By Shakeel ur Rehman
Perth, Australia
Japan women’s national football team confirmed their place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 after an emphatic 11–0 victory over the India women’s national football team at Perth Rectangular Stadium on Sunday.
Riko Ueki and Hinata Miyazawa both scored hat-tricks as Japan delivered a dominant performance from start to finish. The defeat leaves India needing to beat Chinese Taipei women’s national football team in their final group match on Tuesday to keep alive their hopes of advancing.
India made three changes to the side that lost 2–1 to Vietnam women’s national football team, while Japan made nine alterations, with only Mina Tanaka and Yui Hasegawa retaining their places from the starting lineup that defeated Chinese Taipei 2–0.
Japan wasted little time asserting control, taking the lead in the fourth minute through a stunning strike from Yuzuki Yamamoto, who nutmegged Pyari Xaxa before curling a superb shot into the top corner.
The lead doubled in the 13th minute when Yamamoto turned provider, cutting the ball back for Hasegawa, whose low drive slipped past Sweety Devi Ngangbam and into the net.
Japan’s third arrived in the 20th minute when Miyabi Moriya combined with Tanaka before Hasegawa set up Miyazawa to finish clinically. Miyazawa added another in the 35th minute, calmly finishing from Tanaka’s through pass despite earlier saves from goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu Elangbam.
A foul on Saki Kumagai resulted in a penalty in first-half stoppage time, which Kiko Seike converted to make it 5–0 at the break.
Japan continued their dominance after halftime. Substitute Ueki struck twice in quick succession before Seike added her second following a spill by Panthoi. Maya Hijikata also found the scoresheet with a header from Yamamoto’s cross.
Ueki completed her hat-trick soon after with a glancing header from Honoka Hayashi’s delivery before setting up Miyazawa at the far post for her third goal, sealing an impressive 11–0 win.
The result confirms Japan’s progression to the knockout stage while India must now defeat Chinese Taipei to remain in contention.
