The Matildas continue their 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign on Thursday night on home soil. With another packed house expected at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast, the hosts will be looking to make a statement in their Group A clash against Iran. We bring you our preview and best bet for Thursday night’s clash below!
Matildas vs Iran Preview & Betting Tips: AFC Women’s Asian Cup Group A
Matildas look to put one foot in the quarter-finals
After grinding out a gritty 1-0 win over the Philippines in Perth on Sunday, the CommBank Matildas turn their attention to a very different challenge on the Gold Coast. Head Coach Joe Montemurro’s side have looked sharp and controlled in patches, and with three points already banked, a strong result against Iran would virtually guarantee a top-two finish and early progression. The home crowd will again play a huge part. Gold Coast Stadium is expected to be close to its 27,000-28,000 capacity, creating another cauldron atmosphere.
Can Iran frustrate the hosts?
Iran arrive off the back of a 3-0 opening loss to South Korea but have shown they are no walkovers. Under coach Marzieh Jafari they will look to park the bus, sitting deep, staying compact and looking to hit on the counter. Their defensive block frustrated higher-ranked sides in qualification, and they’ll lean on experienced players like goalkeeper Raha Yazdani and midfielders Zahra Khajavi and Melika Motevalli to keep things tight. Still, the gap in quality, fitness and squad depth is significant. Iran simply don’t have the attacking firepower to match Australia’s star power.
Stats that matter
- Australia won the only meeting between the sides in the last three years, beating Iran 2-0 in an October 2023 Olympic qualifier in Perth.
- The Matildas have kept four clean sheets in their last five matches against lower-ranked Asian opponents.
- Iran have failed to score in their last three matches against teams ranked inside the world’s top 20.
Matildas to turn on the style
This feels like the perfect game for Australia to click. Montemurro’s possession-based system should carve open a deep-lying Iran side, and with Kerr, Fowler, Raso and Cooney-Cross all available, the firepower is frightening. Iran will sit in and hope for a mistake, but the Matildas’ home record in major tournaments and recent tactical evolution point to a comfortable victory. With Iran parking the bus, expect a controlled win rather than a goal-fest. Total goals staying under 4.5 looks the smart play.
Under 4.5 Goals
$2.31 (2 units)
Matildas vs Iran Match Info & Odds
Date: Thursday, 5th March
Location: Gold Coast Stadium (Cbus Super Stadium), Robina
Time: 8:00pm AEDT
Odds: Australia $1.02 vs Iran $41.00
Where to Watch
Live and free on Channel 10 or stream ad-free via Paramount+.
