In response to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the relocation of the Women’s Asian Cup qualifying matches from Jordan to Qatar. The qualifiers, initially scheduled to start next week in Amman, have been postponed and will now take place from July 7 to 19.
The decision was made due to the “ongoing situation” in the region, where tensions between Israel and Iran have intensified, with both countries conducting air strikes against each other. The conflict risks further escalation involving the United States, heightening security concerns.
The AFC’s statement confirmed that the Group A matches, which include teams from Jordan, Singapore, Iran, Lebanon, and Bhutan, will no longer be hosted in Jordan. “More details on the venue and match timings will be confirmed in due course,” the Confederation added.
Singapore’s Football Association also highlighted “logistical concerns raised by the participating teams” as a key reason for the move. The qualifiers are critical as only the winners of each of the eight groups will advance to the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia scheduled for March 2026.
Already qualified for the tournament are hosts Australia, along with South Korea, Japan, and reigning champions China. The AFC and all involved parties are working to ensure the smooth rescheduling and safe conduct of the qualifiers amid the ongoing regional instability.