PERTH, Australia, March 16, 2026 (Net) – Australia’s Ellie Carpenter has urged football chiefs to re-think the scheduling of Women’s Asian Cup tournaments after she and Sam Kerr missed Chelsea’s 2-0 League Cup final win over Manchester United.
Defensive lynchpin Carpenter and star striker Kerr are in Perth preparing to face China in the semi-finals of the continental competition on Tuesday.
It meant they were absent as their club lifted the League Cup trophy in England on Sunday courtesy of goals from Lauren James and Aggie Beever-Jones.
Japan’s Manchester United midfielder Hinata Miyazawa also missed out.
“I don’t think any other major tournament runs through a season and obviously that’s disappointing for some,” said Carpenter, speaking late Sunday.
“Sam and I had a League Cup final that we are missing and that’s quite disappointing.
“I think now that women’s footballers that represent AFC (Asian Football Confederation) are playing in Europe I think that would definitely need to be looked at for the next one in four years.”
The next Asian Cup is in fact scheduled for 2029 in Uzbekistan.
“Maybe putting in June-July when normal major tournaments are on,” added Carpenter.
“It’s not nice missing league games and (having) a congested tournament in the middle of the season is also probably not great for longevity.”
Thirteen of Australia’s 26-strong squad play for English clubs and others elsewhere in Europe, with their seasons overlapping with the Asian Cup.
Japan, who meet South Korea in the other semi-final on Wednesday, are similarly affected, with 16 of their squad based in England.
The men’s Asian Cup is typically held in January-February and so also cuts through the European club season.
