The draw for the AFC Women Asian Cup 2026, set to take place in Australia, brought intriguing matchups for Group C: powerhouse Japan (FIFA #7), rising Vietnam (#37), competitive Chinese Taipei (#42), and India (#70).
On paper, it looks like a dream draw for India, avoiding some Asian heavyweights like China PR and Korea Republic. But the numbers and recent performance trends show a different, more complex picture.
Here’s a detailed analysis of each team’s journey over the past year, strengths, challenges, and why this group may prove to be tougher than it first appears.
Japan: Clear favorites with tactical evolution and depth
Japan enter as overwhelming favorites to top Group C, underlined by their impressive run since the Paris 2024 Olympics. At the Games, they defeated Brazil and Nigeria and narrowly lost to Spain in the group stage before bowing out to the USA in extra time. But it was their performance after the Olympics that truly defined them.
In February 2025, Nadeshiko Japan made history by winning the prestigious SheBelieves Cup, beating the reigning Olympic champions USA 2–1 in the final. This was more than just a trophy: it marked the successful integration of new coach Nils Nielsen notably, the first foreign coach of Japan’s women’s team. Nielsen brought in a fresh tactical approach built around a collective, disciplined, and slightly more physically robust style, complementing Japan’s hallmark technical finesse.
Japan continued this form in the EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2025, beating Chinese Taipei 4–0, and drawing with Korea Republic and China PR. They finished third but remained undefeated against regional giants, confirming their position as Asia’s best team.
In terms of squad strength, Japan boast elite depth and young talent. Players like Rion Ishikawa, awarded Best Defender at the EAFF tournament, along with international experience from forwards like Osawa Haruka (playing in Germany) and proven midfielders such as Narumiya Yui and Shiokoshi Yuzuho, give them versatility and resilience. Add to that Nielsen’s quick impact beating the US within months and Japan look well-positioned not only to win Group C but to challenge for the Asian title.
Vietnam: Stability, youth, and quiet confidence
Vietnam secured their Asian Cup berth with three emphatic wins in qualification, including 7–0 against Maldives and 6–0 over UAE. They did not concede a single goal, a testament to defensive discipline and growing maturity.
Their story, however, is about more than numbers. The emotional return of legendary coach Mai Duc Chung, now 76, has brought stability and renewed belief. Chung, deeply respected by his players, previously led Vietnam to six SEA Games gold medals and their first FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance in 2023. Under his leadership, Vietnam have built a side combining experienced campaigners like Phạm Hải Yến with rising stars, aiming for a sustainable pipeline of talent.
Off the field, Vietnam’s focus on integrating young players alongside senior internationals ensures continuity and adaptation to modern football demands. They have also tested themselves against mid-tier Asian teams like Uzbekistan, winning 2–0 — small but vital steps towards narrowing the gap with Asia’s elite.
While Vietnam haven’t yet proved they can consistently beat top-30 teams, their organized structure, tactical discipline, and emotional resilience under Chung make them favorites to finish second in the group. Matches against Chinese Taipei and India will decide that battle.
Chinese Taipei: Strong qualifiers, but big gaps against top teams
Chinese Taipei also enjoyed a perfect qualification campaign, defeating Pakistan (8–0), Kyrgyzstan (3–0), and Indonesia (2–1). Their record shows they can comfortably handle lower-ranked opponents.
However, results against stronger sides remain concerning. In the EAFF E-1 Football Championship, they lost heavily to Japan (0–4), China PR (2–4), and Korea Republic (0–2). Similarly, friendlies against teams like Australia (0–6) and Canada (0–7) exposed defensive vulnerabilities and the lack of depth needed to absorb sustained pressure.
Their squad, which includes players like captain Chiu-Lin Huang and attackers Tseng Yun-ching and Liu Yu-chiao, blends youth and experience. But translating domestic quality into continental competitiveness remains a challenge. Chinese Taipei’s likely path in Group C will be to compete hard for third place and hope to advance as one of the best third-placed teams. To do so, they must avoid heavy defeats against Japan and edge out India.
India: Regional dominance, but can it translate?
India qualified in style, topping their group with dominant wins over Mongolia (13–0), Timor-Leste (4–0), Iraq (5–0), and a critical 2–1 victory over Thailand. This marked India’s first Asian Cup qualification through performance since 2003 a historic milestone.
Yet India’s results against higher-ranked teams highlight persistent challenges. In the Pink Ladies Cup, a friendly event, India defeated Jordan but lost to Russia (0–2) and South Korea (0–3). Further friendlies saw narrow losses to Uzbekistan (0–1 twice). And in the 2024 SAFF Championship, India lost to Bangladesh and exited in the semis against Nepal, albeit on penalties.
These patterns suggest India can dominate South Asian and lower-tier Asian teams but still struggle to bridge the gap with top-40 nations like Vietnam and Chinese Taipei.
The squad, under coach Crispin Chettri, features experienced leaders like captain Sweety Devi, veteran Ashalata Devi, and attacking talents such as Manisha Kalyan, Sangita Basfore, and Pyari Xaxa. The challenge is tactical cohesion, defensive organization, and sustaining intensity against fitter, faster opponents.
Group C: A group of opportunity and big tests
On paper, India avoided higher-ranked China and Korea Republic, drawing the lowest-ranked pot 2 team (Vietnam). That makes Group C the most balanced of the tournament.
- Japan remain overwhelming favorites.
- Vietnam have the discipline and cohesion to finish second.
- Chinese Taipei could fight for third place, but heavy defeats could hurt.
- India will hope to surprise Vietnam or Chinese Taipei to keep knockout hopes alive.
For India, these matches are about more than results: it’s a chance to measure progress, identify gaps, and set long-term targets for future tournaments, including the 2027 World Cup cycle.
AIFF Charts Ambitious Roadmap to Prepare Indian Women Football Team for AFC Women Asian Cup 2026
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 offers India both a realistic chance and a steep challenge. Strong qualifiers show promise; friendlies against higher-ranked teams reveal the gap. Japan look set to top Group C, with Vietnam the likely runners-up but football is unpredictable.
If India can draw or beat Vietnam or Chinese Taipei, and keep the scoreline respectable against Japan, they could script a historic knockout stage appearance. More importantly, these matches will show if Indian women’s football can move from regional strength to continental competitiveness.
The journey won’t be easy but as the draw suggests, it’s a chance worth fighting for.
