The Matildas have been pitted against the team that ended their last Women’s Asian Cup campaign, facing South Korea in the group stage of the 2026 tournament along with the Philippines and Iran.

With Australia hosting the tournament in March, the draw was made at Sydney Town Hall on Tuesday night.

Joe Montemurro’s team will host the opener against the Philippines at Perth’s Optus Stadium on 1 March, and then take on Iran at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast on 5 March.

The Matildas then face the toughest task with the final group match against South Korea at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on 8 March.

Montemurro’s side avoided a group stage meeting with the defending champions China, who were drawn in Group B.

The world no 7 team, Japan, the highest-ranked in the tournament, were drawn in Group C.

Australia are one of 12 teams split across three groups to have qualified for next year’s tournament, which will culminate in the final at Accor Stadium on 21 March.

The top two teams in each of the groups, joined by the two best third-placed sides, will advance to the knockout stages.

This is the full draw:

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Group A – Australia, South Korea, Iran, Philippines

Group B – North Korea, China, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan

Group C – Japan, Vietnam, India, Taiwan