Who is most affected by WSL Asian Cup exodus?

"This will be the 21st edition of the quadrennial tournament, which is the biggest international women's football competition for nations in the Asian Football Confederation. The tournament will begin on Sunday, 1 March with a group stage consisting of three groups of four teams. Members of the same group will face each other in a round-robin format until they have played three matches each."

"The four semi-finalists will secure automatic qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil next summer. The four losers at the quarter-final stage will enter the World Cup inter-continental play-offs."

"Twenty eight players spanning every club in the WSL will be at the Asian Cup, though they all play for either Australia (12) or Japan (16)."

The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup is the 21st edition of Asia's premier women's football tournament, taking place in Australia from March 1-21. The competition features a group stage with three groups of four teams, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final at Sydney's Stadium Australia on March 21. The tournament determines automatic qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil for the four semi-finalists, while quarter-final losers enter inter-continental play-offs. Twenty-eight WSL players will participate, all representing either Australia (12 players) or Japan (16 players), creating notable absences when the WSL resumes on March 15.

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