Photo: Du Qiongfang/GT

Against the backdrop of Australia hosting the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup from March 1 to 21, with China's women's national football team, the defending champions, set to compete, Football Australia plans to launch more football-related visits to China in 2026, a representative ­announced at a press conference in Shanghai on Wednesday. 

According to Tom Engelhardt, the international partnerships manager at the governing body of football in Australia, 2026 marks a very special year for football when it comes to Australia and China. 

The Chinese women's national football team, dubbed the "Steel Roses," is set to compete in the football tournament in Australia as the defending champions, after which the Chinese men's national football team will compete in the FIFA Series in Australia, one of the hosts in the tournament. 

In late March, Australia's Young Socceroos will travel to China for two matches against the Chinese national under-20 team as part of the Australia-China Friendship Series. 

The Australia-China Friendship Series represents the third major football engagement between the two countries in March, underlining the game's growing role as a platform for bilateral engagement and international cooperation, according to Football Australia. 

The two matches between the Chinese U20 national team and Australia's Young Socceroos will be played on March 28 and 31 at the Yiwu Meihu Sports Center Stadium in Yiwu, East China's Zhejiang Province, providing the Young Socceroos with high-quality international competition in a key football market and host region, according to Football Australia.

The friendship series is a great opportunity for Football Australia to engage with China and strengthen their relationship both on and off the pitch, said Football Australia Interim Chief Executive Officer Heather Garriock. 

Grace Gill, the first former Australian women's national football team player to serve as lead commentator on a Matildas match, was invited by the Australian Embassy in China to promote the AFC Women's Asian Cup, further deepen football cooperation between China and Australia, and highlight the achievements of women in sports. 

Born in Darwin, Australia, Gill rose through the youth ranks, representing the Young Matildas at the AFC U19 Women's Championship in Southwest China's ­Chongqing Municipality in 2007 and making her senior debut against Hong Kong the same year.

"The history of football competition between Australia and China has been long, particularly in the women's game and the Chinese women's national team have been a powerhouse in football for a very long time," Gill said during the press conference. 

Additionally, since Australia is geographically close to China, football engagement between both sides, including traveling to Australia or to China, is improving and increasing, according to Gill. 

Gill also said that the under-23 age group in China is very good. "It's excellent and it puts the future of the men's senior national team in very good step. If that's the quality of player you have at the under-23 level, then the future for Chinese football is looking very bright," Gill said.