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History was made in Perth tonight as the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ opened with a spectacular and record-breaking Opening Ceremony at Perth Stadium, launching the biggest and most high-profile edition in the tournament’s history.

In front of a 44,379-strong crowd, opening night set a new benchmark for the competition, delivering the highest-attended match in AFC Women’s Asian Cup history. The previous record of 18,000 was set at the 2014 edition in Vietnam, a mark that was surpassed in emphatic fashion in Perth as Australia confirmed its ambition to stage the most successful edition ever.

Ahead of the Matildas’ blockbuster opening clash against the Philippines, the night was elevated by world-class musical performances that underscored the scale of the occasion.

International headline artist Audrey Nuna, of KPop Demon Hunters fame, electrified the stadium with a powerful medley of high energy tracks. Before taking to the stage again in an in-stadium exclusive half-time show.

The ceremony also featured the live debut of the Official Tournament Anthem, ‘That’s How We Win’, performed by ZIPPORAH. Created by Music Director Joel Farland in collaboration with award-winning songwriter Nat Dunn, who recorded the track, the anthem marked another defining first for this landmark edition of the competition. As the anthem built, giant flags swept across the field and stadium screens lit up with dreams captured from all 12 participating teams.

First Nations Song Women Rickeeta Walley and Leonie Kearing-Wilkes performed ‘Djuninybo’, a song calling to the mountains and sky to connect all nations, while Noongar Elder Dr Richard Walley delivered a moving Calling to Country, joined by dancers from a local Noongar dance group. The performance honoured the Black Cockatoo, which carries deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Noongar people of Western Australia, while a traditional message stick crafted from Jarrah wood conveyed a personal message of welcome to each of the participating teams, grounding the tournament in respect and connection to Country.

Built around a powerful creative concept of a heartbeat, the ceremony transformed Perth Stadium into a living, breathing celebration of football, culture and unity, with a rhythmic pulse resonating through music, lighting design, pyrotechnics and choreography performed by a cast of 260 talented artists.

From the cultural depth to the scale of the production and the tournament record-breaking crowd in the stands, opening night set the tone for what promises to be a historic tournament across Perth, the Gold Coast and Sydney.