The Indian women’s football team will head into its final Group C match at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 with belief and determination, according to head coach Amelia Valverde.
Despite suffering defeats in their first two games, the Blue Tigresses still have a realistic chance of reaching the quarter-finals if results fall in their favour on the final matchday.
India will face Chinese Taipei in a crucial encounter at the Western Sydney Stadium on March 10, with both teams battling for survival in Group C. The match will kick off simultaneously with the clash between Japan and Vietnam, which could also influence India’s fate in the tournament.
The Indian side had begun the tournament in Perth, where they suffered a narrow 1–2 defeat to Vietnam before being overwhelmed 0–11 by Japan. While the heavy loss to Japan was a setback, the team remains mathematically in contention for qualification.
Speaking ahead of the decisive match, Valverde emphasised the importance of resilience and belief within the squad.
“As long as we still have a chance, and we know we do, we will fight until the very end,” she said. The coach acknowledged that the team must quickly move on from the defeat against Japan and refocus on the challenge ahead. “We need to focus on preparing the best possible match against Chinese Taipei. We must turn the page as quickly as possible because we know we can show a better version of ourselves than what we saw against Japan,” Valverde added.
Qualification still within reach
Despite sitting at the bottom of Group C after two matches, India’s path to the quarter-finals remains open. If India defeat Chinese Taipei by more than one goal, they will qualify for the last eight provided Japan beat Vietnam in the other group match.
There are other scenarios that could also work in India’s favour. A victory with at least two goals scored could see India progress as group runners-up. Even a 1–0 win might be enough depending on the outcome of another match involving Uzbekistan and Bangladesh in Group B.
These multiple permutations mean that India must primarily focus on securing a victory and scoring goals against Chinese Taipei.
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After completing their matches in Perth, the Indian team travelled to Sydney to prepare for the final group fixture. The squad departed Western Australia on Sunday morning and arrived in New South Wales later in the evening. On Monday, the team scheduled its official training session followed by a visit to Western Sydney Stadium to familiarise themselves with the match venue.
The relocation marks an important phase in India’s preparation as the team looks to regroup after the difficult outing against Japan.
The defeat against Japan was one of the heaviest losses in India’s recent history, but the players have tried to view it as a learning experience rather than a setback. Midfielder Sangita Basfore emphasised that the team had already moved on from the result and was focused entirely on the next match.
“It was a challenging match, yes, but it does not diminish the effort that the team put in,” Basfore said. “Japan are a very good team, and playing against them gave us many lessons which we intend to take forward into the next match and perform better.”
Japan, one of the strongest teams in Asian women’s football, dominated possession and attacking play in that encounter. For India, the match highlighted the gap in experience and tactical maturity when facing the continent’s elite sides. However, the team’s performance against Vietnam earlier in the tournament showed that they can compete effectively against teams closer to their ranking.
The stakes in the final group match extend beyond just reaching the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup. Progressing further in the tournament could also boost India’s chances of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, as the Asian Cup acts as a key qualification pathway for the global event.
Valverde believes the team must approach the final group game with the same fighting spirit that has defined their campaign so far.
“We know we can show a better version of ourselves,” she said, referencing the strong effort India displayed against Vietnam earlier in the tournament.
For the Blue Tigresses, the match against Chinese Taipei represents a do-or-die moment. Victory would not only keep their tournament hopes alive but also demonstrate the progress of Indian women’s football on the continental stage.
Basfore echoed the determination within the squad.
“Our last group stage game is against Chinese Taipei and we still have a chance,” she said. “We will go into that match with hope and determination and try to deliver a strong performance.”
With qualification still possible and national pride at stake, the Blue Tigresses will now look to produce their best performance of the tournament when it matters most.
