Today, 30 May, marks 15 years since the CommBank Matildas made history by winning the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2010, becoming the first Australian senior national team to win an Asian Football Confederation title.
The landmark victory in Chengdu, China, in front of just 1,200 fans at Chengdu Sports Centre, was a watershed moment for women’s football in Australia. With an average age of 22, many of the team were participating in their first international tournament. Underdogs at the time, this team would go on to cultivate many of the household names fans celebrate today.
To commemorate the anniversary, Football Australia has released a new documentary chronicling the dramatic tournament run, the grit and resilience of the players, and the lasting legacy of that win. Premiering today on YouTube, the documentary revisits the team’s remarkable journey, from injury setbacks and monsoonal rain to lifting the trophy and inspiring a generation.
The premiere comes as excitement builds for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™, which will bring Asia’s best to Perth, Gold Coast and Sydney from 1-21 March next year. From the modest stands of Chengdu to the prospect of an 80,000-strong crowd for the final at Stadium Australia, the rise of women’s football is set to continue.
Watch the full documentary now on YouTube. History Makers: The Story of the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup Winners.
Quotes attributable to Football Australia Interim CEO and 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup winner, Heather Garriock:
“The 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup was a defining chapter in my career and for women’s football in Australia. We were a fearless, tight-knit group who defied the odds and showed that belief, resilience and determination could achieve the extraordinary–‘The Never Say Die’ Matildas. That win didn’t just earn us a trophy — it lit a spark that inspired a generation.”
“Fifteen years on, it’s an honour to help lead Football Australia as we reflect on that legacy and look to the future. With the 2026 tournament on home soil, we have a chance to build on the momentum and show just how far the women’s game has come — and how much further it can go.”
Quotes attributable to AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Local Organising Committee Chief Operating Officer, and 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup winner Sarah Walsh:
“Winning the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup was one of the proudest moments of my career. We were a young team, written off by many, but we believed in each other and proved what was possible. That moment was a turning point for women’s football in Australia.
Now, 15 years later, I’m incredibly honoured to be leading the team delivering this tournament to our shores in 2026. Reflecting on the 2010 triumph has been a powerful reminder of how far women’s football has come, and next year we get to take it to new heights here on home soil.”