TEHRAN - The respective head coaches of Korea Republic and Iran expressed confidence in their tournament preparations ahead of their opening AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 clash at the Gold Coast Stadium on Monday, which will represent the first-ever meeting between the pair.

Ranked 21st by FIFA, it will be the East Asians’ 55th match in competition history on their 14th appearance, while their 68th-ranked Central Asian opponents are participating in only their second edition after making their debut in 2022.

With expectations of going far Down Under, Shin Sang-woo is keen for the 2022 runners-up to start on a winning note but is not taking anything for granted despite the chasm in experience.

“Iran are lower in the FIFA rankings but I think they are very organized, so we prepared a lot of (scenarios to put) pressure and high block (against them),” he said.

“During the preparations, the players and staff have become one team. Because this is our first match, there will be some tension, so it is important to relieve those tensions and gain confidence (with a win). We are on track and I expect a good performance.”

Like her counterpart, Marzieh Jafari is also stepping into her first major tournament, having taken charge only last April before successfully steering Team Melli Banovan through the Qualifiers.

The 43-year-old acknowledged the tough competition in Group C, which also contains Australia and the Philippines, but believes the best players have been assembled for their campaign.

“After the league season in Iran, we came together for three training camps, before then coming to Australia where we have had a few fruitful sessions, so I hope tomorrow we can show you a good match,” the 2025 AFC Coach of the Year (Women) recipient said. “I have been head coach of a club team in Iran (Bam Khatoon) for 15 years, so I could select players who fit my style of play, because I know all the (abilities of the) players in my country.

“In India in 2022, the group was a little easier; now in 2026, we enter with more experience but the group is more tough, but we (still) want to show in these games the potential of Iranian women.”

Naturally, Shin has loftier ambitions for the Taegeuk Ladies and underlined his belief in a side where he has lowered the age profile since being appointed in October 2024. While the likes of 171-capped Ji So-yun and Kim Hye-ri (137) feature, the team also contains 14 players with fewer than 10 caps.

“I expect to win every match, but we cannot predict what will happen, so we have to be (always) prepared,” said the former defender, who turns 50 later this month. “It is true that we have a lot of young players, but they have plenty of global experience from overseas clubs, so I don’t have any worries about the lack of tournament experience; we also have veteran players and I expect them to be organized as well.

"For the team’s overall progress (since I became head coach), I think we are on track as planned; I have many expectations for this tournament and I trust all my players.”

Meanwhile, Iran’s Zahra Ghanbari is determined to dream big on her AFC Women’s Asian Cup debut.

“I believe this tournament is great, with great teams (playing in it), but we really want to qualify for the World Cup,” said the 33-year-old, who has played for the senior side for 17 years and served as captain for the last nine. “We know these will be tough games, but we have a tough mentality and we want to do our best.”

Trivia

● Korea Republic and Iran are set to meet at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the first time with Korea Republic coming into this tournament having finished as runners-up at the 2022 edition – their best ever finish at the tournament.

● Korea Republic are undefeated across their last 10 group stage matches at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup (W6 D4), conceding only one goal in that frame (against Japan) and scoring an average of 3.1 goals per game of their own.

● Iran were winless in their only previous appearance at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup (L2 in 2022), conceding 12 goals and scoring none in those two matches; though, they have won seven of their last 10 women’s internationals overall despite a pair of defeats to Uzbekistan in their two most recent fixtures.

● Korea Republic kept more clean sheets than any other side during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 (4); indeed, Korea Republic faced two or fewer shots on target in each of the four games that they kept a clean sheet in.