Key events
The Iranian national anthem plays first.
After being silent during the opening game against South Koreans, the players have instead greeted this evening’s rendition with salutes directed towards the flag of the Islamic Republic that has been brought out onto the pitch and, while I don’t speak Farsi, do appear to be singing the lyrics.
The Australian and Iranian players are making their way out onto the playing surface, kick-off is imminent on the Gold Coast.
It’s just a bit wet on the Gold Coast…
In a nice little bit of cross-promotion, Australian Formula One driver Oscar Piastri has appeared on the broadcast wishing the Matildas luck in the Women’s Asian Cup.
He’ll, of course, take to the Albert Park track this weekend for the first round of the new F1 campaign in Melbourne – the Guardian to bring you live coverage of both qualification and the race itself.
At least one international sporting event is happening in Melbourne this weekend…
85% – #Matildas had 85% possession v Philippines in their opening game at #WAC2026 – their best rate in a game since Opta began collecting the data in 2016 & 5 percentage points more than their previous best (80%, 7 Feb 2020 v Chinese Taipei). Control.#IRNvAUS pic.twitter.com/PN8oN0cXrV
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) March 5, 2026
Matildas coach Joe Montemurro is facing some questions on the broadcasts and points to the blessing of squad depth and the rapid turnaround to the South Korean game when quizzed on the five chances to his side.
Fowler, meanwhile, is being brought in to provide an extra layer of creativity in the side, citing the compact defences that have been demonstrated by lesser heralded sides across the tournament.
James Paraskevas on the emails. A bit harsher in his assessment of the last game than mine.
double quotation mark A very disappointing performance from the Matildas in the last game but they get a pass because it was only the first game of the tournament (and they won – just). Australians are happy with that! Unfortunately Iran will not probably not provide much of a test, so this is just another “hit out” for Australia in an over-expanded tournament. A better test will be against Korea in the last game, and of course from the first game of the knockouts onwards. Anyways enough said…Australia 6-0 (Sam Kerr hat-trick minimum). We will celebrate wildly until more genuine tests…
Not sure I’m in 100% agreement on the need for a heavy scoreline, that 8-0 hammering of the Philippines a few years ago didn’t auger a successful Olympics campaign, after all.
Given we’re still relatively fresh into the Montemurro and with bigger tests to come, I’m more after another step up in the side’s patterns of play and ability to fashion clear looks on goal against a low block.
Of course, that and a 6-0 win would be great…
So, plenty of rotation for the Matildas tonight.
Fowler’s return to the XI is the obvious standout, with her close control and movement across the final third something of a contrast to Raso’s more direct approach.
How she combines with Foord, Kerr and Van Egmond, who will assumedly be operating as the ten, will be very interesting to watch given that, of all the changes, her addition to the starters feels the one most likely to stick in the latter stages of the tournament.
Presumably coming into the midfield in place of Gorry, how Sayer shoulders the load of serving as the primary ball progressor in the midfield will also play a big role in how the Australians go in breaking down the Iranians.
There’s a very fine mist coming down at Gold Coast Stadium right now, should make for some interesting conditions tonight #WAC2026
— burke (@ejburke_) March 5, 2026
It’s obviously going to case a shadow over tonight’s match so, as a reminder, The Guardian is bringing you live updates on the crisis in the Middle East.
double quotation mark “These women are prisoners,” says Cyrus Jones, a human rights activist who will be attending the match. “Iranian security is up on their floor [of the hotel] at night. They can’t leave their rooms. They can’t use the public bathrooms. They’re monitored when they go for breakfast, when they get on the bus. They’re monitored in a way no other players from other teams are.
Samantha Lewis has been following the journey of Iran’s women this tournament, and has penned this piece ahead of tonight’s game.
Sam has also been on the story of the AFC confiscating the credentials of Iranian-Australian journalist after asking questions on death of Ayatollah Khamenei at an official press conference – the only time Iran’s players have been available to speak to media – only for it to be subsequently reinstated.
double quotation mark Joe Montemurro said he wants the focus before his Australia women’s team’s Asian Cup match against Iran on Thursday to be on football, as the continental sporting showpiece wrestles with the escalating Middle East conflict.
