Iran v Australia: Women’s Asian Cup 2026 – live

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It’s obviously going to case a shadow over tonight’s match so, as a reminder, The Guardian is bringing you live updates on the crisis in the Middle East.

“These women are prisoners,” says Cyrus Jones, a human rights activist who will be attending the match. “Iranian security is up on their floor [of the hotel] at night. They can’t leave their rooms. They can’t use the public bathrooms. They’re monitored when they go for breakfast, when they get on the bus. They’re monitored in a way no other players from other teams are.

Samantha Lewis has been following the journey of Iran’s women this tournament, and has penned this piece ahead of tonight’s game.

Sam has also been on the story of the AFC confiscating the credentials of Iranian-Australian journalist after asking questions on death of Ayatollah Khamenei at an official press conference – the only time Iran’s players have been available to speak to media – only for it to be subsequently reinstated.

Joe Montemurro said he wants the focus before his Australia women’s team’s Asian Cup match against Iran on Thursday to be on football, as the continental sporting showpiece wrestles with the escalating Middle East conflict.

Jack Snape was in Perth for the Matildas’ opening game win over the Philippines and got word from their coach about tonight’s game.

Iran XI

Three changes to the Iranian XI that were defeated by South Korea in their opening game.

Atefeh Ramezanizadeh, Mona Hamoudi, and Mohaddesh Zolfi come into the starters, replacing Afsaneh Chatrenoor, Zahra Sarbali, and Shahnaz Jafarizadeh.

Matildas XI

And here we go, the Matildas line-up is in, with five changes made to the side that defeated the Philippines.

Courtney Nevin and Charlie Rule come into the backline for Steph Catley and Wini Heatley, partnering Ellie Carpenter and Clare Hunt.

Amy Sayer and Alanna Kennedy come into the midfield for Clare Wheeler and Katrina Gorry, with Emily van Egmond retaining her position.

Mary Fowler will start from the opening kickoff, replacing Hayley Raso up to alongside Caitlin Foord and Sam Kerr.

The Australia Associated Press’ George Clarke is on the Gold Coast tonight and has captured footage of a group of Iranian protestors singing pro-United States and pro-Israel chants ahead of tonight’s game.

Perhaps the biggest pre-game question facing the Matildas is who, exactly, is going to be part of the starting XI?

After the injury-enforced withdrawals of goalkeepers Teagan Micah and Jada Whyman on the eve of the tournament, presumptive number one Mackenzie Arnold was absent from the win over the Matildas, handing a major-tournament debut to the only just drafted-in Chloe Lincoln.

Word from on the ground on the Gold Coast that Arnold is likely to play in this game, which is probably for the best given that, being out-of-season with NWSL side Portland Thorns, she could use some live-action before facing off with South Korea.

Further up the pitch, Kyra Cooney-Cross is another absentee from the Philippines win that is shaping as getting her first minutes of the tournament, albeit one images that may come off the bench. Official broadcaster Network Ten, meanwhile, who tend to get the advanced word on these kinds of things, are reporting that Mary Fowler is set to start for Australia for the first time in 332 days and that we’re set for a shake-up in the backline.

Preamble

Joey Lynch

Howdy all, Joey Lynch here, and welcome to another round of the Guardian’s live coverage of the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup, tonight bringing you all the action as the Matildas take on Iran at Robina Stadium on the Gold Coast. Or as Dragan Talajić called tonight’s host city after his Bahraini men stunned the Socceroos in a 2024 World Cup qualifier here, “The Golden City.”

The result of tonight’s contest doesn’t carry much in the way of uncertainty. The high-powered Matildas, ranked 15th in the world, should defeat their 68th-ranked opponents rather handily this evening, with the focus instead largely centered on just how they go about doing this. As while their principles of possession showed signs of promise against the Philippines in their opening 1-0 win, the hope will be that Joe Montemurro’s side can use that performance as a whetstone for a much more lethal edge against the Iranians.

Because while the 85% possession and 15 shots against the Filipinas were good, that they were accompanied by just the lone Sam Kerr goal left something to be desired. And with the stiffest test of their group stages to come on Sunday evening when they take on South Korea in Sydney, they’ll want to come into that one with some level of momentum – especially considering the Taegeuk Warriors put three past the Philippines in their Group A meeting earlier this afternoon.

South Korea celebrate after scoring against the Philippines earlier today. Photograph: Nigel Owen/Action Plus/Shutterstock

The Shirzanan, meanwhile, will take the pitch once again with football serving as something almost something of a backdrop to a much larger, morose tale being told: the United States and Israel’s ongoing attack on Iran. The ongoing conflict ensures that their thoughts will be torn between the task at hand on the Gold Coast and their loved ones back home, a rising death toll amid a potential broadening of the war, and what future of their nation looks like.

The playing group have already made international headlines after not singing the official anthem of the Islamic Republic before their opening game defeat against South Korea and we already know there’s a plan for Iranian diaspora that opposes the current regime to make their presence known at the game this evening.

So, perhaps not a lot of intrigue surrounding the result itself, but plenty of other narratives and storylines that will line the path to the final whistle.

Kick-off is at 7pm local/8pm AEDT