stadiums in Bangkok and Pathum Thani, Thailand. It covers the group stage, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.
Here is the complete match-by-match schedule from the opening game all the way to the final on April 18.
| Date | Match No. | Teams | Venue | Local Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, 1 Apr | Match 01 | Thailand vs Bangladesh | Thammasat Stadium | 20:00 |
| Wed, 1 Apr | Match 02 | China PR vs Vietnam | Nonthaburi Stadium | 16:00 |
| Thu, 2 Apr | Match 03 | South Korea vs Uzbekistan | Nonthaburi Stadium | 16:00 |
| Thu, 2 Apr | Match 04 | Australia vs Chinese Taipei | Pathum Thani Stadium | 16:00 |
| Thu, 2 Apr | Match 05 | DPR Korea vs Jordan | Pathum Thani Stadium | 20:00 |
| Thu, 2 Apr | Match 06 | Japan vs India | Thammasat Stadium | 20:00 |
| Fri, 3 Apr | Rest Day | – | – | – |
| Sat, 4 Apr | Match 07 | Bangladesh vs China PR | Nonthaburi Stadium | 16:00 |
| Sat, 4 Apr | Match 08 | Vietnam vs Thailand | Thammasat Stadium | 20:00 |
| Sun, 5 Apr | Match 09 | Jordan vs South Korea | Nonthaburi Stadium | 16:00 |
| Sun, 5 Apr | Match 10 | India vs Australia | Pathum Thani Stadium | 16:00 |
| Sun, 5 Apr | Match 11 | Uzbekistan vs DPR Korea | Pathum Thani Stadium | 20:00 |
| Sun, 5 Apr | Match 12 | Chinese Taipei vs Japan | Pathum Thani Stadium | 20:00 |
| Mon, 6 Apr | Rest Day | – | – | – |
| Tue, 7 Apr | Match 13 | Thailand vs China PR | Thammasat Stadium | 20:00 |
| Tue, 7 Apr | Match 14 | Vietnam vs Bangladesh | Nonthaburi Stadium | 20:00 |
| Wed, 8 Apr | Match 15 | Japan vs Australia | Nonthaburi Stadium | 16:00 |
| Wed, 8 Apr | Match 16 | Chinese Taipei vs India | Pathum Thani Stadium | 16:00 |
| Wed, 8 Apr | Match 17 | DPR Korea vs South Korea | Pathum Thani Stadium | 20:00 |
| Wed, 8 Apr | Match 18 | Uzbekistan vs Jordan | Thammasat Stadium | 20:00 |
| Thu, 9 Apr – Fri, 10 Apr | Rest Days | – | – | – |
| Sat, 11 Apr | QF Match 19 | 1C vs 3A/3B | Pathum Thani Stadium | 16:00 |
| Sat, 11 Apr | QF Match 20 | 1A vs 3B/3C | Thammasat Stadium | 20:00 |
| Sun, 12 Apr | QF Match 21 | 1B vs 2C | Pathum Thani Stadium | 16:00 |
| Sun, 12 Apr | QF Match 22 | 2A vs 2B | Thammasat Stadium | 20:00 |
| Mon, 13 Apr – Tue, 14 Apr | Rest Days | – | – | – |
| Wed, 15 Apr | SF Match 23 | W21 vs W22 | Pathum Thani Stadium | 16:00 |
| Wed, 15 Apr | SF Match 24 | W20 vs W19 | Thammasat Stadium | 20:00 |
| Thu, 16 Apr – Fri, 17 Apr | Rest Days | – | – | – |
| Sat, 18 Apr | Match 25 – FINAL | TBD vs TBD | Thammasat Stadium | 18:00 |
All kick-off times are in local Bangkok time (GMT +7). Rest days fall on Friday, April 3, Monday, April 6, Thursday, April 9, Friday, April 10, and Monday, April 13 to Tuesday, April 14.
Groups For AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026
Twelve teams have been divided into three groups of four for the group stage. Each team plays three matches within their group. The top team from each group and the best third-placed team advance to the quarter-finals, along with the three group runners-up.