Jack Snape was in Perth for the Matildas’ opening game win over the Philippines and got word from their coach about tonight’s game.
Iran XI
Three changes to the Iranian XI that were defeated by South Korea in their opening game.
Atefeh Ramezanizadeh, Mona Hamoudi, and Mohaddesh Zolfi came into the starters, replacing Afsaneh Chatrenoor, Zahra Sarbali, and Shahnaz Jafarizadeh.
Matilda’s XI
And here we go, the Matildas line-up is in, with five changes made to the side that defeated the Philippines.
Courtney Nevin and Charlie Rule come into the backline for Steph Catley and Wini Heatley, partnering Ellie Carpenter and Clare Hunt.
Amy Sayer and Alanna Kennedy come into the midfield for Clare Wheeler and Katrina Gorry, with Emily van Egmond retaining her position.
Mary Fowler will start from the opening kickoff, replacing Hayley Raso up to alongside Caitlin Foord and Sam Kerr.
The Australia Associated Press’ George Clarke is on the Gold Coast tonight and has captured footage of a group of Iranian protestors singing pro-United States and pro-Israel chants ahead of tonight’s game.
Iranian protestors at Gold Coast Stadium chanting “thank you Trump, thank you Bibi” ahead of their country’s Women’s Asian Cup clash with Australia pic.twitter.com/OObbglCaFk
— George Clarke (@GLR_Clarke) March 5, 2026
Perhaps the biggest pre-game question facing the Matildas is who, exactly, is going to be part of the starting XI?
After the injury-enforced withdrawals of goalkeepers Teagan Micah and Jada Whyman on the eve of the tournament, presumptive number one Mackenzie Arnold was absent from the win over the Matildas, handing a major-tournament debut to the only just drafted-in Chloe Lincoln.
Word from on the ground on the Gold Coast that Arnold is likely to play in this game, which is probably for the best given that, being out-of-season with NWSL side Portland Thorns, she could use some live-action before facing off with South Korea.
Further up the pitch, Kyra Cooney-Cross is another absentee from the Philippines win that is shaping as getting her first minutes of the tournament, albeit one images that may come off the bench. Official broadcaster Network Ten, meanwhile, who tend to get the advanced word on these kinds of things, are reporting that Mary Fowler is set to start for Australia for the first time in 332 days and that we’re set for a shake-up in the backline.
Preamble
Joey Lynch
Howdy all, Joey Lynch here, and welcome to another round of the Guardian’s live coverage of the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup, tonight bringing you all the action as the Matildas take on Iran at Robina Stadium on the Gold Coast. Or as Dragan Talajić called tonight’s host city after his Bahraini men stunned the Socceroos in a 2024 World Cup qualifier here, “The Golden City.”
The result of tonight’s contest doesn’t carry much in the way of uncertainty. The high-powered Matildas, ranked 15th in the world, should defeat their 68th-ranked opponents rather handily this evening, with the focus instead largely centered on just how they go about doing this. As while their principles of possession showed signs of promise against the Philippines in their opening 1-0 win, the hope will be that Joe Montemurro’s side can use that performance as a whetstone for a much more lethal edge against the Iranians.
Because while the 85% possession and 15 shots against the Filipinas were good, that they were accompanied by just the lone Sam Kerr goal left something to be desired. And with the stiffest test of their group stages to come on Sunday evening when they take on South Korea in Sydney, they’ll want to come into that one with some level of momentum – especially considering the Taegeuk Warriors put three past the Philippines in their Group A meeting earlier this afternoon.
The Shirzananmeanwhile, will take the pitch once again with football serving as something almost something of a backdrop to a much larger, morose tale being told: the United States and Israel’s ongoing attack on Iran. The ongoing conflict ensures that their thoughts will be torn between the task at hand on the Gold Coast and their loved ones back home, a rising death toll amid a potential broadening of the war, and what future of their nation looks like.
The playing group have already made international headlines after not singing the official anthem of the Islamic Republic before their opening game defeat against South Korea and we already know there’s a plan for Iranian diaspora that opposes the current regime to make their presence known at the game this evening.
So, perhaps not a lot of intrigue surrounding the result itself, but plenty of other narratives and storylines that will line the path to the final whistle.
Kick-off is at 7pm local/8pm AEDT
