Shooting for similar goals

With the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 just around the corner, China and Australia are actively looking to strengthen sporting, cultural and people-to-people ties through soccer engagement activities.

Scheduled to take place from March 1 to 21, the AFC showpiece will see 12 teams in action across Australia, with games being hosted in Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast. The Chinese women's team, nicknamed the Steel Roses by its fans, is aiming to defend the title it won in India in 2022.

"The history of football competition between Australia and China has been long, particularly in the women's game, and the Chinese women's national team has been a powerhouse in football for a very long time," said commentator Grace Gill, herself a former Australian women's international.

Born in Darwin, Gill rose through the youth ranks and has a long connection with China. In 2007, she represented Australia at the AFC Under-19 Women's Championship in Chongqing, and made her senior debut for the Matildas, as the Aussie national team is known, against Hong Kong the same year.

Today, she is one of the most influential voices in Australian soccer broadcasting, serving as a commentator and analyst for Network 10's coverage of the men's and women's A-Leagues, as well as international matches featuring the Aussie men — the Socceroos — and the Matildas.

In March 2023, Grace participated in the FIFA Women's World Cup Trophy Tour in China.

Gill points out that, in soccer terms, the two nations are already close, making it easy for youth and senior setups to increase exchanges. While a number of Chinese players have, and are currently, representing Australian league sides, Australian coaches are also active in China's soccer scene, including Ante Milicic, who joined the Steel Roses' setup as head coach in May 2024.

"What we've seen in recent years is that the relationship (between the two nations) is building and it will continue," said Gill.

To further deepen bilateral soccer exchanges and prepare both nations' teams for upcoming matches, the Young Socceroos will travel to China for two matches against its men's U20 national team as part of the recently announced Australia-China Friendship Series.

Supported by the Australian government through the National Foundation of Australia-China Relations, the series will represent the third major soccer engagement between the two nations in March, together with the AFC Women's Asian Cup and the biennial invitational tournament for men's and women's international sides, the FIFA Series, both being hosted by Australia.

Underlining the game's growing role as a platform for bilateral engagement and international cooperation, the two matches will be played on March 28 and 31 at Yiwu Meihu Sports Center Stadium in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, providing the Young Socceroos with high-quality international competition.

"The Australia-China Friendship Series is a great opportunity for Football Australia to engage with China and strengthen our relationship both on and off the pitch," said Heather Garriock, interim chief executive officer at Football Australia.

She notes that the two-match series is also a year out from China hosting the AFC U20 Asian Cup, when Australia will be looking to defend its crown. The March series will give players and staff valuable experience of local conditions and venues ahead of the AFC tournament.

Gary Cowan, CEO of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, said: "Football is one of the areas in which Australia's links with China — of friendship and competition — are growing strongly and this is a good thing.

"This will come hot on the heels of China's Steel Roses taking part in the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia, enhancing people-to-people links and showcasing Australian sporting excellence."