CommBank backs the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026^TM as Official Regional Partner

CommBank today announced it will become the Official Regional Partner of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026^TM, to help bring the tournament to Australian shores for fans from around the world

Twenty years after Australia first hosted the event, the tournament returns for its 21st edition, featuring 12 national teams from across Asia. Hosted in Perth, Gold Coast and Sydney from 1–21 March 2026, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026^TM will also act as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The partnership reflects CommBank’s long-standing support for football and celebrates the diversity and pride that unite fans and players across Australia and the region. It builds on CommBank’s expanded partnership with Football Australia announced earlier this year in a six-year commitment to grow participation, pathways and inclusion in the game.

Diversity and reach across Australia and the region

With 3.4 million Australians connected to participating AFC nations, the 2026 tournament is set to be the most attended 

AFC Asian Cup ever. It’s a celebration of Australia’s multicultural community, highlighting the diversity and shared spirit that football brings to fans across the country. It is projected to reach more than eight million Australian viewers and attract record-breaking crowds from home and abroad, as teams from across Asia, including the CommBank Matildas, inspire fans across the wider Asian region.

CommBank brings fans and players together

As part of its goal to build belief from the grassroots to the world stage, CommBank is launching the Doubt Never Did Ball, an initiative that will travel to community football clubs across Australia in the lead-up to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026^TM.

Carried across the nation, the ball will collect handwritten messages from young players and fans to the CommBank Matildas. Inscribed with Doubt Never Did, the ball will connect the players with their biggest supporters, to serve as inspiration for the CommBank Matildas when it’s returned to the team ahead of their opening match against the Philippines in Perth on 1 March 2026.

The partnership with the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026^TM will also see CommBank provide over 500 young fans with the chance to walk the pitch with Asia’s best footballers as a CommBank Mini Mate. 

Quotes from CommBank, AFC and the CommBank Matildas

CommBank Group Executive Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Monique Macleod, said: “We’re proud to support the AFC Women’s Asian Cup^TM as it comes to Australia next year. It’s a celebration of the world’s game and a reflection of our nation’s diversity and spirit. Football is a unifying force and a game for all that brings people together and inspires belief. The CommBank Matildas are a powerful example of that. 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.” 

Patrick Murphy, CEO of the AFC, said: “The AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026^TM 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.”

CommBank Ambassador and CommBank Matilda, Sam Kerr said: “Playing on home soil is always special. We feel the belief and support of Australians everywhere we go, but there’s nothing like having it in the stands with you. It’s great to have CommBank alongside us again as we bring another major tournament to Australia and keep inspiring the next generation of players.”

Together, CommBank and the AFC are uniting fans across Australia and the region as the countdown to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026^TM begins. For more information visit commbank.com.au/football and womensasiancup2026.com.au 

About the AFC 

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is the governing body of Asian football and one of the six Confederations making up FIFA. Established in 1954, the AFC is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and comprises 47 Member Associations. 

The AFC organises the AFC Asian Cup^TM, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup^TM and the AFC Futsal Asian Cup^TM which are the flagship Continental national team football and futsal competitions, while the AFC Champions League Elite^TM and AFC Women’s Champions League^TM are the premier competitions for Asian clubs, drawing millions of fans to the beautiful game across the length and breadth of the Continent and beyond. 

¹Australian Sports Commission’s 2025 AusPlay New Participation Report

Downloadable photos

• Chief Operating Officer of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 LOC, Sarah Walsh; CommBank General Manager, Brand, Partnerships & Creative, Dianne Everett; CommBank Matildas Head Coach, Joe Montemurro; CommBank Matildas Steph Catley, Sam Kerr, Hayley Raso, and Tameka Yallop; CommBank Chief Marketing Officer, Jo Boundy; Commercial Director AFC, Andrew Rogers
• CommBank Matildas Sam Kerr, Hayley Raso, Steph Catley and Tameka Yallop along with Chief Operating Officer of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ LOC, Sarah Walsh
• Sam Kerr of the CommBank Matildas
• Michelle Heyman of the CommBank Matildas
• CommBank Chief Marketing Officer, Jo Boundy