India's Women's Team Prepares for AFC Asian Cup 2026: A Challenging Group Awaits

The Indian women's football team, under coach Crispin Chettri, is gearing up for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, facing a challenging group that includes Japan, Vietnam, and Chinese Taipei. With a historic qualification achieved through the qualifiers, the team aims to perform well and secure a spot in the FIFA Women's World Cup. Midfielder Sangita Basfore, who played a crucial role in the qualifiers, shares her excitement about the upcoming matches and the team's preparation strategy. As they look to build confidence and experience against higher-ranked teams, the Blue Tigresses are determined to make their mark on the Asian stage.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 30, 2025, 02:03 IST

Exciting Challenges Ahead for India's Women's Team

New Delhi, July 29: Crispin Chettri, the head coach of India's senior women's football team, has described the team's group in the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 as both "interesting and tricky."

India finds itself in Group C alongside Japan, Vietnam, and Chinese Taipei.

Chettri expressed, "We have a very intriguing and challenging group. Japan is the top team in Asia, while Vietnam and Chinese Taipei are formidable opponents. We believe we can compete effectively and aim for positive outcomes," as reported by the AIFF.

Midfielder Sangita Basfore had the honor of being one of the draw assistants, revealing her nation's name with pride. After carefully unfolding the paper and showing it to the camera, she confidently announced, 'India!' with a bright smile.

This marks a significant milestone as it is the first time India has qualified for the Women's Asian Cup through the qualifiers. Sangita's remarkable performance, including a crucial brace against Thailand, secured India's spot in Australia.

Sangita shared her excitement about the draw experience in Sydney, stating, "It was truly special for me. I even got to see and touch the trophy, which was an incredible feeling. I felt goosebumps on stage. The highlight was visiting Stadium Australia; stepping onto that ground felt like the match was about to start."

Coach Chettri agreed, noting, "The experience in Sydney has been fantastic. There are many lessons to take away from this. Representing our country at this level is surreal."

Currently ranked 70th, India will kick off their campaign against Vietnam (ranked 37th) on March 4, 2026, in Perth, followed by matches against Japan (ranked 7th) on March 7 and Chinese Taipei (ranked 42nd) on March 10, both in Sydney.

The Blue Tigresses are familiar with their opponents, having faced each of them in recent years. India narrowly lost to Chinese Taipei during the Asian Games but managed to secure a victory against them in a friendly match in 2021.

In the Olympic Qualifiers of 2023, Vietnam and Japan emerged victorious against India. Despite the higher rankings of their opponents, both Chettri and Sangita are optimistic about their chances of advancing to the quarter-finals, especially against Vietnam and Chinese Taipei, with whom they have had closely contested matches in the past.

Sangita remarked, "We have played against Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, and Japan before, so I know we can compete with them. I never felt we couldn't win against them. We made some mistakes in the past, but we will work on those. Our coach is guiding us on the finer details, and we will plan our next steps accordingly to give our best."

Chettri added, "All these teams are tough, which is expected at the Asian Cup level. As the coach of Odisha FC, I faced clubs from these countries in the AFC Women's Champions League last season, which was a significant learning experience for me. I understand their playing styles and what to anticipate from them."

While the Asian Cup is a prestigious event, the Blue Tigresses have set their sights even higher—qualifying for the FIFA Women's World Cup. The AFC Women's Asian Cup offers six direct and two indirect slots for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, and they are eager to seize this opportunity.

Sangita stated, "Our goal has always been to reach Brazil and experience the World Cup. We are just one step away. We need to prove ourselves in Australia, represent our national team, and carry our flag forward. Our aim is to perform well in each game and qualify for the World Cup."

With 218 days remaining until India's opening match against Vietnam at the Perth Rectangular Stadium, preparations are already underway, and every day counts.

Chettri emphasized, "Now that we know our opponents, we must choose our friendly matches wisely and prepare thoroughly. Staying united and working hard during training camps will be crucial in getting ready to face the best teams in Asia and aiming for World Cup qualification."

Sangita added, "With the time we have, we should play matches against higher-ranked teams to be ready for next March. Facing these three teams in the Asian Cup will help us gauge their gameplay and play with confidence. Competing against stronger teams will be a valuable opportunity to build our belief going into the tournament."