The AFC Women’s Asian Cup is Asia’s top women’s football competition. It began in 1975 and has since become the defining stage for national teams across the continent.
How often a team appears in this tournament reflects the strength of its women’s football program. Some nations have built records that span five decades. Japan, Thailand, and China PR lead the list.
This article ranks all 12 teams by total appearances and covers what those records mean, using data current as of March 2026.
Teams With the Most Appearances in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup
Below are the ranks of teams by total participations in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup:
| Rank | Team | Participations | Years of Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 18 | 1977-2026 |
| 2 | Thailand | 17 | 1975-2022 |
| 3 | China PR | 16 | 1986-2026 |
| 4 | Chinese Taipei | 15 | 1977-2026 |
| 5 | South Korea | 14 | 1991-2026 |
| 6 | Hong Kong | 14 | 1975-2003 |
| 7 | North Korea | 11 | 1989-2026 |
| 8 | Philippines | 11 | 1981-2026 |
| 9 | India | 10 | 1980-2026 |
| 10 | Vietnam | 10 | 1999-2026 |
| 11 | Malaysia | 9 | 1975-1999 |
| 12 | Australia | 9 | 1975-2026 |
Now, let’s cover each team’s record in full detail.
Note: Two of Australia’s nine appearances (1975 and 1980) were as invited non-AFC members. Their seven appearances from 2006 onward reflect full AFC membership.
1. Japan – 18 Appearances
| Team | Japan |
| Confederation | AFC |
| First Appearance | 1977 |
| Participations | 18 |
| Latest Appearance | 2026 |
The Japan women’s national football team holds the all-time record for most appearances in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, with 18 participations and counting. Japan entered the tournament in 1977 and has never missed an edition since.
At the 2026 tournament in Australia, Japan swept through the group stage with three wins, 20 goals scored, and none conceded. They beat India 11-0 and Vietnam 4-0, entering the quarter-finals as the tournament’s standout side. (Source: Inside World Football)
2. Thailand – 17 Appearances
| Team | Thailand |
| Confederation | AFC |
| First Appearance | 1975 |
| Participations | 17 |
| Latest Appearance | 2022 |
The Thai women’s national football team competed in the very first edition in 1975. They went on to feature in 17 tournaments, with their most recent appearance at the 2022 edition in India.
They reached the quarter-finals before losing to Japan 7-0. Thailand did not qualify for the 2026 edition in Australia. Four decades of participation place them firmly second on the all-time list.
3. China PR – 16 Appearances
| Team | China PR |
| Confederation | AFC |
| First Appearance | 1986 |
| Participations | 16 |
| Latest Appearance | 2026 |
The China PR women’s national football team first appeared in 1986 and has since taken part in 16 editions. China is the most decorated team in the tournament’s history, having won the title 9 times.
They are the current defending champions, having beaten South Korea 3-2 in the 2022 final in Navi Mumbai, India. China came back from 2-0 down, with Xiao Yuyi scoring the winner in stoppage time.
At the 2026 tournament, China won all three group-stage matches and entered the quarter-finals as strong title contenders. (Source: CBS Sports)
4. Chinese Taipei – 15 Appearances
| Team | Chinese Taipei |
| Confederation | AFC |
| First Appearance | 1977 |
| Participations | 15 |
| Latest Appearance | 2026 |
The Chinese Taipei women’s national football team entered the tournament in 1977 and has appeared in 15 editions across nearly five decades.
Chinese Taipei has won the title 3 times, placing them joint second on the all-time titles list alongside North Korea. At the 2026 tournament, Chinese Taipei qualified for the quarter-finals from Group C, where they face China PR.
5. South Korea – 14 Appearances
| Team | South Korea |
| Confederation | AFC |
| First Appearance | 1991 |
| Participations | 14 |
| Latest Appearance | 2026 |
The South Korea women’s national football team made their debut in 1991 and have since played in 14 editions. South Korea reached the 2022 final, where they led China 2-0 before losing 3-2 in the closing minutes.
At the 2026 tournament, South Korea topped Group A on seven points and a goal difference of +6, finishing above hosts Australia, who also had seven points but a goal difference of +5. South Korea now faces Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals. (Source: Olympics.com)
6. Hong Kong – 14 Appearances
| Team | Hong Kong |
| Confederation | AFC |
| First Appearance | 1975 |
| Participations | 14 |
| Latest Appearance | 2003 |
The Hong Kong women’s national football team was one of the original participants in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, competing in 14 editions between 1975 and 2003.
Their early involvement helped lay the groundwork for women’s football competition across the region. Hong Kong has not appeared in the tournament since 2003.
7. North Korea – 11 Appearances
| Team | North Korea |
| Confederation | AFC |
| First Appearance | 1989 |
| Participations | 11 |
| Latest Appearance | 2026 |
The North Korea women’s national football team has featured in 11 AFC Women’s Asian Cup editions since 1989. North Korea has won the title three times: in 2001, 2003, and 2008.
