Australia beat North Korea on penalties in 2010. Japan beat Australia twice in a row in 2014 and 2018. China came back to beat South Korea 3-2 in 2022.
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup has been telling stories like these since 1975, growing from a six-team competition in Hong Kong into one of the most-watched women’s football tournaments in the world.
Seven nations have won it. One nation has won it nine times. This is the complete history of every champion and every final.
AFC Women’s Asian Cup Winners and Runners-Up (Complete List)
The table below shows every champion and runner-up across all 20 completed editions of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, from the inaugural tournament in 1975 to the most recent edition in 2022.
Here is the complete winners’ list across every edition of the tournament.
| Edition | Year | Host | Champions | Score | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1975 | Hong Kong | New Zealand | 3-1 | Thailand |
| 2 | 1977 | Republic of China | Republic of China | 3-1 | Thailand |
| 3 | 1980 | India | Republic of China | 2-0 | India |
| 4 | 1981 | Hong Kong | Mulan Taipei | 5-0 | Thailand |
| 5 | 1983 | Thailand | Thailand | 3-0 | India |
| 6 | 1986 | Hong Kong | China | 2-0 | Japan |
| 7 | 1989 | Hong Kong | China | 1-0 | Chinese Taipei |
| 8 | 1991 | Japan | China | 5-0 | Japan |
| 9 | 1993 | Malaysia | China | 3-0 | North Korea |
| 10 | 1995 | Malaysia | China | 2-0 | Japan |
| 11 | 1997 | China | China | 2-0 | North Korea |
| 12 | 1999 | Philippines | China | 3-0 | Chinese Taipei |
| 13 | 2001 | Taiwan | North Korea | 2-0 | Japan |
| 14 | 2003 | Thailand | North Korea | 2-1 (a.e.t.) | South Korea |
| 15 | 2006 | Australia | China | 2-2 (4-2 p) | Australia |
| 16 | 2008 | Vietnam | North Korea | 2-1 | China |
| 17 | 2010 | China | Australia | 1-1 (5-4 p) | North Korea |
| 18 | 2014 | Vietnam | Japan | 1-0 | Australia |
| 19 | 2018 | Jordan | Japan | 1-0 | Australia |
| 20 | 2022 | India | China | 3-2 | South Korea |
| 21 | 2026 | Australia | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 22 | 2029 | Uzbekistan | TBD | TBD | TBD |
The next edition in 2026 will be hosted by Australia, giving the Matildas a home advantage as they look to win their second title and end Japan’s recent run of back-to-back victories.
AFC Women’s Asian Cup Final Results: Edition-by-Edition Summary
Here is a detailed look at every final, covering the key moments, match details, and outcomes that shaped each edition of the tournament.
Edition 1: 1975 Winner: New Zealand
Final Date and Venue: 1975, Hong Kong
Finalists: New Zealand vs Thailand
First Innings: New Zealand controlled the final from start to finish, taking a firm grip on the match early and not allowing Thailand to build any momentum across the game.
Turning Point: New Zealand’s organised and disciplined performance throughout the final gave Thailand no chance to get back into the contest at any stage of the match.
Result: New Zealand won 3-1, claiming the very first AFC Women’s Asian Cup title. It remains their only appearance in the tournament.
Edition 2: 1977 Winner: Republic of China
Final Date and Venue: 1977, Republic of China
Finalists: Republic of China vs Thailand
First Innings: The Republic of China produced a commanding performance in the final, scoring three goals and keeping Thailand from finding any route back into the match throughout.
Turning Point: The home side’s superior organisation and finishing quality made the difference, as Thailand struggled to cope with the pressure applied by the hosts across both halves.
Result: Republic of China won 3-1, claiming back-to-back titles for the host nation and establishing early dominance in Asian women’s football.
Edition 3: 1980 Winner: Republic of China
Final Date and Venue: 1980, India
Finalists: Republic of China vs India
First Innings: The Republic of China controlled the final in front of the home crowd of the host nation, India, using their technical quality to outplay the hosts throughout the contest.
Turning Point: India could not convert their home advantage into meaningful attacking play, andthe Republic of China’s defensive solidity made sure the final never became a close contest.
Result: Republic of China won 2-0, claiming their third title and confirming their status as the dominant force in Asian women’s football during this period.
Edition 4: 1981 Winner: Mulan Taipei
Final Date and Venue: 1981, Hong Kong
Finalists: Mulan Taipei vs Thailand
First Innings: Mulan Taipei produced one of the most dominant final performances in the tournament’s early history, running out comfortable winners against a Thailand side that could find no way through their defence.
