Six players to watch from the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup
A number of youngsters and lesser-known talents have impressed in the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup group stage. Here are six of the standouts.
Kim Shin-ji - South Korea, 21, midfielder
South Korea have a good deal of experience in their squad thanks to the likes of Ji So-yun and Kim Hye-ri, but their standout contributor so far has been young Kim Shin-ji.
The 21-year-old midfielder received her first senior international call-up in late 2024, meaning this is her first major tournament at the highest level. She looked sharp in a cameo off the bench in the first game, earning a start against the Philippines. She produced another excellent performance in that match, showcasing her well-roundedness, technical quality and positional intelligence in a commanding victory.
Kim was back on the bench for the third and final group game, but would prove to be the difference-maker after coming on at half-time as she scored the equaliser from the penalty spot before quickly going on to provide the pass for her team’s third goal. All told, she has made a strong case to become a first-choice starter in the knockouts after the three group stage games.
Italian side AS Roma picked Kim up out of the university circuit in Korea early last year. She is spending the current season in Scotland for what has already proven to be a successful loan spell with Rangers, and has every chance of rising to the topmost levels of club competitions as well.
Winonah Heatley - Australia, 24, centre-back
Australia’s forward line looked quite set going into the tournament, but there were more spots up for grabs in their defence. Centre-back was the main position of question, and as it happens, another Roma player has made the most of this opportunity.
Wini Heatley joined the Italian side prior to the ongoing season, having impressed with Danish side FC Nordsjælland for three years after moving away from Australia. She too received her first senior international cap in late 2024, but hadn’t entirely nailed down a starting spot coming into the tournament.
With head coach Joe Montemurro deciding to use Steph Catley in her old favoured position of left-back, Heatley got the opportunity to partner Clare Hunt at the heart of the defence. She was particularly impressive in the opener against the Philippines, keeping things ticking with secure passing and using her imposing frame to snuff out opposition attacks. The 24-year-old defender was then rested against Iran and returned to the XI to face South Korea, whose quick passing play did cause her some problems as she had to turn from side to side quite a lot.
Nevertheless, Heatley looks likely to retain her spot in the knockouts. Potential competitor Alanna Kennedy has been thriving in a midfield role with four goals to her name already, while Catley is a fitness doubt. So, the Roma defender could have a big role to play if the Matildas are to go the distance on home soil.
Charlize Rule - Australia, 23, defender
Charlie Rule made her competitive international debut at this Asian Cup, starting and impressing in Australia’s 4-0 win over Iran. Her security on the ball and forward passing particularly stood out.
The well-rounded defender was quite a highly rated talent at hometown club Sydney FC, making over 30 league appearances in her teens for a side that was dominant in the A-League. She then made a move to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2023, but didn’t quite hit the ground running as a long-term injury disrupted her first two seasons in England.
Brighton stuck by her, though, and their patience has been rewarded this term as Rule has become a key figure under fellow Aussie head coach Dario Vidošić. She has played at both right-back and centre-back for the Seagulls, but such is her versatility that she comfortably slotted into the left of the Matildas back line when called into action on the Gold Coast.
Although Rule did not appear in either of the other two group games, she might just have a role to play in the knockouts. Catley’s aforementioned fitness doubt might leave the left-back spot up for grabs temporarily at least, and Rule is well-placed to make the most of another opportunity.
Shao Ziqin - China, 23, striker
As far as players with imposing statures go, few at the tournament have stood out more than Chinese striker Shao Ziqin.
She came off the bench for a late cameo in China’s opening game against Bangladesh, but went on to start and make telling contributions in both subsequent matches. The 23-year-old proved quite a handful for the Uzbek defence as she scored the opener and generally occupied their centre-backs with her presence, freeing up forwards like Wang Shuang to drift around her.
Besides being menacing physically, Shao possesses a good touch which she showcased while setting up Qiaozhu Chen’s equaliser against North Korea. She herself can let a powerful shot fly with her right foot and usually does well to get into the box, so some more goals may well be on the cards in the knockouts.
Su Yu-hsuan - Chinese Taipei, 25, striker
Su Yu-hsuan will be at the other end of the pitch from Shao Ziqin’s perspective in the quarter-finals, as she will be leading the Chinese Taipei attack.
Su is a different profile of striker but no less effective, having scored the opening goal in each of Taiwan’s two wins at the tournament. Her standout attribute is her clever movement drifting across the front line, as she consistently offers a forward passing option to her teammates and deftly strings attacks together. All the while, she regularly gets into dangerous areas in the box when needed.
Su’s constant movement makes her a headache for opposition defences as no individual player can be tasked with following her around. She thus also helps open space up for her teammates, so she could well be integral to Prasobchoke Chokemor’s game plan against China.
Ritu Porna Chakma - Bangladesh, 22, left-winger
Ritu Porna Chakma was expected to be the standout figure for Asian Cup debutants Bangladesh. Although they failed to score across all three games, their star forward still managed to show some signs of great promise.
Chakma very nearly produced one of the moments of the tournament in her side’s opener against China, as she raced away from a defender on the counter to run onto a long ball and fired a first-time effort towards the top corner from close to 30 yards. It was only a tremendous save from Chen Chen that denied her, but that moment epitomised the player’s qualities.
The 22-year-old forward can reach a searing top speed, but what’s equally impressive is her ball control and ability to carry at speed. She is also a tricky dribbler in tight spaces as she can skilfully slip past crowds of defenders.
Chakma currently plies her trade for Bangladeshi club Rajshahi Stars, having moved back home from Bhutanese side Paro FC ahead of the season. Her performances at the Asian Cup will surely have attracted interest from various parts of the world, though.
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