With the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup kicking off this week, Areto and FIFPRO’s partnership will look to protect competing players from online abuse and harmful behaviour.
First line of defence
All 12 teams competing in the tournament and its players will have access to Areto, a trusted platform which helps to stop hateful and absuive online content.
The platform, driven by AI to ensure thorough and efficient performance, automatically detects and removes content deemed harmful. This ensures that players and teams stay protected before abusive comments can make it onto social media. Areto is, in this way, the first line of defence for all women athletes playing in the tournament.
“Our role is to ensure players are supported not only on the pitch, but in every aspect of their professional lives, whether that is from integrity threats, online abuse, or promoting positive mental health… so they can perform at their best,” said Secretary General of FIFPRO Asia/Oceania, Shoko Tsuji.
Furthermore, as online abuse disproportionately impacts women in sport, this partnership is an absolute necessity to ensure that football remains a sport for all to enjoy and compete.
Reducing risks while exposure increases
Founded and Chief Product Officer at Areto, Jacqueline Comer, outlined the importance of having a platform like Areto in women’s sports.
“Women athletes shouldn’t have to face online abuse while preparing to perform at the highest level, but we know they do, and we know its more targeted, more personal and more violent,” Comer explained.
“Our platform actively helps reduce and remove harmful content, giving players and their support teams the insight and tools they need to focus on the game – not the abuse.”
Focusing on the game, and not the abuse, is exactly why Areto is so vital. Ultimately, as the tournament stands as a potential springboard for the women’s game in Australia, it is essential that the matches and players are at the forefront.
Joining the movement
Areto is one of several platforms aligning their products with the support and growth of women’s football. In December 2025, the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) adopted Respondology ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, helping to automatically hide 6% of all comments during the first round.
Furthermore, with sporting giants like the Denver Broncos, Arsenal and Manchester United all using the AI platform to protect online spaces, the message is clear: there is no room for abuse in the beautiful game.
So, as the CommBank Matildas begin their Asian Cup campaign, this partnership is a reminder that the game is for all to enjoy and participate in – and Areto will ensure it remains so.