Here is the full group breakdown for the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026.
| Group A | Group B | Group C |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand (THA) | DPR Korea (PRK) | Japan (JPN) |
| China PR (CHN) | Korea Republic (KOR) | Australia (AUS) |
| Vietnam (VIE) | Uzbekistan (UZB) | Chinese Taipei (TPE) |
| Bangladesh (BAN) | Jordan (JOR) | India (IND) |
Group A features host nation Thailand alongside China PR. Group B is tight with South Korea and DPR Korea, both in the same pool. Group C has Japan, Australia, and India, which makes it arguably the most competitive group in the tournament.
Venues For AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026
Three stadiums across Bangkok and Pathum Thani will host all 25 matches of the 2026 tournament. Thailand has a strong track record of hosting AFC events, and all three venues offer good playing surfaces and fan facilities.
Here is a closer look at each venue hosting matches in the 2026 edition.
Thammasat Stadium, Bangkok
Thammasat Stadium is the main venue for the 2026 tournament and hosts the opening matches, both semi-finals, and the final on April 18. It is a well-established ground in the heart of Bangkok with a strong history of hosting international football.
The final kicks off at 18:00 local time, giving the biggest match of the tournament a prime evening slot that will make for a great atmosphere.
Pathum Thani Stadium
Pathum Thani Stadium is located just outside Bangkok and takes on a large share of the group stage and knockout fixtures. It hosts matches from all three groups, including Australia vs Chinese Taipei, India vs Australia, and the Chinese Taipei vs India clash from Group C.
The stadium also hosts two quarter-finals and one semi-final, making it the second most important venue in the knockout stage after Thammasat.
Nonthaburi Stadium
Nonthaburi Stadium handles a steady run of group stage matches across all three matchdays. It hosts fixtures from Group A and Group C, including China PR vs Vietnam on April 1, Bangladesh vs China PR on April 4, and Japan vs Australia on April 8.
The venue plays an important supporting role in keeping the group stage running smoothly across the tournament’s first week, with matches spread across afternoon and evening slots.
Format of The AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026
Twelve teams compete across three groups of four in the group stage. Each team plays three matches, and the results determine who advances to the quarter-finals. The top team from each group qualifies automatically, along with the three best runners-up and the best third-placed team across all groups.
Here is how the knockout rounds work once the group stage is complete.
| Stage | Matches | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter-Finals | 4 matches | Thammasat and Pathum Thani | 11-12 April |
| Semi-Finals | 2 matches | Thammasat and Pathum Thani | 15 April |
| Final | 1 match | Thammasat Stadium | 18 April |
There is no third-place playoff in this tournament. The two semi-final losers are eliminated at that stage. Every group match carries real weight because the third-place route to the quarter-finals depends on comparison across all three groups, which means a team cannot afford to lose badly even in a dead rubber.
Key Matches to Watch
Three matches from the group stage stand above the rest in the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026.
Japan vs India on April 2 at Thammasat Stadium is the standout opener from Group C. Japan are one of the strongest U-20 sides in Asia and India faces them on the very first matchday. A strong result here could define India’s entire campaign. Lose heavily, and the NRR damage could haunt them later. Win or draw, and India immediately become genuine quarter-final contender.
India vs Australia on April 5 at Pathum Thani Stadium is Group C’s second big test for India. Australia have been a consistent force in AFC youth football and will arrive with full confidence. India needs their best performance across both matches to advance from the toughest group in the tournament. A win here alongside a result against Japan could put India right at the top of Group C.
South Korea vs DPR Korea on April 8 at Pathum Thani Stadium always carries extra weight whenever these two nations meet. Both teams have genuine ambitions of topping Group B, and their final group stage clash could decide the group winner outright. Expect a tight, physical contest with very little room for error from either side.
Suggested Reads:
Conclusion: Thailand Hosts, But Asia’s Best Will Decide the Winner
The AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 runs from April 1 to April 18 across three stadiums in Bangkok and Pathum Thani. Japan comes in as one of the favourites, but Australia, South Korea, and China PR all have the quality to reach the final.
India face their toughest group stage test yet with Japan and Australia in their pool. From the opening whistle in Bangkok, the race to the April 18 final begins immediately.
