AFC Women's Asian Cup
Quarter-final exits at both the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 and 2024 Paris Olympic Games, as well as elimination in the semi-finals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™, saw the Japan Football Association decline to renew the contract of Futoshi Ikeda in August 2024 after almost three years at the helm.
In stepped Nils Nielsen, who became the first foreign manager in Nadeshiko history with his appointment in December 2024 – and the person charged with bringing glory to Japan again.
In stepped Nils Nielsen, who became the first foreign manager in Nadeshiko history with his appointment in December 2024 – and the person charged with bringing glory to Japan again.
The first opportunity to do that will come in less than a month at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™, where Japan will aim to reclaim the crown that they won for the first time in 2014, before retaining it in 2018.
“Yeah, one of them,” acknowledged Nielsen when recently asked by the-AFC.com whether his side are among the favourites to lift the trophy. “(But) it's not like we just show up and then we win. There are several other teams that will be capable of winning the tournament, but of course, we are one of them.
"We are also doing everything we can to be as well prepared as possible. Then, we will see what the tournament will be like because every tournament has its own life, and you never know what's going to happen and which role injuries are going to play, (or) cards in key games. You still need to perform, but if we perform well, then we have a good chance of being in the final (few) games as well.”
“Yeah, one of them,” acknowledged Nielsen when recently asked by the-AFC.com whether his side are among the favourites to lift the trophy. “(But) it's not like we just show up and then we win. There are several other teams that will be capable of winning the tournament, but of course, we are one of them.
"We are also doing everything we can to be as well prepared as possible. Then, we will see what the tournament will be like because every tournament has its own life, and you never know what's going to happen and which role injuries are going to play, (or) cards in key games. You still need to perform, but if we perform well, then we have a good chance of being in the final (few) games as well.”
Currently the highest-ranked side in Asia at eighth in the FIFA rankings, Japan will have to first navigate the challenges of Vietnam, India and Chinese Taipei in Group C in the quest for a third crown.
The Nadeshiko are in fact unbeaten in the Continental showpiece in regulation time and extra-time since a 1-0 defeat to Australia in the 2010 semi-finals. They went on to overcome China PR 2-0 to finish third, kicking off a 16-game streak that encompasses the back-to-back successes in 2014 and 2018, before bowing out in 2022 via a penalty shootout loss to China PR in the last four.
For a side used to tasting glory, sparked by the historic FIFA Women’s World Cup triumph in 2011, Japan are hungry to return to the pinnacle of the women’s game and will hope Nielsen, with his international expertise, can spearhead them to success again.
The Nadeshiko are in fact unbeaten in the Continental showpiece in regulation time and extra-time since a 1-0 defeat to Australia in the 2010 semi-finals. They went on to overcome China PR 2-0 to finish third, kicking off a 16-game streak that encompasses the back-to-back successes in 2014 and 2018, before bowing out in 2022 via a penalty shootout loss to China PR in the last four.
For a side used to tasting glory, sparked by the historic FIFA Women’s World Cup triumph in 2011, Japan are hungry to return to the pinnacle of the women’s game and will hope Nielsen, with his international expertise, can spearhead them to success again.
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Born in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, the 54-year-old Dane coached Denmark’s U-18s before gaining international acclaim for his spell in charge from 2013 to 2017 of the Denmark women’s national team, whom he led to the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 final – their best-ever finish to date.
A short spell as China U20s’ women’s assistant in 2018 marked Nielsen’s first foray into Asia, which was followed by four years at the helm of Switzerland’s senior women’s side. From May 2023 to June 2024, he served as Manchester City’s first-ever Director of Football, overseeing coach and player development, recruitment, and the academy at the English side.
Sparked by the desire to be in the dugout again, Nielsen took up the challenge of leading the Nadeshiko and knows full well the potential that the team possesses.
A short spell as China U20s’ women’s assistant in 2018 marked Nielsen’s first foray into Asia, which was followed by four years at the helm of Switzerland’s senior women’s side. From May 2023 to June 2024, he served as Manchester City’s first-ever Director of Football, overseeing coach and player development, recruitment, and the academy at the English side.
Sparked by the desire to be in the dugout again, Nielsen took up the challenge of leading the Nadeshiko and knows full well the potential that the team possesses.
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“I think it's a different challenge, but it is a very pleasant challenge because we know the foundation is there,” said Nielsen, who brought Aoba Fujino, Ayaka Yamashita and Risa Shimizu to City during his time there, and also played a role in the renewal of Yui Hasegawa’s contract.
“There is a very good talent programme. There are lots of players to choose from, so we don't need to think of excuses. We just need to get it done, and we had some good ideas that we needed to implement in the team, and we are well underway with that. I am comfortable with where we are right now.
"The first period here was more about getting to know the team, getting to know each other as a staff also. The staff is also new. That part is over now, so from the next period, it's going to be about preparing for this tournament.”
“There is a very good talent programme. There are lots of players to choose from, so we don't need to think of excuses. We just need to get it done, and we had some good ideas that we needed to implement in the team, and we are well underway with that. I am comfortable with where we are right now.
"The first period here was more about getting to know the team, getting to know each other as a staff also. The staff is also new. That part is over now, so from the next period, it's going to be about preparing for this tournament.”
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In addition to the numerous Japanese stars who now ply their trade in top-class leagues around the world, Nielsen can tap on a strong domestic talent pool as well and he was pleased with what he saw at the 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship last July. With a side featuring 11 first-time call-ups, Japan placed third via the head-to-head goals tiebreaker.
“It was a chance for us to get acquainted with many of the players that are still playing in the Japanese league,” he said. “There are lots of talents there, it was a new group and they never played together before… There were six more players that had not been invited since I have been in charge of the team, so it was a very, very good opportunity for me to see… what else (in squad depth) we have that we can use.”
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Prior to that, Nielsen also helped Japan to win the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, defeating the United States for their maiden title to underline the ability of the squad at his disposal.
But if he is feeling any pressure, Nielsen is showing no signs of it as he radiates a calm demeanour ahead of his biggest task to date.
“We have tried so far to give everybody the chance to show what they can do also in matches, not just in training,” he said. “We need to use what we have and then fine-tune it for the Asian Cup. I think the federation is very ambitious… and it has been a fun ride so far. We have already accomplished a lot of things, so our next target is this tournament.”
But if he is feeling any pressure, Nielsen is showing no signs of it as he radiates a calm demeanour ahead of his biggest task to date.
“We have tried so far to give everybody the chance to show what they can do also in matches, not just in training,” he said. “We need to use what we have and then fine-tune it for the Asian Cup. I think the federation is very ambitious… and it has been a fun ride so far. We have already accomplished a lot of things, so our next target is this tournament.”
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