By OkayGoal 
The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia is officially here, and the Barclays Women’s Super League is feeling the weight of the departures.
With several national teams finalizing their squads this February, here is the complete breakdown of the WSL players trading their club colors for international duty this March.
Heavy losses for Manchester City and Arsenal
Manchester City face one of the toughest challenges of the spring. Gareth Taylor’s side will be without the clinical Mary Fowler.
Fowler sustained an ACL injury in November, but will be spearheading the Matildas’ campaign on home soil.
Adding to the depth issues, Japan’s influential trio of Yui Hasegawa, Ayaka Yamashita, and Aoba Fujino are also set to depart.
Losing the core of their midfield and their primary goalkeeper during a title charge is a massive test of City’s squad depth.
Arsenal are similarly stretched. The Gunners will miss the versatile Caitlin Foord and midfield engine Kyra Cooney-Cross, both vital to Australia’s hopes.
With the North London side already dealing with a congested fixture list, losing these key starters for up to three weeks could stall their momentum at a critical juncture of the season.
Chelsea and the Sam Kerr factor
While Chelsea boast one of the deepest squads in world football, the absence of Sam Kerr is always felt.
The iconic striker remains the face of the Australian national team, and her departure for the tournament leaves Sonia Bompastor with a tactical puzzle to solve.
Fortunately for the Blues, the summer signing of Ellie Carpenter means they lose another high-profile starter to the Matildas, but their recruitment over the last two windows should provide enough cover to keep them competitive in the title race.
Everton and West Ham hit by volume
It isn’t just the title contenders feeling the pinch. Everton are set to be one of the hardest-hit clubs in terms of sheer numbers.
Brian Sørensen’s squad relies heavily on Australian and Japanese talent, with players like Clare Wheeler and Rion Ishikawa, who signed for Everton in the summer, playing huge minutes this season.
For a team looking to secure a mid-table finish, losing nearly half of their regular starting spine is a daunting prospect.
West Ham United also face a survival scrap without their stars. The Hammers have historically leaned on Asian market recruitment, and losing key personnel during the March window could leave them vulnerable in the battle against relegation.
List of WSL Players at the Asian Cup
Arsenal
- Steph Catley (Australia)
- Caitlin Foord (Australia)
- Kyra Cooney-Cross (Australia)
Manchester City
- Mary Fowler (Australia)
- Yui Hasegawa (Japan)
- Ayaka Yamashita (Japan)
- Aoba Fujino (Japan)
Chelsea
- Sam Kerr (Australia)
- Ellie Carpenter (Australia)
- Maika Hamano (Japan)
Everton
- Clare Wheeler (Australia)
- Honoka Hayashi (Japan)
- Rion Ishikawa (Japan)
- Hikaru Kitagawa (Japan)
- Yuka Momiki (Japan)
- Maz Pacheco (Philippines)
West Ham United
- Katrina Gorry (Australia)
- Riko Ueki (Japan)
Tottenham Hotspur
Leicester City
- Emily van Egmond (Australia)
Brighton & Hove Albion
- Charlize Rule (Australia)
Aston Villa