That record places them joint second on the all-time titles list alongside Chinese Taipei. At the 2026 tournament, North Korea qualified from Group B as runners-up and now face the hosts, Australia, in the quarter-finals.
8. Philippines – 11 Appearances
| Team | Philippines |
| Confederation | AFC |
| First Appearance | 1981 |
| Participations | 11 |
| Latest Appearance | 2026 |
The Philippines women’s national football team first featured in the tournament in 1981. They have appeared in 11 editions in total. Their 2022 campaign was a turning point.
The Philippines knocked out Chinese Taipei on penalties in the quarter-finals before losing to South Korea in the semi-finals.
At the 2026 tournament, they qualified from Group A as the strongest third-placed side and now face Japan in the quarter-finals.
9. India – 10 Appearances
| Team | India |
| Confederation | AFC |
| First Appearance | 1980 |
| Participations | 10 |
| Latest Appearance | 2026 |
The Indian women’s national football team first took part in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 1980 and has since appeared in 10 editions. India hosted the 2022 tournament, raising the profile of women’s football across the country.
At the 2026 tournament, India faced a difficult group. They lost to Japan 11-0, lost to Chinese Taipei 3-1, and were eliminated in the group stage.
10. Vietnam – 10 Appearances
| Team | Vietnam |
| Confederation | AFC |
| First Appearance | 1999 |
| Participations | 10 |
| Latest Appearance | 2026 |
The Vietnam women’s national football team entered the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 1999 and has qualified for 10 editions since then.
Vietnam earned a historic 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup berth by winning a three-team round-robin play-off at the 2022 tournament. Defeated Thailand and Chinese Taipei to claim the fifth Asian qualifying spot.
At the 2026 tournament, Vietnam opened with a 2-1 win over India before losing to Chinese Taipei 1-0 and Japan 4-0, finishing fourth in the group and exiting in the group stage. (Source: CBS Sports)
11. Malaysia – 9 Appearances
| Team | Malaysia |
| Confederation | AFC |
| First Appearance | 1975 |
| Participations | 9 |
| Latest Appearance | 1999 |
The Malaysian women’s national football team took part in the inaugural 1975 edition and competed in 9 tournaments through 1999.
Malaysia was among the founding nations of the competition and played an active role in building women’s football in Southeast Asia during the sport’s early years. They have not returned to the tournament since 1999.
12. Australia – 9 Appearances
| Team | Australia |
| Confederation | AFC |
| First Appearance | 1975 |
| Participations | 9 (including 2 as invited guests) |
| Latest Appearance | 2026 |
The Australian women’s national football team has appeared in 9 AFC Women’s Asian Cup editions. Their 1975 and 1980 appearances were as invited non-AFC members.
Australia joined the AFC officially in 2006 and has qualified for every edition since. They won the title in 2010.
At the 2026 tournament, which Australia hosts, they finished second in Group A, just behind South Korea on goal difference. They face North Korea in the quarter-finals.
Related AFC Women’s Asian Cup Records
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup has produced records that reflect five decades of competition and evolving talent across the continent.
- Most titles: China PR leads with 9 AFC Women’s Asian Cup titles, the most by any team in tournament history, including seven consecutive wins from 1986 to 1999.
- Joint second most titles: North Korea and Chinese Taipei have each won the tournament 3 times.
- Biggest comeback in a final: China PR came back from 2-0 down to beat South Korea 3-2 in the 2022 final, one of the most dramatic finishes the tournament has seen.
- Most recent title: China PR claimed their 9th title at the 2022 edition in India, with Xiao Yuyi scoring the winner deep into stoppage time.
(Source: Olympics.com)
China’s 2026 campaign has started with a perfect group stage. A tenth title would set a record no other nation is close to matching.
Suggested Reads:
Conclusion: Japan Has The Most Appearances in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Of All Time
Japan tops the all-time list with 18 appearances in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Thailand follows with 17, and China PR ranks third with 16. China PR holds the most titles with 9 and enters the 2026 quarter-finals as the defending champions.
Japan enters the same knockout stage with a perfect group-stage record. These numbers represent 51 years of women’s football in Asia.
For fans and researchers tracking this history, the records speak clearly, and the 2026 tournament adds more to the story every week.
FAQs
India has appeared in 10 editions, starting in 1980. Their most recent participation is the 2026 tournament in Australia, where they were eliminated in the group stage.
China PR has won the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 9 times, more than any other nation. Their titles span from 1986 through to 2022.
China PR leads with 9 titles. North Korea and Chinese Taipei each won the tournament 3 times, placing them joint second on the all-time list.
China PR is the defending champion. They won the 2022 edition in India, beating South Korea 3-2 after coming from two goals down in Navi Mumbai.
