The Indian ladies’s soccer workforce is all set to function on the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, ranging from March 1 in Australia. After qualifying for the match on advantage, India ladies will look to make an enormous mark in opposition to the most effective footballing nations from the continent.
The 2026 AFC Women’s Asia Cup is the twenty first version of the match, which is held each 4 years. A complete of 12 groups have made it to the match with China being the defending champions.
Besides China, Australia, South Korea and Japan additionally bought a direct entry into the match after ending within the high 4 spots within the earlier version, which was held in India. The remaining shall be performed at Stadium Australia in Sydney on March 21.
Here’s every part you could know concerning the AFC Women’s Asia Cup:
Who are the groups and what is the format?
The 12 groups have been divided into three teams of 4 every.
Group A: Australia, South Korea, Iran and Philippines.
Group B: North Korea, China, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan.
Group C: India, Japan, Vietnam and Chinese Taipei.
The high groups will make the quarterfinals instantly together with the 2 greatest third ranked groups.
When are India’s matches?
March 4: India vs Vietnam in Perth at 4:30 pm IST.
March 7: India vs Japan in Perth at 4:30 pm IST.
March 10: India vs Chinese Taipei in Sydney at 2:30 pm IST.
All the matches shall be lined intimately by ESPN India, together with minute-by-minute LIVE blogs.
How did India qualify for the match?
India made it to the AFC Asian Cup after topping their group in {qualifications}. They travelled to Thailand in June 2025, to face the likes of Timor-Leste, Iraq, Mongolia and the host nation. After successful the primary three video games, India went on to beat Thailand within the remaining match of the {qualifications}, which resulted in them ending high, to ebook their place within the Asian Cup.
The 2-1 victory in opposition to Thailand, due to a brace from Sangita Basfore, was an enormous end result contemplating their opponents had been greater ranked and had performed the FIFA World Cup in 2015 and 2019.
Who’s there in India’s squad?
Goalkeepers: Panthoi Chanu Elangbam, Shreya Hooda, Sowmiya Narayanasamy.
Defenders: Astam Oraon, Juli Kishan, Martina Thokchom, Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam, Sanju Yadav, Sarita Yumnam, Shilky Devi Hemam, Sushmita Lepcha, Sweety Devi Ngangbam.
Midfielders: Aveka Singh, Babina Devi Lisham, Jasoda Munda, Sanfida Nongrum, Sangita Basfore.
Forwards: Grace Dangmei, Kaviya Pakkirisamy, Lynda Kom Serto, Malavika Prasad, Manisha Kalyan, Pyari Xaxa, Rimpa Haldar, Soumya Guguloth, Karishma Shirvoikar.
Head coach: Amelia Valverde
Anju Tamang, one in every of India’s key gamers, was named within the squad however needed to withdraw because of damage. No doubt it is a blow for the workforce. She has been changed by ahead Karishma Shirvoikar.
Among key gamers to observe for are midfielder Sangita Basfore, whose objectives helped India win their qualification group. There’s ahead Manisha Kalyan who performs her membership soccer overseas. She’s at present at Alianza Lima in Peru and had earlier performed for Apollon from Cyprus and Greece‘s PAOK.
How far can India go within the match?
India, world no. 67, are in a tricky group with all their opponents ranked greater than them.
Japan, two-time champions in 2014 and 2018, are the best-ranked Asian workforce — world no. 8. Vietnam, world no. 36, even have a robust squad, having performed the latest FIFA World Cup in 2023 and Chinese Taipei are additionally ranked greater than India at world no. 40.
This Indian workforce has proven previously that they will beat higher-ranked groups and they’re going to hope to do the identical now. The Asian Cup will even function the qualification tournament for the FIFA World Cup.
The 4 quarterfinal winners will earn their spots within the World Cup and the 4 losers will compete in an inter-confederation playoffs for the ultimate two locations from Asia.
What occurred within the final version?
In case you did not know, India hosted the earlier version of the match, nevertheless it ended up in an enormous mess because of COVID-19. Teams had been affected and India suffered essentially the most with as many as 12 members of the squad testing constructive for the virus. India couldn’t discipline not less than 13 gamers of their matchday squad in opposition to Chinese Taipei.
They had been thought of to be withdrawn from the match and their earlier 0-0 end result in opposition to Iran was voided. What might’ve been a seminal second for ladies’s soccer within the nation led to horrible heartbreak for the workforce.
