India Returns to AFC Women’s Asian Cup After 20 Years

AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 marks India’s return to the continental stage after a long gap, with the tournament being held in Australia from March 1 to March 21 . The competition offers a direct qualification pathway to the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027, making every match crucial for participating teams.

The Indian squad, announced by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), comprises 26 players and is led by new head coach Amelia Valverde . India have been placed in Group C and will play their group-stage matches against strong opponents as they aim to progress deep into the tournament.

India will open their campaign against Vietnam on March 4 at 4:30 PM , followed by a high-profile clash against Japan on March 7 at 4:30 PM . Their final group match will be against Chinese Taipei on March 10 at 2:30 PM . All matches will be played at the Perth Rectangular Stadium.

The team, also known as the Blue Tigresses , underwent a four-week preparatory camp in Turkiye before arriving in Perth on February 11. Among the 26-member squad, eight players including Sweety Devi Ngangbam, Shilky Devi Hemam, Sanju, Anju Tamang, Pyari Xaxa, Grace Dangmei, Manisha Kalyan, and Sowmiya Narayanasamy were part of the previous edition hosted in India in 2022. However, India had to withdraw after one match due to a COVID-19 outbreak, making this edition significant as it marks their first full participation since 2003.

A major setback came as senior forward Anju Tamang was ruled out due to injury. She has been replaced by Karishma Shirvoikar in the squad. Forward Grace Dangmei , the most-capped player and top scorer with 23 goals in 91 appearances , remains a key figure for India’s attack. The squad also includes the youngest player, Shilky Devi Hemam , who is 20 years old.

The tournament format allows the top two teams from each group , along with the two best third-placed teams , to advance to the quarter-finals. The semi-finalists will directly qualify for the World Cup in Brazil, while losing quarter-finalists will compete in playoffs for the remaining direct spots.

Fans in India can watch the matches live on the FanCode app and website . Notably, there will be no live television broadcast of the tournament in India.

India’s past best performances in the competition were runners-up finishes in 1980 and 1983 , and the team will aim to create a strong impact this time on the continental stage.