The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has finally responded with encouraging news: the India U20 Women Football National Team will travel to Tashkent, Uzbekistan for two crucial international friendlies on July 13 and 16, ahead of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers.
These matches mark a much-needed return to competitive action for the Young Tigresses, who aim to make history next month by qualifying for the continental event for the first time since 2006.
This article explores the significance of these matches, the broader developmental landscape of the U20 women’s team, and what lies ahead as India aims to make a mark in Asian football.
Two Friendlies That Matter
The double-header against Uzbekistan U20 a technically sound and physically robust opponent comes at a pivotal time. With less than a month to go before the AFC qualifiers kick off, this exposure will be vital in helping the Indian squad sharpen match fitness, test tactical structures, and finalize combinations under pressure.
Both matches will be played in Tashkent and are scheduled for 8:30 PM IST on July 13 and 16. This is the first time the India U20 women’s team will face Uzbekistan at this level, making it a valuable benchmark against a competitive Asian side.
These friendlies also carry added importance due to India’s controversial withdrawal from the 2025 SAFF U20 Women’s Championship, which deprived the team of a valuable regional tournament just weeks before the AFC qualifiers. That decision, attributed to external political concerns, had drawn criticism for compromising player readiness. The Uzbekistan friendlies, while not a full replacement, offer a partial course correction.
AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers: India’s Group and Path Ahead
India has been placed in Group D of the 2026 AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers alongside:
- Indonesia 🇮🇩 (August 6)
- Turkmenistan 🇹🇲 (August 8)
- Myanmar 🇲🇲 (August 10)
The qualifiers run from August 2–10, with India’s campaign beginning on August 6. With three relatively manageable opponents, this group offers a realistic chance for India to progress to the main tournament. The format ensures that eight group winners and three best second-placed teams qualify for the final event in 2026.
India’s last appearance in the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup was in 2006, and a return in 2026 would signal the successful culmination of a two-year effort to build a sustainable youth development system in women’s football.
Building the U20 Unit: Who’s In Charge and Who to Watch
The current U20 squad is under the guidance of Joakim Alexandersson, a Swedish coach brought in to infuse structure and international best practices into India’s women’s youth system.
His appointment in late 2024 was seen as a turning point for India’s technical approach. Alexandersson has overseen long-term training camps and a revamped development pipeline with a focus on tactical intelligence, high-press systems, and modern positional play.
Key players to watch in this campaign include:
- Shilky Devi Hemam (Defender) – One of the few U20s with senior team experience. Brings leadership and composure at the back.
- Apurna Narzary (Forward, Captain) – A powerful forward and consistent scorer across youth levels.
- Sibani Devi & Pooja (Midfield/Forward) – Joint top scorers at the 2024 SAFF U-19 Championship, they bring flair and attacking depth.
- Neha Sillay and Anita Kumari (Forwards) – Dynamic presences up front, capable of changing games with pace and pressing.
The AIFF has consistently retained a core group of players across tournaments, aiding continuity and tactical familiarity both key ingredients in tournament success.
Competitive History: Promising but Patchy
India’s U20 women have had a mixed run over the last two years. They were joint winners of the 2024 SAFF U-19 Championship, drawing 1-1 with Bangladesh in the final before an extraordinary 11-11 penalty shootout deadlock. In AFC U20 qualifiers last year, India topped their group with big wins over Singapore (7-0) and Indonesia (6-0), drawing 1-1 with Vietnam. Yet they failed to reach the final tournament, highlighting a gap in translating early-round dominance into qualification.
International exposure has also been inconsistent. While India played in the Pink Ladies U20 Cup in Türkiye and earned wins over Jordan and Hong Kong, they suffered heavy losses to Russia and South Korea, underscoring the gap with elite Asian and European sides.
The Missed SAFF Opportunity and the Uzbekistan Redemption
India’s absence from the 2025 SAFF U20 Championship in Bangladesh was a missed opportunity that AIFF could ill afford. While political sensitivities were cited, the decision drew criticism from stakeholders who viewed the event as a vital stepping stone for AFC preparation.
The Uzbekistan friendlies now carry added weight—they’re not just warm-ups, but India’s final testing ground before three high-stakes matches in August. It’s also a chance for players to secure their spots in the starting XI, build chemistry, and adapt to the intensity of international football.
Bigger Picture: The Growth of Women’s Football in India
The Indian sports ecosystem is currently undergoing rapid transformation, and women’s football is gradually benefiting from this shift:
- Grassroots Development: Through the ASMITA Leagues, over 8,600 junior girls participated in structured competitions during 2024–25, a 37% increase over the previous year.
- Talent Identification: Initiatives like KIRTI, leveraging AI and data analytics for scouting, are identifying talent even from rural areas.
- Coaching and Exposure: National camps now run longer (7–8 months), with AIFF aiming for 10–12 international matches annually—a bold but necessary step for building match-readiness.
- Corporate and Government Support: With sports sponsorships diversifying beyond cricket, and government spending on sports hitting record highs (₹3794 crore in FY26), women’s football stands to benefit from a more inclusive funding landscape.
The Stakes in August
India’s path to the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 is clearer than ever but success is far from guaranteed. Despite a favourable group, the qualifiers will test India’s ability to deliver consistently over three tightly packed matches. Myanmar poses the toughest threat, but complacency against Indonesia or Turkmenistan could prove costly.
The friendlies in Tashkent offer a chance to tune up the engine. Results will matter less than performances, particularly in terms of structure, transitions, and decision-making under pressure. For Alexandersson, it’s the final window to address tactical gaps and identify leadership within the group.
The announcement of the India U20 Women’s friendlies against Uzbekistan is more than just a scheduling update it’s a step toward restoring competitive rhythm, closing preparation gaps, and reaffirming India’s intent to qualify for a tournament it hasn’t graced in nearly two decades.
For the Young Tigresses, this is a moment of reckoning. The pieces are in place: a motivated core, structured coaching, grassroots backing, and international support. Now, it’s time to deliver.
Let the countdown to August begin.
Follow IndiaSportsHub for exclusive updates, match coverage, and behind the scenes stories from the road to AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026.
