DHAKA, July 23, 2025 (BSS)-Bangladesh women's football team will play in the Asian Cup final stage for the first time. The tournament will be held in Sydney, Perth and Gold Coast, Australia, from March 1-21 next year with the participation of 12 countries.

The pots have been finalized today (Wednesday) ahead of Women's Asian Cup draw. The official draw will be held at Sydney Town Hall on July 29, according to AFC website.

The 12-strong cast for the Finals was completed on Saturday following the conclusion of the Qualifiers, which saw the Islamic Republic of Iran secure the last ticket to the 21st edition of the Continent's premier women's national team tournament.

The Final Draw will divide the participating teams into three groups of four, with the top two sides from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, progressing to the knockout stage.

As hosts, Australia will be designated as the top seed and occupy position A1 as the 2010 champions embark on a quest to reclaim the throne on home soil under newly-appointed head coach Joe Montemurro.

Joining them are the top three finishers from the AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022(tm) - defending champions China PR, runners-up Korea Republic, and third-placed Japan, who all earned automatic qualification.

Nine-time winners China PR will look to defend their title and extend their legacy while Japan, the only Asian team to have won the FIFA Women's World Cup, will aim to add to their 2014 and 2018 Continental triumphs.

Meanwhile, Korea Republic, runners-up in 2022, will look to go one better and clinch their maiden title in what will be their 14th consecutive campaign.

The remaining eight teams confirmed their places through the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026(tm) Qualifiers, which were held in eight centralised groups from June 23 to July 19.

IR Iran, who made their Continental debut in 2022, topped Group A and will be determined to build on that milestone and advance beyond the group stage for the first time.

Emerging as Group B winners to seal their first qualification since 2003, India will be aiming to eclipse their runners-up finishes from 1980 and 1983.
The 2026 edition will also welcome debutants Bangladesh, as the South Asian nation make their maiden showing on the Continental stage after topping Group C ahead of Bahrain, Myanmar, and Turkmenistan.

Three-time champions Chinese Taipei, who reached the quarter-finals in 2022, confirmed their 15th appearance after finishing top of Group D.
In Group E, it was Vietnam who claimed the qualifying berth and they will be eager to better their 2022 quarter-final finish in their 10th consecutive appearance.

A dominant performance in Group F saw Uzbekistan leave behind Laos, Nepal, and Sri Lanka to finish on top. Appearing in the competition proper for the first time since 2003, the Central Asians will want to mark their sixth appearance by advancing beyond the group stage for the first time.

Philippines, the Group G winners, will be making back-to-back appearances at the Finals following their last-four finish in 2022, which secured their first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup berth. With the historic milestone behind them, the Filipinas will now be eyeing a second consecutive qualification for the global showpiece.

Having swept through the Qualifiers in Group H, DPR Korea mark their return to the tournament for the first time since 2010 and will be on the prowl for a fourth Continental title as they aim to re-establish themselves among Asia's elite.

The seeding, based on the latest FIFA Women's World Ranking (as of June 12, in brackets), and pot allocations for the Final Draw are as follows:
Pot 1: Australia (15), Japan (7), DPR Korea (9)
Pot 2: China PR (17), Korea Republic (21), Vietnam (37)
Pot 3: Philippines (41), Chinese Taipei (42), Uzbekistan (51)
Pot 4: IR Iran (68), India (70), Bangladesh (128)