FIFPRO Asia/Oceania announces inaugural Team of the Tournament following player vote

FIFPRO Asia/Oceania has unveiled the inaugural Team of the Tournament – Australia 2026, recognising the outstanding performances of players at the recent Women’s Asian Cup tournament, via peer recognition.

Selected through a player-driven voting process, the Team of the Tournament celebrates excellence on the pitch and reflects the collective voice of professional footballers competing at the highest level in Asia.

The team is comprised mainly of players from Australia and Japan, the two finalists of the tournament, and highlights those who, in the eyes of their peers, demonstrated exceptional skill, consistency and impact across the three weeks.

The final team was voted on by more than 100 players from participating nations at the Women’s Asian Cup, with all players who made an appearance eligible for selection. To guide the voting process, an expert panel of both former and active players and journalists selected a shortlist of "panel picks".

The team includes captains of Korea Republic, Japan and Australia national teams, Ko Yoo-jin, Yui Hasegawa and Sam Kerr, and the tournament’s top goal scorer, Riko Ueki.

FIFPRO Asia/Oceania Team of the Tournament – Australia 2026 

Goalkeeper

Ayaka Yamashita (Japan) 

Defenders

Ellie Carpenter (Australia) 
Hana Takahashi (Japan)
Saki Kumagai (Japan)
Ko Yoo-jin (Korea Republic) 

Midfielders 

Alanna Kennedy (Australia) 
Yui Hasegawa (Japan)
Maika Hamano (Japan) 

Forwards

Sam Kerr (Australia)
Riko Ueki (Japan)
Caitlin Foord (Australia) 

FIFPRO Asia/Oceania Secretary General Shoko Tsuji said the Team of the Tournament places players at the centre of how performance is recognised in elite football. 
 
"This Team of the Tournament is about players recognising the achievements and performances of the players," Tsuji said. "Being acknowledged by your peers is one of the highest honours in our sport, and this award ensures the voices of footballers are central in celebrating the performances that defined the tournament. 
 
"The recent Women's Asian Cup showcased the quality of women’s football across Asia, and this team reflects the players who consistently set the standard on the pitch, from the perspective of their peers." 
 
The FIFPRO Asia/Oceania Team of the Tournament forms part of FIFPRO’s ongoing commitment to recognising and amplifying player excellence through awards that are driven by the collective voice of footballers.