CommBank Becomes Official Regional Partner for AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™

CommBank has solidified its long-standing support for Australian football by becoming the Official Regional Partner of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™.

The partnership will help deliver the tournament, which returns to Australian shores after 20 years, serving as a critical qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Hosted in Perth, Gold Coast, and Sydney from 1–21 March 2026, the tournament is projected to be the most attended AFC Asian Cup in history, capitalising on the significant cultural link established by the 3.4 million Australians connected to participating AFC nations.

The partnership builds on CommBank’s existing six-year commitment to Football Australia aimed at growing participation, pathways, and inclusion across the game.

Highlighting the cultural significance of the hosting rights, CommBank group executive marketing and corporate affairs, Monique Macleod, said: “We’re proud to support the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ as it comes to Australia next year. Football is a unifying force and a game for all that brings people together and inspires belief.”

“As the tournament returns home, we’re excited to carry that legacy forward and help build a brighter future that reflects the spirit and strength of our communities,” Macleod said. 

Endorsing the partnership’s role in leveraging the tournament’s scale, AFC CEO, Patrick Murphy, added: “The AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ will be the most attended in history of the tournament, celebrating Australia’s diversity and the unifying power of football.”

“Through partnerships like this one with CommBank, we’re inspiring millions and connecting communities across the region,” Murphy stated.

To activate the partnership, CommBank is launching two major fan engagement programs that connect the grassroots to the world stage:

• Doubt Never Did Ball: An initiative that will travel to community football clubs across Australia, collecting handwritten messages from young fans to serve as inspiration for the CommBank Matildas before their opening match.
• CommBank Mini Mates: Over 500 young fans will be provided with the chance to walk the pitch with Asia’s best footballers.

The partnership underscores the joint commitment of CommBank and the AFC to fostering community pride and inspiring the next generation of players and fans across Australia and the wider region.

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