Turning Point: The 5-0 scoreline tells the complete story of this final. Mulan Taipei were simply far superior in every area of the pitch and turned the match into a one-sided affair from early on.
Result: Mulan Taipei won 5-0, claiming the title in the biggest winning margin ever recorded in an AFC Women’s Asian Cup final up to that point.
Edition 5: 1983 Winner: Thailand
Final Date and Venue: 1983, Thailand
Finalists: Thailand vs India
First Innings: Thailand produced a strong performance on home soil, using the crowd’s support to push forward and create chances that India’s defence could not deal with throughout the final.
Turning Point: Playing at home gave Thailand a significant advantage, and their attacking play in the final third proved far too much for India to handle across the full 90 minutes.
Result: Thailand won 3-0, claiming their only AFC Women’s Asian Cup title on home soil and becoming the first ASEAN nation to win the tournament.
Edition 6: 1986 Winner: China
Final Date and Venue: 1986, Hong Kong
Finalists: China vs Japan
First Innings: China began what would become the most dominant run in the tournament’s history with a controlled display against Japan. Their physical and technical superiority was clear from the opening stages.
Turning Point: China’s ability to dominate possession and convert their chances efficiently proved the difference, as Japan were unable to create enough to threaten the Chinese goal in the final.
Result: China won 2-0, starting a run of seven consecutive title wins that would span from 1986 all the way through to 1999 without interruption.
Edition 7: 1989 Winner: China
Final Date and Venue: 1989, Hong Kong
Finalists: China vs Chinese Taipei
First Innings: China retained their title with another controlled display. Chinese Taipei pushed hard but could not find a way past China’s well-organised defence in a tight and competitive final.
Turning Point: China’s experience and composure in the biggest moments of the match allowed them to control the pace of the game and see out the victory without ever truly being under pressure.
Result: China won 1-0, claiming their second consecutive title and showing their ability to win tight finals just as comfortably as high-scoring ones.
Edition 8: 1991 Winner: China
Final Date and Venue: 1991, Japan
Finalists: China vs Japan
First Innings: China produced their most commanding final performance yet, completely overwhelming a Japan side that was playing in front of their home crowd in what should have been a supportive atmosphere.
Turning Point: China’s dominance was total from the opening whistle. Japan had no answer to their pace, movement, and finishing quality, and the 5-0 scoreline was a fair reflection of the gap between the two sides on the day.
Result: China won 5-0, their biggest ever winning margin in an AFC Women’s Asian Cup final, and their third consecutive title to confirm their status as the undisputed queens of Asian women’s football.
Edition 9: 1993 Winner: China
Final Date and Venue: 1993, Malaysia
Finalists: China vs North Korea
First Innings: China continued their relentless title run with another dominant final performance, this time against a North Korea side that had emerged as one of the strongest teams in the region during this period.
Turning Point: China’s attacking quality and defensive organisation proved too much for North Korea. The 3-0 scoreline showed that China were not just winning these finals but completely controlling them.
Result: China won 3-0, claiming their fourth consecutive title and extending their remarkable run of dominance in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup to four editions without conceding a single goal in a final.
Edition 10: 1995 Winner: China
Final Date and Venue: 1995, Malaysia
Finalists: China vs Japan
First Innings: China faced Japan for the third time in a final and produced the same result as the previous encounters. Japan worked hard to stay in the match but could not break through China’s defence at any stage.
Turning Point: China’s collective discipline and match management made it almost impossible for Japan to find the kind of opening they needed to score and change the dynamic of the final.
Result: China won 2-0, claiming their fifth consecutive title and completing a remarkable decade of dominance that showed no signs of ending any time soon.
Edition 11: 1997 Winner: China
Final Date and Venue: 1997, China
Finalists: China vs North Korea
First Innings: China won the title on home soil against North Korea, bringing their own crowd to their feet with another composed and clinical final performance that left the opposition with very little to work with.
Turning Point: Playing at home added extra motivation to an already dominant China side. North Korea were competitive but could never find a way past a defence that had become one of the most reliable in world women’s football.
Result: China won 2-0 on home soil, claiming their sixth consecutive title and moving into a position of historical dominance that no other nation in Asian women’s football has ever matched.
