China and South Korea Reach Women’s Asian Cup Semi-Finals

China women’s national football team and South Korea women’s national football team have advanced to the semi-finals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after winning their quarter-final matches in Australia.

Defending champions China secured a 2–0 extra-time victory over Chinese Taipei women’s national football team in Perth. Shao Ziqin opened the scoring in the 94th minute, firing into the corner of the net, before an own goal from Chen Ying-hui sealed the win.

The result keeps China on course for a record-extending 10th Asian Cup title and also guarantees the team direct qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

China will now face tournament hosts Australia women’s national soccer team in the semi-finals on Tuesday. However, the team will be without star midfielder Wang Shuang, who is suspended after receiving a second yellow card of the tournament.

In another quarter-final played in Sydney, South Korea produced a dominant display, defeating Uzbekistan women’s national football team 6–0. Goals came from Son Hwa-yeon, Ko Yoo-jin, Park Soo-jeong, Ji So-yun, Lee Eun-young and Jang Sel-gi.

The victory also secured World Cup qualification for South Korea, who finished runners-up to China in the 2022 edition of the tournament.

South Korea will now meet the winner of the quarter-final between Japan women’s national football team and Philippines women’s national football team in the semi-finals.

Despite their defeats, both Taiwan and Uzbekistan still have a chance to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup through the tournament’s playoff matches.

The Women’s Asian Cup, currently hosted across cities in Australia including Perth and Sydney, serves as both the continent’s top women’s football tournament and a qualification pathway for the next FIFA Women’s World Cup.