Holly McNamara, Alanna Kennedy, Caitlin Foord and Joe Montemurro have all received award nominations revealed today by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the AFC Awards Bangkok 2026.
AFC Women’s Player of the Year
Holly McNamara has received back-to-back nominations for the AFC Women's Player of the Year, after a sensational season for Melbourne City, helping the side to the domestic double, claiming the golden boot, Player of the Match in the Grand Final, and leading the goalscoring tally for City in the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025/26™ to help the side to the semi-finals.
The striker's scintillating form saw her rewarded with a first-ever overseas move, signing with Everton for the upcoming 2026/27 Women's Super League season. McNamara's time in the A-League Women saw her claim three Premiership titles with City and a Grand Final win in 2026.
She is nominated alongside DPR Korea's Kim Kyong Yong and Korea Republic's Kim Hye-ri.
AFC Asian International Player of the Year (Women)
Alanna Kennedy and Caitlin Foord have been nominated for the AFC Asian International Player of the Year. Kennedy shone at the recent AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™, being named Most Valuable Player after scoring five goals to help her side to the Final.
A double against IR Iran, Korea Republic, and a remarkable finish against DPR Korea in the quarter-finals saw the Australian make the central midfield spot her own.
Foord's AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ campaign saw her notch an all-important goal in the semi-final against China PR, also setting up the match-winner for Sam Kerr to send the home side to the Final.
The winger scored the winner in extra time for Arsenal in February 2026 to help them claim the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup following a 3-2 victory over Brazilian side, Corinthians.
Kennedy and Foord are nominated alongside Japan's Yui Hasegawa.
AFC Coach of the Year (Men)
Joe Montemurro has been nominated for Coach of the Year after leading his side to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Final in his first year in charge of the side.
The side reached the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ Final for the first time since 2018 after missing out on the decider in the 2022 edition of the tournament.
He is nominated alongside Machida Zelvia's Go Kuroda and Japan U17 Women's Sadayoshi Shirai.
Football Australia has also been nominated for the AFC President's Recognition Award for Grassroots Football (Gold) against IR Iran and Japan, and will receive an award to recognise hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ earlier this year.
The AFC Awards Bangkok 2026 kicks off on Thursday, November 19 at 8pm local time (GMT+7) and can be followed on the AFC’s YouTube and other digital platforms.
The full list of nominees for the AFC Awards Bangkok 2026 is below:
AFC Women’s Player of the Year
Holly McNamara (Melbourne City FC [AUS]/Everton FC [ENG] and AUS)
Kim Kyong Yong (Naegohyang Women's FC [PRK] and PRK)
Kim Hye-ri (Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC [CHN]/Suwon FC Women [KOR] and KOR)
AFC Asian International Player of the Year (Women)
Alanna Kennedy (London City Lionesses [ENG] and AUS)
Caitlin Foord (Arsenal Women FC [ENG] and AUS)
Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City Women FC [ENG] and JPN)
AFC Coach of the Year (Men)
Joseph Montemurro (Australia Women and AUS)
Go Kuroda (FC Machida Zelvia [JPN] and JPN)
Sadayoshi Shirai (Japan U17 Women and JPN)
AFC President's Recognition Award for Grassroots Football (Gold)
Football Australia
Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran
Japan Football Association
AFC Women’s Asian Cup Host Appreciation Award
Football Australia