Edition 12: 1999 Winner: China
Final Date and Venue: 1999, Philippines
Finalists: China vs Chinese Taipei
First Innings: China closed out their extraordinary run of seven consecutive titles with a 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei. The performance was controlled and assured, exactly as their finals had been throughout the 1986 to 1999 period.
Turning Point: Chinese Taipei had no answer to China’s quality. The seven-final winning streak that ended here represents one of the most dominant runs in the history of any continental women’s football competition anywhere in the world.
Result: China won 3-0, completing seven consecutive AFC Women’s Asian Cup titles and finishing a period of dominance that may never be matched in Asian women’s football.
Edition 13: 2001 Winner: North Korea
Final Date and Venue: 2001, Taiwan
Finalists: North Korea vs Japan
First Innings: North Korea ended China’s long dominance with a composed and disciplined performance in Taiwan, keeping Japan at bay throughout and making the most of their attacking opportunities when they arrived.
Turning Point: North Korea’s defensive organisation was the key factor, giving Japan very little room to create in a final that was decided by one team’s ability to stay compact and hit on the counter.
Result: North Korea won 2-0, claiming their first AFC Women’s Asian Cup title and ending China’s remarkable seven-edition winning streak in what was a landmark moment for women’s football across Asia.
Edition 14: 2003 Winner: North Korea
Final Date and Venue: 2003, Thailand
Finalists: North Korea vs South Korea
First Innings: North Korea and South Korea produced the most dramatic final in the tournament’s history to that point, with extra time needed to decide the winner after a tight and absorbing 90 minutes of football between the two rival nations.
Turning Point: North Korea’s composure in extra time proved the difference, as they found the goal that South Korea could not match. The all-Korean final added extra meaning to every moment of the contest.
Result: North Korea won 2-1 after extra time, claiming their second consecutive title in a tense final against their regional rivals and cementing their position as the strongest women’s football nation in Asia at that time.
Edition 15: 2006 Winner: China
Final Date and Venue: 2006, Australia
Finalists: China vs Australia
First Innings: China and Australia played out one of the most dramatic finals in the tournament’s history. The two sides could not be separated after 90 minutes and extra time, forcing the first penalty shootout in an AFC Women’s Asian Cup final.
Turning Point: The penalty shootout gave China the edge over Australia in what had been a completely even contest. Both sides had performed at the highest level, but China’s nerve in the shootout proved the deciding factor.
Result: China won 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw, claiming their ninth and most recent title to date and showing that their competitive quality remained strong even after the end of their seven-edition winning streak.
Edition 16: 2008 Winner: North Korea
Final Date and Venue: 2008, Vietnam
Finalists: North Korea vs China
First Innings: North Korea faced China in the final and produced a performance that showed the two nations were now evenly matched at the very top of Asian women’s football. Both teams created chances, but North Korea took theirs more clinically.
Turning Point: North Korea’s efficiency in front of the goal and their ability to defend their lead in the second half proved the difference. China pushed hard for an equaliser but could not find a way through.
Result: North Korea won 2-1, claiming their third AFC Women’s Asian Cup title and denying China back-to-back victories in what was a deserved win for the North Koreans.
Edition 17: 2010 Winner: Australia
Final Date and Venue: 2010, China
Finalists: Australia vs North Korea
First Innings: Australia and North Korea produced another tight final that required extra time and then a penalty shootout to find a winner. Both sides gave everything across a marathon match in China.
Turning Point: Australia’s penalty shootout success gave them their first-ever AFC Women’s Asian Cup title, completing a journey from losing finalists in 2006 to champions in 2010 in the space of just one edition.
Result: Australia won 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, claiming their maiden title and becoming the seventh different nation to win the AFC Women’s Asian Cup since its inaugural edition in 1975.
Edition 18: 2014 Winner: Japan
Final Date and Venue: 2014, Vietnam
Finalists: Japan vs Australia
First Innings: Japan and Australia met in the final in Vietnam in what proved to be a tightly contested match. Japan’s technically superior play gave them the edge, but Australia pushed them all the way to the final whistle.
Turning Point: Japan’s ability to create and convert a single chance while keeping Australia scoreless showed the clinical edge that separates title-winning teams from runners-up in the tightest of finals.
Result: Japan won 1-0, claiming their first AFC Women’s Asian Cup title and ending a long wait for the Nadeshiko after years of reaching the final stages without lifting the trophy.
