Japan start with the same XI that dispensed with South Korea in the semi-finals. Riko Ueki leads the line, and with six goals is one strike in front of Australia’s Alanna Kennedy in the race for the golden boot.

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1 A. Yamashita, 4 S. Kumagai, 5 H. Takahashi, 6 T. Koga, 7 H. Miyazawa, 9 R. Ueki, 10 F. Nagano, 13 H. Kitagawa, 14 Y. Hasegawa, 15 A. Fujino, 17 M. Hamano

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Substitutes: 2 R. Shimizu, 3 M. Minami, 8 K. Seike, 11 M. Tanaka, 12 C. Hirao, 16 Y. Yamamoto, 18 H. Hayashi, 19 M. Tanikawa, 20 M. Matsukubo, 21 M. Moriya, 23 A. Okuma, 24 Y. Narumiya, 25 R. Chiba, 26 M. Hijikata

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Joe Montemurro has made one change to his starting XI with Wini Heatley coming in for Clare Hunt, as she did during the second-half of the semi-final against China. Montemurro is a big fan of Heatley’s ball-playing as a right-footed centre-half alongside the left-footed Steph Catley.

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This is a team packed with experience. Five of Australia’s starting XI have earned more than 100 caps – and tonight Ellie Carpenter moves to 99. Only Heatley and Kaitlyn Torpey have fewer than 50. They will never be more ready.

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STARTING XI 🗒

Here’s how we line up for the Final of #WAC2026 against Japan 👊
🔄 We make one change to the side that beat China PR, with Wini Heatley coming into the centre of defence.#Matildas #JPNvAUS #HowWeWaltz #TilitsDone pic.twitter.com/4dLCEWNIs5

— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) March 21, 2026

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Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Japan v Australia in the final of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Kick-off at Sydney’s Stadium Australia is 8pm AEDT.

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This is the most consequential football match on Australian soil since Spain defeated England in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final almost three years ago. It is the most significant fixture involving an Australian national team since Ange Postecoglou led the Socceroos to continental glory in 2015. There has been no shortage of hype around this golden generation of Matildas and they finally have the chance to honour it with silverware.

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The hosts will have the majority of a 60,000+ crowd behind them but they will enter the decider as underdogs. Japan have reached at least the semi-finals of every Asian Cup since 1986, winning two out of the past three titles. They haven’t lost a match in 90 minutes in the competition since 2010. That defeat came at the hands of eventual champions Australia. A 90th minute substitute that day: 16-year-old Samantha May Kerr.

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A generation on, Kerr is the only surviving member of the class of 2010 and she will captain a side packed full of close friends that blossomed alongside each other into what could prove to be their defining battle.

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I’ll be back with all the build up, team news, and insight from Stadium Australia shortly. If you want to join in during the evening, you can reach me at jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com.

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Evento principal

Japón XI

Japón empezó con la misma alineación que en la semifinal contra Corea del Sur. Riko Ueki lidera el camino y con seis goles está uno por delante de la australiana Alanna Kennedy en la carrera por la bota de oro.

1 A. Yamashita, 4 S. Kumagai, 5 H. Takahashi, 6 T. Koga, 7 H. Miyazawa, 9 R. Ueki, 10 F. Nagano, 13 H. Kitagawa, 14 Y. Hasegawa, 15 A. Fujino, 17 M. Hamano

Suplentes: 2 R. Shimizu, 3 M. Minami, 8 K. Seike, 11 M. Tanaka, 12 C. Hirao, 16 Y. Yamamoto, 18 H. Hayashi, 19 M. Tanikawa, 20 M. Matsukubo, 21 M. Moriya, 23 A. Okuma, 24 Y. Narumiya, 25 R. Chiba, 26 M. Hijikata



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