The Indian senior women’s football team have begun their final phase of preparations for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026, arriving in Perth well ahead of the tournament to acclimatise and fine-tune their approach.
The Blue Tigresses became the first among the 11 visiting teams to land in Australia on February 11, nearly three weeks before their opening Group C clash against Vietnam on March 4 at the Perth Rectangular Stadium.
Carrying forward the competitive rhythm built during their recent exposure tour in Türkiye, the Indian squad has maintained training intensity Down Under as they look to peak in time for the continental showpiece. Head coach Amelia Valverde emphasised the importance of arriving early, allowing the team adequate time to adapt to new conditions.
“We were the first team to arrive on the 11th, and we’re very happy to already be here and properly settled, which is important,” Valverde said. “We’re now counting down the days until our first match. The team is in a good place, training well, and waiting for the official activities to begin.”
Transitioning from the winter conditions of Türkiye to the summer heat in Western Australia has presented its own set of challenges. Daytime temperatures in Perth have hovered between 30 to 35 degrees Celsius, a stark contrast to the rain-soaked, single-digit conditions the team encountered during their European camp. However, the coaching staff believe the early arrival has significantly eased the adaptation process.
“It took a few days to adjust to the time difference and also to the weather,” Valverde explained. “The climate here is very different from Türkiye. But our matches will be played in the evening, when temperatures are more controlled. We know we must take precautions with hydration, proper nutrition, and recovery to ensure we are fully prepared.”
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India’s Asian Cup preparations began in Gurugram following the conclusion of the first phase of the Indian Women’s League in mid-January. After a brief domestic training stint, the squad travelled to Antalya, where Valverde joined the team for the first time to begin an extended preparatory camp.
Reflecting on the past month, the Costa Rican coach described the period as both productive and essential for shaping the team’s tactical identity.
“It has been a very productive month. I’m not focusing on the number of days, but rather the quality of time spent together. We’ve used the time well to improve the aspects we consider important within our model and ideas,” she said.
“The long camp gave us the opportunity for what we call ‘invisible training’. The team doesn’t only train on the pitch. We work in the gym, in individual and group meetings, and through video sessions. We’ve tried to take advantage of everything. We still have two weeks to keep improving and reach the best possible version of this team.”
During their stay in Türkiye, India played six friendly matches against club sides from across Europe. The Blue Tigresses registered victories against Schlieren, Hertha BSC and Zvezda-2005 Perm, drew with Spartak Moscow, and suffered defeats to Metalist 1925 and Csíkszereda. The matches provided valuable game time, with the coaching staff rotating extensively to assess the depth and versatility within the squad.
“Most of those friendlies were very good preparation games,” Valverde noted. “Some were quite high-level opponents, which helped raise the competitive level of the group. Personally, they allowed me to observe players in real match situations, which was very important. We even played three matches in one week before coming here. That’s what friendlies are for — gaining rhythm, evaluating, and trying different scenarios.”
Following their arrival in Perth, India secured a confidence-boosting 5-0 victory over Perth RedStar FC in their first friendly on Australian soil. They are scheduled to play another preparatory fixture against Perth Azzurri in the coming days as they continue to build momentum.
The team’s daily schedule in Australia includes on-field sessions and gym work, while evenings are reserved for tactical meetings and opposition analysis. With the Asian Cup also serving as a qualification pathway to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the stakes are considerable.
Valverde underlined the importance of maintaining composure as the tournament draws closer.
“I take it as a great responsibility. I’m very excited, but I also don’t want to approach it only on an emotional level. Controlling emotions and managing everything we carry inside will be key,” she said.
“The group is highly motivated and works exceptionally hard. The better we train, the closer we get to competing at our best level. That’s where our focus and energy are right now.”
With their opening fixture fast approaching, the Blue Tigresses are entering the final stretch of preparations determined to translate months of groundwork into performance on the continental stage.
