India's Historic Qualification for AFC Women's Asian Cup: A New Dawn for Women's Football

Celebrating a Milestone in Women's Football

New Delhi [India], July 9: Four days have passed since India achieved a remarkable milestone by qualifying for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026. The excitement from this achievement continues to resonate, fueling a growing enthusiasm for women's football in the country.

“Honestly, it’s still hard to put into words,” expressed the centre-back. “We experienced a whirlwind of emotions. It felt surreal. We kept reminding each other, ‘Yes, it’s real, we’ve actually done it.’ That feeling is beyond description. Anyone involved in women’s football can relate to the joy of qualifying. It was truly overwhelming.”

This overwhelming sentiment reflects the significance of this historic accomplishment for the Indian women's team, which could potentially transform the landscape of women's football in India. The stakes were incredibly high, as the Women’s Asian Cup also serves as a gateway to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

That’s precisely why the Blue Tigresses are not resting on their laurels after this groundbreaking qualification. Coach Crispin Chettri wasted no time in addressing the team immediately after the final whistle.

Following the emotional celebrations filled with hugs and tears, Chettri gathered the players and stated, “The peak of one mountain is merely the base of another. We must continue to evolve and improve as a team. We’ve reached the Asian Cup, but our next goal is the World Cup. We must keep dreaming.”

These aspirations have faced numerous setbacks in the past, none more painful than the withdrawal from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022, which was hosted by India due to a COVID outbreak within the team. The Blue Tigresses had only managed to play one match, a goalless draw against Iran, and were theoretically just three matches away from World Cup qualification before their dreams were dashed.

“I still have flashbacks from that experience. The regret lingers,” Sangita Basfore remarked just nine days before scoring both goals against Thailand, which has now given India another opportunity to reach the world stage. This is their second chance.

Sweety added, “It’s a huge relief. The last time India hosted the tournament, we couldn’t participate due to COVID. But this time, we played all our matches well, overcame challenges, and qualified. We’ve achieved this after 23 years. The dream of the World Cup is alive.”

And they didn’t just qualify against any team. They faced Thailand, a squad ranked 24 places higher, which had previously defeated them 10-0 in the 2014 Asian Games and had participated in two World Cups. This was Futoshi Ikeda’s Thailand, the coach who led Japan to the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup. However, last Saturday, his team had no answer to the determination of the Blue Tigresses.

Leading India on such a historic occasion is a memory that will remain with Sweety Devi forever. At just 25 years old, she has already earned 66 caps. Chettri rotated the captaincy during the qualifiers, announcing it during the morning team meeting and formally handing over the armband in the dressing room. Sweety captained against Mongolia, Sangita led against Timor-Leste, and Sanju took charge against Iraq.

While the leadership may rotate, for Sweety, this achievement is a collective success, encompassing not just the players on the field but also those behind the scenes, including coaches and support staff. This victory belongs to everyone.

“It’s always an honor to be captain, but this is about the entire team. It’s not just me. I carry the armband because the team has entrusted me with that role. Every player, every staff member has contributed equally. This success belongs to the entire team and the nation,” she stated.

India will learn about their opponents for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 after the draw on July 29. Twelve teams will be divided into three groups of four. India is in Pot 4 and will face teams from Pot 1 (Australia, Japan, or DPR Korea), Pot 2 (China, Korea Republic, or Vietnam), and Pot 3 (Philippines, Chinese Taipei, or Uzbekistan).

The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals. The four quarter-final winners will secure spots in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil. The losing quarter-finalists will compete in play-offs for the remaining direct spots allocated to the AFC for the World Cup. The two play-off losers will have another opportunity to qualify for Brazil through inter-confederation play-offs.