Edition 19: 2018 Winner: Japan
Final Date and Venue: 2018, Jordan
Finalists: Japan vs Australia
First Innings: Japan and Australia met in the final for the second consecutive edition, and Japan produced exactly the same result as in 2014. Australia had more possession at times, but could not find the goal they needed to take the match beyond Japan’s control.
Turning Point: Japan’s defensive discipline and their ability to score the one goal the final required showed a team in complete command of what was needed to win a continental final against a strong opponent.
Result: Japan won 1-0 for the second consecutive time, retaining their title and becoming back-to-back AFC Women’s Asian Cup champions for the first time since China’s dominant run ended in 1999.
Edition 20: 2022 Winner: China
Final Date and Venue: 2022, India
Finalists: China vs South Korea
First Innings: China returned to the top of Asian women’s football in 2022 with a memorable final against South Korea in India. The match was an open and entertaining contest that produced goals at both ends before China secured the win.
Turning Point: China’s experience in finals proved the difference as South Korea pushed hard to claim their first-ever AFC Women’s Asian Cup title. China’s ability to score three goals while conceding two showed their quality in big matches.
Result: China won 3-2, claiming their ninth AFC Women’s Asian Cup title and returning to the top of Asian women’s football after a 16-year gap since their last title in 2006.
Team-wise AFC Women’s Asian Cup Titles
China’s record of nine titles is almost double the next best, with North Korea and Chinese Taipei each winning three. Japan, Australia, Thailand, and New Zealand each have one title to their name.
Here is the complete breakdown of titles won by every champion nation.
| Team | Titles Won | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| China | 9 | 1977, 1980, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2022 |
| North Korea | 3 | 2001, 2003, 2008 |
| Chinese Taipei | 3 | 1977, 1980, 1981 |
| Japan | 2 | 2014, 2018 |
| Australia | 1 | 2010 |
| Thailand | 1 | 1983 |
| New Zealand | 1 | 1975 |
China stands as the most successful nation in AFC Women’s Asian Cup history by a significant distance. Their nine titles include a run of seven consecutive championships from 1986 to 1999, a record that has never been matched in any other continental women’s football competition.
Teams Reaching the Top Four
China and Japan share the record for most top-four appearances with 15 each. Japan have appeared in more finals than any other nation despite winning fewer titles, reaching the top four consistently across five decades of the tournament.
Here is the complete top-four record for every nation that has finished in the top four across all 20 completed editions.
| Nation | Champions | Runners-up | Third Place | Fourth Place | Semi-finalists | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 9 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 15 |
| North Korea | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Chinese Taipei | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| Japan | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 15 |
| Australia | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Thailand | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| India | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| South Korea | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Hong Kong | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Malaysia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Singapore | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Indonesia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Philippines | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Japan’s five third-place finishes are the most of any nation in the tournament’s history. Their consistency in reaching the knockout stages across every decade of the competition makes them the most reliable performers across the full span of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Notable Moments in AFC Women’s Asian Cup History
China’s Seven Consecutive Titles (1986 to 1999): No nation in any continental women’s football competition has matched China’s run of seven back-to-back titles. Across this period, China lost only a handful of matches in total and won every single final they appeared in.
North Korea Ending China’s Streak in 2001: When North Korea beat Japan 2-0 in the 2001 final in Taiwan, they ended China’s remarkable dominance and opened the tournament to genuine competition for the first time in over a decade.
Australia’s Penalty Shootout Win in 2010: Australia’s maiden title came via a 5-4 penalty shootout win over North Korea after a 1-1 draw in China. It was the first time the tournament had been decided on penalties and remains one of the most dramatic finals in the event’s history.
Japan’s Back-to-Back Titles in 2014 and 2018: Japan became the first nation since China to win consecutive AFC Women’s Asian Cup titles, beating Australia 1-0 in both finals. Their technical quality and consistency made them the dominant force in the 2010s.
China’s Return to Glory in 2022: China’s 3-2 win over South Korea in India marked their return to the top of Asian women’s football after a 16-year gap. The entertaining final showed that China’s quality had never completely disappeared, even during the years when Japan and North Korea had taken the title.
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Conclusion: China Wins The Most Championship Titles In AFC Women’s Asian Cup
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup has grown from a six-team tournament in Hong Kong in 1975 into one of the most important competitions in world women’s football.
China built the foundation with nine titles, but Japan, North Korea, Australia, and others have made the competition genuinely unpredictable in the modern era. With Australia hosting 2026, the next chapter is already being written, and women’s football in Asia has never had more to offer.
